• shortnsweet

    Oct 11, 10:55 PM by vaff

    Short and Sweet & Sour: Saturday Nov. 5th, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

    Who loves short shorts? We love short shorts! This year, we continue our tradition of showcasing the art of the short film. Among these eight films are some of the Canadian entries in competition for VAFF’s 2005 Best Canadian Short award. In fact, Canadian films comprise seven of the eight films listed. Some of them end happily – others do not. Without a common thread other than their lengths tying them together, we proudly present a film assortment of the short, sweet and sour.

    114 minutes

    Remember One


    Director/Writer: Oscar Nam | Producer: Jeff Tucci
    Narrative | DVD | Colour | 2004 | 10 minutes | Canada

    Jacob has one hour and thirty minutes to choose one memory from his life. He has been estranged from his father for thirteen years. Will he chose to remember him or not?

    World Premiere | Director in Attendance

    Residue


    Director/Writer: Oscar Nam | Producer: Mark Kalriess
    Narrative | DVD | Colour | 2004 | 10 minutes | Canada

    Three years after the death of their son, a family continues to deal with their loss. Has time healed all wounds?

    Screenings/Awards: VIDFEST – Vancouver International Digital Festival

    Director in Attendance

    NO. 1: THE HELEN FONG DARE STORY


    Director/Producer: Nancy Thom | Writer: Jamie Dare
    Documentary | DVD | Colour | 2005 | 25 minutes | USA

    Helen Fong Dare, an unconventional immigrant and intrepid restaurateur, defied gender and racial discrimination years before the rise of feminism and affirmative action in the U.S. This is her story, narrated by her daughter, Nancy Tom, who discovers herself in the process of making the film.

    Director in Attendance

    King of Sushi


    Director/Writer: Hong-Sik Kim | Producer: Sayaka Iida
    Documentary | Beta | Colour | 2005 | 6 minutes | Canada

    His customers appreciate his food. His employees revere his skills. His friends enjoy his company, and his wife loves his heart. Does anybody really understand the legendary Vancouver chef of Tojo Restaurant?

    World Premiere

    The Hill


    Director/Producer/ Writer: Deborah Chow
    Narrative | Beta | Colour | 2004 | 12 minutes | Canada

    A contemporary, revisionist fable about Jack and Jill and what really happened on the hill.

    Screenings/Awards: Canadian Film Centre Worldwide Shorts; Cinefest Sudbury; Montreal World Film Festival; NSI FilmExchange; Toronto Int’l Film Festival; Victoria Independent Film Festival

    Focus Group Therapy


    Director/Producer: Michael Melski | Producer/Writer: Ivy T. Ho
    Narrative | Beta | Colour | 2004 | 15 minutes | Canada

    Jessica, a market researcher, begins to question her career choice as she conducts a misbehaving focus group in which naughty things happen in the observation room.

    Screenings/Awards: Jim Jarmusch Best Narrative Short Award – Westcliffe Digital Film Festival; 25th Atlantic Film Festival, Silver Wave Film Festival

    BC Premiere

    Kata Practice


    Director/Producer/ Writer: Siu Ta
    Narrative | Beta | Colour | 2004 | 5 minutes | Canada

    David, a six-year old junior green belt practises for his final fight… Sometimes not even the best of moves can block life’s challenges.

    Screenings/Awards: Honorable Mention – 14th Cabbagetown Short Film and Video Festival; Cracow Int’l Film Festival; Montreal World Film Festival; Philadelphia Film Festival; Seattle Int’l Film Festival; Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival

    Mr. Mergler’s Gift


    Director: Beverly Shaffer | Producers: Germaine Ying Gee Wong, National Film Board of Canada
    Documentary | Beta | Colour | 2004 | 31 minutes | Canada

    Daniel Mergler has heard the Beethoven bagatelle countless times, but this is different. He listens with surprise, and delight lights up the old man’s eyes. The young pianist is Xin Ben, the 9-year-old daughter of Chinese immigrants. A fateful encounter in a Montreal park has delivered her into the hands of Mr. Mergler, a piano teacher nearing the end of his long career. She will be his last and most extraordinary pupil.

    Screenings/Awards: Golden Sheaf Award – Short Film and Video Festival; DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival; Int’l Children’s Film Festival; Int’l Family Film Festival; Jewish Film Festival; Montreal World Film Festival

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