That's a Wrap!

Well, another film festival has wrapped up and what a 10-days it's been!  I'll be using the word "thanks" quite a bit in this post but I do mean it.

We would like to thank our sponsors - without them, there wouldn't be a festival for us to go to, to volunteer at, to blog about, etc...

A big shout out to American Express for helping to deliver the first ever Mavericks award on Saturday night. We'd also like to thank Volkswagen for helping to drive us around town, Cineplex and Citytv for their support.

We'd also like to thank Canwest, Movie Central & HBO Canada, Fast Forward, Fashion Central who gave us sweet digs for the delegate lounge and the box office this year and the Alberta Beverage Container Recycling Corporation for their support.

We had many sponsors in the media as well including Avenue Magazine, CBC, CJSW 90.9FM, Beatroute, Fashion Magazine, the Calgary Herald, CKUA Radio and Gay Calgary Magazine.

We'd like to thank the following sponsors in no particular order, Skyy Vodka, Bullfrog Power, Stella Artois, Joe Media Group, Segue Systems, Christie, Ikea, UPS, UVS, Starbucks Coffee, Hyatt Regency, Corkscrew Media, Sundog, Flagworks, Barley Mill Eau Claire, Pulp, Inc. Three Point Nine Marketing, Tubby Dog, Boulevard Travel, Indigo Books, The Fairmont Palliser, Mealon, Thrifty, Pyramid Productions, Cine Audio Visual, Diva Hair Salon and Christie Lites.

Scott Hall, LLP and Nuvo Hotel and Suites helped to bring you the Headliners and Cineplex, The Globe Cinema and The Plaza Theatre displayed the films. Big thanks to Alberta Film, the National Film Board, AMPIA, Calgary Economic Development and Telefilm Canada. Alberta Foundation for the Arts, The Calgary Foundation, Calgary Arts Development, Alberta Lottery Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, Tourism Calgary and the Rosza Foundation. One last shout out to The Broken Plate, The Wicked Wedge, Agropur, The Palomino, Mango Shiva, Wok Box and Thai Tai.

That being said, we'd also like to thank one more person.

You.

In all seriousness, thank you for attending the festival. The festival has grown a lot in 10 years and we couldn't do it without the public so here's to 10 more!  I've been volunteering for the last four years in various capacities and I have to say this has been my favourite year so far!

I'd like to thank Juan and Kathleen along with all the staff for giving me a chance to blog about the festival.  It is a highly sought after position and I didn't take it lightly.  I took a break from my blog to do this and it was well worth it!

Hope to see you all next year...

Chaston B.

Youth By Youth Cinema Competition

Youth By Youth Cinema Competition

Presented by the Calgary International Film Festival

Submission Form 

"If you think you have a good idea, film it and if it turns out crappy, edit it"

- '08 YYC Finalist

The 3rd Annual Youth By Youth Cinema Competition is here and promises to be bigger and better than ever. We're looking for young directors who have made a film over the past to submit their work and compete in the 2009 YYC Competition!

Youth By Youth Cinema (YYC) is an open competition for young filmmakers from grades 4 through 12. Over $2000.00 in cash and prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

• Best Short Film - Grades 4 - 9
  
• Best Short Film - Grades 10 - 12
  
• Young Maverick
  
• Audience Favorite
  

The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) screens exceptional films from around the world to Calgarians. With the YYC Competition, we take the film-viewing experience to a new level by celebrating the best of youth filmmaking. 

Our Programming Committee will pick the top films from all the entries, with the selections making up the program for a special CIFF screening during the 10th Annual CIFF (September 25th - October 4th, 2009). A Jury will choose the winner from each category with prizes and awards being given out at the event. 

Please read the following guidelines before submitting your film:

• FIlms must be between 30 seconds and 7 minutes in length.
• Both fiction and non-fiction films are accepted.
• Films must have been competed after August 2008. 
• Films must be directed by youth aged 9 - 18 at the time of the film's completion. 
• Any one applicant may submit up to three films (including group projects).
• All applicable copyrights (music/image/text sources) must be secured by the filmmaker(s).
• Preview screeners accepted ONLY on DVD formats.
• Preview screeners must be labeled with title, director name, contact email address, and running time. 

There are no submission fees for this competition. 

Submission deadline is Friday, July 31st, 2009.

For more information regarding the YYC Competition, please contact the YYC Coordinator, Juan Delgado, at 403.209.4958 or juan@calgaryfilm.com.