There was something appealing to me about seeing the student films – mainly because I am always curious as to what is sprouting in the minds of the future generations.

9pm Screening at Joseph Workman theatre. Gotta love Toronto; waiting in the line-up for the screening amongst residents of CAMH – one of which was shouting “when you die you will rise” and another walking briskly through the lobby saying “Shalom” to everyone he approached. It is Passover after all..

The event was packed with eager young filmmakers and their support teams of friends and family, faculty from York and this really sweet guy from a company called V-Tape who got up to speak and was so nervous and cute about it. I felt the love in the room – I realized what a huge undertaking it is for Images to run this festival. We are so lucky to have people in our cities/communities who CARE about art (huge kudos to the Images folk..) and actually DO things to support them.

The films were a mish-mash of thought, image, music, style, and ‘potential’ genre. 11 short films, all just a few minutes in length, the festival chose a wide variety for this showcase. Films that stood out to me – I loved “They Will Never Catch Us”by Frank Aschberg & Gabriel Watson of Sweden – and not just because it was a series’ of shots of men having their pants pulled down in slow-motion (the most full-frontal maleness I have ever seen on screen, mind you) but because it was brilliantly shot and everything about it worked. The music was perfect. Fascinating also, to see a slowed-down set of reactions to this prank. Balls were literally flying… hilarious.

“Annual Report” and “Those Crazy Insides” showed some incredible and unique animation. Annual Report was thought-provoking without being at all in-your-face about it. And Those Crazy Insides was well, too hard to describe without knowing what type of animation I was watching.

There was the punchy and fun “It Only Hurts When I Cry” by Daniel Macintyre (I think this kid is gonna do some neat stuff). Also, “Morning Will Come” which blew my mind with its poetry-in-motion, I couldn’t believe that it was a student film.

In seeing these films I realized how much film has changed since my younger days (ha ha – I’m only 31, but you know how fast technology is moving) and how technology is influencing the younger generations. This shift allows for so much experimentation and mixed media. This is obviously a huge bonus in short film when you have only a few minutes to tell your story.

All in all, nice work O Future Generation. I wonder who won the award…