The Klondike Institute of Art and Culture with Yukon Energy present
The 11th Dawson City International Short Film Festival!
Photos by Jay Armitage
With northern lights ablaze, the 11th annual Dawson City International Short Film Festival wrapped with the presentation of the MITY (Made In The Yukon) awards on Sunday night.
Suzanne Crocker and Dan Sokolowski
Dawson filmmaker Suzanne Crocker took home the MITY Professional Award for her beautiful animation Time Lines. The 2nd place award went to Evelyn Pollock for her documentary Miles To Go. The festival had a strong lineup of new filmmakers and the Emerging Artist Award went to Sophie Fuldauer for her enigmatic and memorable Blinking Brain. The 2nd place prize went to Old Crow filmmaker Erika Tizya-Tramm’s glimpse into the life of a female dog musher, Pom Poms and Bells.
The over 1600 people who attended the screenings also got to have a say and voted the British drama No Way Through by Alexandra Monro and Sheila Menon as their Audience favorite. A Tax on Pochsy by Calgary filmmaker Karen Hines took home the 2nd place prize.
Karen Hines
The MITY Youth Award went to Northwest News by Whitehorse filmmakers Stephanie & Sierra Storm-McIsaac.
The Lodestar award fro best Canadian or International film went to Ontario filmmaker Marcia Connolly for her fascinating portrait of Inuit artist Shuvinai Ashoona, Ghost Noise.
The streets of Dawson seem strangely quiet as the signs come down for another year. The festival was a great celebration of media art with guests, Dave Bidini, Chris Landreth, Marv Newland, Karen Hines and Monique Simard giving glimpses into their cinematic worlds. Artists in residence Stefan Popescu and Katherine Berger were scooped as the furthest visitors by an attendee from Tazania.
Marv Newland (traveller to many festivals worldwide) declared Dawson City to be "the most exotic place he's ever been"
Emanuel from Tanzania
With many people running around town shooting their 1-Minute film challenges we look forward to the next batch of films at the 12th Annual Dawson City International Short Film Festival!
Thanks to all who made this possible!
The DCISFF is excited to announce it’s lineup for the 11th edition taking place April1-4, 2010!
click here for schedule
Poster artowrk by Veronica Verkley
Headlining the festival will be the premiere of 10NORTH, a project initiated by KIAC to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the film festival. Ten yukon filmmakers were each asked to produce a two minute film beginning and ending with certain words. These words link the segments together into one film. The participating filmmakers are Dennis Allen, Marten Berkman, Andrew Connors, Duane Gastant’ Aucoin, Daniel Janke, Lulu Keating, Celia McBride, Troy Suzuki, Veronica Verkley and Werner Walcher. The Friday opening screening will also show new work by Yukon filmmakers including Evelyn Pollock, Suzanne Crocker, Marten Berkman and Arlin McFarlane and Richard Lawrence, as well as Mary Jane Moses from Old Crow.
Also premiering this year (on April 1st) is the film NUDE STUDY by artists in residence, Stefan Popescu and Katherine Berger (Australia). The film was shot in Dawson 2 years ago using many local actors in lead and supporting roles. It is the first independent feature drama shot in Dawson City.
Calgary filmmaker, and former Lodestar Award winner, Karen Hines (POCHSY), returns as an artist in residence this year to show her new film (A TAX ON POCHSY) and to tell tales of how it was rescued from a myriad of film shoots gone wrong!
In addition to the over 100 short films being presented (including Genie nominees and some of Canada’s Top 10 short films) are some special “animated “ guests. Oscar® winning filmmaker Chris Landreth brings his new film THE SPINE to Dawson and will be giving a master class on Friday afternoon.
Renowned animator Marv Newland (Bambi vs. Godzilla) will screen his latest work POSTALOLIO and will give a workshop detail the technical aspects of his style of animation. He will also reshoot a sequence from his new film.
Dave Bidini (of Rheostatics fame) will be in town to present the animated film from his FIVE HOLE: TALES OF HOCKEY EROTICA stories and show his HOCKEY NOMAD documentary.
The festival also welcomes Monique Simard, Director General of French Programs, NFB, who will screen a selection of NFB shorts and talk about opportunities the NFB has to offer filmmakers.
The weekend is full of free events such as our Friday night outdoor screening, a Youth Screening, a free screening of First Nations films at Dänoja Zho Cultural Centre and the ever popular Emerging Artist screening featuring 14 films by new Yukon filmmakers and youth. These free events are sponsored by WHTV Community Channel 9, (Northwestel)
The 2nd annual 1 Minute Film Challenge, in which participants will be given a Super8 camera and will shoot a 1 minute, in-camera film, will also be taking place during festival weekend. 2 films from last years challenge are playing at this years festival.
Join us for a great weekend of screenings and events..
10NORTH
The DCISFF is pleased to announce a major new initiative. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the festival, we have commissioned 10 Yukon filmmakers to produce 10-2 minute films, to be premiered at next years festival. The project, entitled 10NORTH, is funded by the Canada Council and Yukon Culture Quest. Also partnering with the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture are the Yukon Film Society and the Northern Film and Video Industry Alliance. The participating filmmakers are Marten Berkman, Andrew Connors, Duane Gastant’ Aucoin, Carol Geddes, Daniel Janke, Lulu Keating, Celia McBride, Troy Suzuki, Veronica Verkley and Werner Walcher.
The 10th annual Dawson City International Short Film Festival
wraps with the Yukon Energy MITY (Made In the Yukon) awards.
The return of muddy streets and “rubber boot” season in Dawson signified the official wrap of the 10th edition of the Dawson City International Short Film Festival.
More than 1,600 people passed through the doors to watch 137 films, attend workshops and master classes and dance the night away at the closing party.
A large crowd stayed on after the final screening to hear the announcement of the Yukon Energy MITY (Made In The Yukon) Awards.
YUKON ENERGY MITY winner Daniel Janke (right). (Photo by Dan Davidson)
Daniel Janke’s beautiful animation HOW PEOPLE GOT FIRE won 1st place in the professional category. Lulu Kating and Karen Hines’ weird and wonderful DOG=GOD nabbed 2nd place. There were more emerging artist films entered than ever before and Andrew Sharp from Whitehorse’s funny animated WRITER’S BLOCK was awarded first prize. Naomi Mark’s, NO FIXED ADDRESS won 2nd place. Six year old filmmaker, Kate Crocker pulled in the Youth Award with her sharp and witty FAT CAT.
YOUTH AWARD winner Kate Crocker (6 years old) with festival producer Dan Sokolowski
(Photo by Dan Davidson)
The audience had its say as well and voted Tony Massil’s Keno documentary 40 MEN FOR THE YUKON as their favorite. Jeff Winch’s poignant CLOSE AND LOW grabbed the Lodestar Award as the best Canadian or International film.
Festival founder David Curtis was given the first honorary YUKON ENERGY MITY for his years of tireless commitment to the festival since it’s inception in 2000.
The festival had many special moments, including a packed screening of First Nation films at the Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, afternoon screenings at Diamond Tooth Gerties, an intoxicating live music and video performance by artists in residence Scott Amos and Rozalind MacPhail, and some great workshops led by festival guests Bill MacGillivray, Terry Greenlaw, Deco Dawson and Gerald Wexler. Toronto writer Lisa Pasold followed the festival for the National Post.
With many filmmakers already planning their short films for next year (and 1 entry already received!), the 11th Dawson City International Short Festival looks to continue the excitement and energy that enhances the cultural fabric of the Yukon.
The 10th annual Dawson City International Short Film Festival
April 9-12, 2009
Imagine an international film festival in a community of 1800, less than 400 km from the Arctic Circle. Imagine that attendance at that festival nears the actual population of that town. Imagine guests that have attended from as far away as Norway and Australia. Imagine tromping through unpaved, muddy streets and along wooden sidewalks to get to the festival. Imagine spending time between screenings sipping drinks in a restored brothel or in Canada’s oldest tavern. Imagine that festival lasting 10 years! Then you’ve imagined Dawson!
The tenth edition of the Dawson City International Short Film Festival is just over one week away. More than 100 films will be screened over 4 days in the Ballroom of the ODD Fellows Hall, high atop beautiful downtown Dawson City. This includes 37 films produced in Yukon from as far north as Old Crow. Screenings and events will also take place at the KIAC School of Visual Arts (SOVA) and Diamond Tooth Gerties.
Some film highlights include films voted Canada’s Top10 Shorts (Next Floor, Ghosts and Gravel Roads, Green Door), the grand prize winner form the Tromso Film Festival in Norway (Cairn) and a film from Alaska (On the Ice) that won a special jury award at the Sundance Film Festival, giving our festival a truly international flavor.
The festival starts on Thursday night with a look back as festival founder and director David Curtis presents a program of his favorite films from the past 10 years. On Friday, Dawson comes to Dawson as avant garde Winnipeg filmmaker Deco Dawson conducts a master class. The regular screenings start Friday evening with our popular Yukon and Beyond screening, featuring a program of Yukon films interspersed with a few gems from other circumpolar locations.
Festival guests from Halifax, Bill McGillivray and Terry Greenlaw (Reading Alistair MacLeod) will show a special screening of Silent Messengers, their film about Inukshuks and sacred places, filmed in Nunavut. Other festival guests include screenwriter Gerald Wexler (Margaret’s Museum), film/artists Jeff Winch (Toronto) and Terry Haines (Vancouver).
Duane Gastant’ Aucoin, a two-spirited Tlingit from Teslin, brings his emotional My Own Private Lower Post to Dawson and will hold a special screening and Q&A at the Tr’ondek Hwech’in cultural centre.
The ever popular Emerging Artist screening on Sunday afternoon features over 20 films by Yukon artists. This will be followed by Artist in Residence Scott Amos, who will screen new work accompanied by a live musical performance by co-resident Rozalind MacPhail.
This year we will continue our Outdoor Screening, where last year, 100 hardy souls braved a -20°C windswept venue to view films projected in the window of the ODD Gallery. This year promises better weather as the festival occurs 3 weeks further into the “Yukon Spring”.
As usual there will be a host of special events, workshops and meet ‘n greets in Dawson’s intimate environment all capped off by the announcement of the Yukon Energy MITY Awards on Sunday evening and a special 10th Anniversary announcement.
For a full schedule of films and events click here.
2009 PSA Contest Winner
Congratulations to Ben Rudis, whose "Telepathic Dogs" won our 2009 CBC North PSA contest. Check it out!
Yukon Youth Category for the 2009 Fest!
Due to the growing number of young filmmakers DCISFF has created a specific category for filmmakers under the age of 18! Check out the rules and submit your film today! Deadline is February 1, 2009.
2008 News
Exciting weekend of films and events wraps in Dawson.
The 9th version of the Dawson City International Short Film Festival wrapped up on Sunday night with its final presentation of films and awards. Over 1400 people took in screenings, workshops, master classes and panel discussions throughout the weekend. A large, hardy group also braved a windswept, -20°C outdoor screening. more...
See the Youtube clip of festival guest Lee Demarbre ringing the bell at Bombay Peggy's!
Announcing Special Guests for the 2008 Festival!
DCISFF is pleased to announce some of its special guests for this years festival. Ottawa filmmaker Lee Demarbre and Calgary director/actress Karen Hines will be attending the festival and will also be part of special presentations during the festival. more...
Lodestar winner to attend 2008 Festival
Austrailian filmmaker Dan Monceaux, whose film Shift in Perception won the 2007 Lodestar Award (Best in Fest) will be attending the 2008 Festival. Dan and his art partner Emma Sterling will be the KIAC ARTIST IN RESIDENCE during the festival. Dan and Emma will host a special screening of their works during festival weekend.
Dawson City International Film Festival Residencey
General Call
The Klondike Institute of Art and Culture (KIAC) is now accepting applications from visual artists, media artists, and interdisciplinary artists for its 2010 Artist in Residence Program.
The residence accommodates up to 2 artists concurrently –- for research, development and production of ongoing or new bodies of work.
Artists may also have the opportunity to facilitate outreach programs such as talks, workshops and exhibitions, intended to promote interaction and professional development, and provide exposure and access to a diverse range of contemporary arts practices and theories within the community.
Residencies are from 4-12 weeks duration starting from January 1, 2010 through to December 31, 2010. Participants are responsible for all travel and personal expenses including food and materials related to their work.
The Artist in Residence Program is located in the Macaulay Residence. Built in 1901, the home is now owned by Parks Canada as part of the Dawson Historical Complex National Historic Site of Canada.
Specific Calls
2010 Film Festival Residency
The Dawson City International Short Film Festival takes place each spring on Easter Weekend. The 2008 Film Festival presented screenings of over 100 short films and videos from around the world to over 1,300 enthusiastic cinema buffs. The festival weekend includes workshops, panel discussions and special presentations by participating filmmakers and special guests.
Filmmakers working in all media may apply for residency dates to coincide with the Film Festival and have the opportunity to participate in Festival Programming. In past years, KIAC Artists in Residence have presented their films in special screenings and talks, facilitated workshops, and participated in panel discussions.
Please mark your application “Film Festival Residency”. Please note that filmmakers may also apply under the General Call for residency dates other than those connected with the Film Festival.
Deadline is April 1, 2009.
For more info check out the KIAC website.
