SYNOPSIS: A blind man experiences visions in a world that he once knew with sight. Being the only person who can see his surreal apparitions, he emerges from emotional blindness.

This short film project (with live action + stop motion animation) will be filmed and edited in Ottawa in the spring/summer of 2012. SAW Video Media Arts Centre & the City of Ottawa has awarded SINCERUS production grants. We are seeking creative volunteers for this unique opportunity to collaborate on a high quality, innovative, artistic independent short film. We offer screen credits and a DVD for each volunteer participant. We have completed the short film MOVE that has screened film festivals (INTERFILM Berlin, Germany, ETUIDA & ANIMA (Krakow, Poland). Visit the website http://movethefilm.ca

SEEKING: co-producer / co-production manager / actors / dancers/ crew / editors + CGI special effects artists
Food will be provided on set + Transportation will be provided upon request. + All acting roles and production crew are non-union. CAST: Leads to have acting experiences. Supporting cast and extras need no acting experience. (for Acting roles: Send a recent headshot + acting CV)
CREW: Preferred film production experience.

Contact the director John Graham at soulblue2006@yahoo.ca.

On Friday, January 13^th, join us for SAW Video’s first event of 2012, RESOLUTION, our annual screening of new work. There’s something for everyone in this year’s showcase of new short works by our coveted members, the driving force of our centre.

Dance and performance are highlighted in two videos: Izabel Barsive’s Patsy, which uses dance to express one woman’s troubled inner struggle with alcoholism and age, and Tim Smith’s Wander, in which choreographer Robert John van der Dolder performs a unique dance through the haunting ruins of an abandoned hospital in Germany. Both Ian Roy’s This is a Story by Ian Roy and Lesley Marshall’s + (aka. Crossroad)  take an innovative approach to storytelling, pushing the limits of narrative through post-modern self-awareness and mind-bending twists in time.

The screening also highlights Ottawa’s talented experimental videomakers. Local performance art-star Theo Pelmus’ video I Don’t’ Know Why… uses a plastic Pinocchio doll as a starting point for questioning what makes us human; Gail Bourgeois, branches out from visual art into video with Uncanny Summer Sun, a piece about the deceptive nature of memory. John Graham’s Move shows the influence of experimental cinema in its surreal depiction of the dream life of a coma patient, portrayed through visually striking stop-motion animation.

Documentary production is also showcased via Howard Adler’s Rally for Awareness, which turns a compassionate eye to the problem of missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada. Craig Conoley’s Poetry in Motion, takes a spoken-word performance by poet Brandon Wint and transforms it into a potent metaphor for urban life through a powerful split-screen technique.

A short Q&A will follow the screening.

For more details or to arrange for an interview, please contact:

Ottawa’s Kublacom Pictures is pleased to announce a special Ottawa screening of its new feature-length documentary film, How Can a Boy, on Friday, January 13th, 7:00pm at the National Archives Auditorium, 395 Wellington Street.

Tickets are $5.00, available at 6:00pm at the door only. First come first served. Proceeds from the screening will be donated to the Karen Community of Ottawa. Q & A session will follow the screening with Nimrod Andrew and the Director/Producers.

A film by two Ottawa filmmakers, How Can a Boy tells the story of Ottawa resident Nimrod Andrew, who became a refugee at the age of ten at the hands of the Burmese military and who fought back, turning hardship into hope and displacement into opportunity.

Forced to flee from his small village without his parents when the Burmese military attacked, Nimrod Andrew became stateless and faced an uncertain future in the refugee camps on the Thai-Burmese border. Overcoming tremendous odds, through hard work and ingenuity, Nimrod obtained a high school certificate and his search for safety and a better future brought him to Canada. Confronting the losses in his life and deeply affected by his childhood experiences, Nimrod has now taken on a great challenge, helping his fellow refugees to survive and find happiness in Ottawa. And telling Canadians the truth about Burma.

This 77-minute documentary chronicles the decades-old struggle by the Karen people and other ethnic minority groups in Burma for their land, livelihood and survival, against a brutal military regime bent on wiping them off the map. Against the horrors of human rights abuses and a humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions we follow the story of this remarkable young man in his quest to triumph over loss.

See the trailer: http://vimeo.com/29110811.

Visit the website for more information on the film and to watch the trailer: www.howcanaboy.com

Nimrod Andrew, now a Canadian citizen, lives in Ottawa with his spouse Win and their two young children. He works full-time as a settlement officer for OCISO – Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization, helping newly-arrived immigrants and refugees to settle in Ottawa. Nimrod is very active in the Karen community of Ottawa organizing community-building events such as the Karen New Year celebration. He travels regularly to the refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border to assist and monitor the situation of refugees and to help build linkages with Canadian churches and non-governmental organizations.

Kublacom Pictures is an Ottawa-based company that produces documentaries for television and non-governmental clients. Previous films include One of the Last and This is My Witness. How Can a Boy is Kublacom’s second film about Burma, directed by Ed Kucerak and produced by Ed Kucerak and Jane Gurr.

For screener copies of the film, productions stills or for advance interviews with Nimrod Andrew, the Director or Producers, please contact Jane Gurr, Kublacom Pictures, jane.gurr@sympatico.ca.

w.613-565-0901 c.296-5025.

Ottawa, CANADA – January 9, 2012 – The Ottawa International Film Festival’s (OIFF) fourth 72-Hour Film Challenge kicks off on Thursday, January 26 at 6:15pm at the Lieutenant’s Pump.

The 72-Hour Film Challenge tasks filmmakers to write, cast, direct, edit – in other words –create an entire original short film in three days. To give the Challenge an added twist, filmmakers must include plot points and creative criteria set out in a mystery envelope received upon registration.

“I’m always impressed by the film talent we have in Ottawa,” says Nina Bains, Executive Director of OIFF. “With a few cues, filmmakers put together imaginative stories and wonderfully shot scenes in just three days. It’s pretty remarkable.” Last year’s winners, The Waiting Room (Voters Favourite) and Polar Bear Love (Judges Pick) went on to receive national attention.

Interested filmmakers must attend the 72-Hour Film Challenge registration briefing on Thursday, January 26 at 6:15pm at the Lieutenant’s Pump to receive the mystery envelope. Registration cost is $20 per team, and teams must submit their final product by Sunday, January 29 at 7pm.

The selected film entries will be screened and voted on at the Lieutenant’s Pump on Thursday, February 16 at 7pm. The top three films will automatically qualify for the 2012 Ottawa International Film Festival in August. The winning film team will take home a prize pack valued at over $10,000 that includes Adobe Creative Suite Master Collection 5.5 provided by Adobe, and a full RED ONE production/post-production rental package provided by Parktown free of cost to shoot their next short film (some conditions apply). As well, Parktown is offering a 15% discount off indie equipment rental prices to any filmmaker participating in the challenge for their submission.

The OIFF 72-Hour Film Challenge is sponsored by the Lieutenant’s Pump, Adobe, Parktown.

Follow OIFF on Twitter @ottawafilmfest
Become a fan on Facebook

OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (OIFF) focuses on promoting local and Canadian talent and aims to serve as a niche platform for independent filmmaking. The festival showcases Canadian and international feature length, short and documentary films, and includes a music-video challenge, which brings together local musicians and filmmakers. The second annual OIFF was voted Best Film Festival of 2011 by Ottawa Xpress readers. For more information, visit www.oiff.ca.

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Media Contact:
Lina Seto
PR Office, Ottawa International Film Festival
pr@oiff.ca, 613-851-4882

100-80 Aberdeen St.
Ottawa, ON K1S 5R5

OTTAWA, Ontario (November 30, 2011) — The Canadian Film Institute (CFI), in partnership with the International Polar Year (IPY) Federal Program Office, is officially seeking entries for the Polar Film Festival. The two-day moving image event is a featured presentation of the IPY 2012 Conference: From Knowledge to Action, held April 22-27, 2012, in Montréal, Quebec, Canada.

The Polar Film Festival will celebrate the rich diversity of the Polar Regions, as well as examine the many challenges and world-wide implications they face in the 21st Century and onward. As a follow-up to the IPY Film Festival presented by the CFI in 2009, this event highlights the efforts of filmmakers from around the world who approach the Polar Regions from many different industries, research interests, artistic sensibilities, and political perspectives.

The CFI welcomes all films that explore issues and activities of particular relevance to the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Any genres of film and video practice — documentary, research, industrial, fiction, activist — from all Polar Regions are encouraged for submission.

Video submissions can be mailed directly to the CFI as a playable DVD or Blu-Ray disc. Digital entries may be submitted via direct download link, or any common digital media format such USB drive or DVD-ROM. Entrants are asked to include production credits, digital stills, director bios and filmography, contact information, and other relevant materials with their submissions.

The submission deadline is January 31, 2012. Please send all submissions to:

CANADIAN FILM INSTITUTE
2 Daly Avenue, Suite 120
Ottawa, ON  K1N 6E2
CANADA

Email: info@cfi-icf.ca
Tel: 613-232-6727
Fax: 613-232-6315

The public is encouraged to forward this Call for Entries to relevant producers, filmmakers, researchers, and other parties who may be interested. Please contact CFI Programmer Jerrett Zaroski at zaroski@cfi-icf.ca for any questions and further information.

About the IPY 2012 Conference
Occurring at a pivotal time for the environment of our planet, the International Polar Year (IPY) 2012 Conference draws international attention to the Polar Regions, global change, and related environmental, social and economic issues. From Knowledge to Action will bring together over 2,000 Arctic and Antarctic researchers, policy- and decision-makers, and a broad range of interested parties from academia, industry, non- government, education and circumpolar communities including indigenous peoples. The IPY 2012 Conference will contribute to the translation of new polar scientific findings into an evidence-based agenda for action that will influence global decisions, policies and outcomes over the coming years. More information on the conference can be found online at www.ipy2012montreal.ca.

About the CFI
The Canadian Film Institute (CFI) was incorporated in 1935 as a federally-chartered, non-governmental, non-profit cultural organization. It is the oldest film institution in Canada and the second oldest film institute in the world. More information can be found online at www.cfi-icf.ca

Gatineau, November 29th, 2011

Nish Média is proud to announce that « Hit the Ice» will commence pre-production in January 2012. This series (13 x 24 minutes) is financed and possible thanks to APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) and the Canadian Media Fund.

« Hit the Ice », will feature young Aboriginal hockey hopefuls as they are put through the paces of a real NHL style training camp. Our region will see some of the biggest names in hockey and the NHL come and offer some tips and pointers. The team will be lead by John Chabot, ex-NHLer and professional Coach as he ensures that these prospects gain as much experience during their camp which will be held in august 2012. The end of the camp will see the prospects team faceofff against a rival junior team in front of scouts from the Canadian Hockey League as well as American Universities. In addition to the television series, the show will have it’s own website which will offer viewers and hockey fans an experience similar to the participants of the show.

We hope that this season will be the start of a long running franchise and the show will be well received. To stay informed about the show please visit our «Hit the Ice» or visit our website at www.nishmedia.tv on a regular basis.

For more information, please contact Jason Brennan at jason@nishmedia.tv or by phone at 819-770-3281 ext. 203.

OTTAWA – November 24, 2011 – On Thursday, December 8th, SAW Video will celebrate its 30th anniversary with the screening, When We Were Young: Videos and Stories from the SAW Video Youth Program

Launched in 1997 and consisting of 6 editions until 2006, SAW Video’s full-time video training program for youth aged 18-30 was highly successful and stands as a model for such programs across the country. During its time at SAW Video, the youth program fostered a whole new generation of videomakers who transformed the face of the centre. Former youth program participants include Bear Thomas, a rising star in Canada’s art scene, Ryan Stec, new media artist and Artistic Director of Artengine, as well as past and present SAW Video staff and board members Ariel Smith, Linda Norstrom, Ashleigh Horricks, Kerry Campbell, and Maria Belisario who are just 7 of the more than 85 participants who took part in the program.
Funded by the Government of Canada, the program offered full-time training to underemployed youth and youth-at-risk for nearly a decade. According to SAW Video Director, Penny McCann: “As part of our 30th anniversary, we wanted to celebrate a program that truly transformed lives. The purpose of the program was to build skills in digital media, what it really did was open up a whole new world for the youth who participated.” Many of the participants still work in the field in Canada and internationally. Some have gone to the Canadian Film Centre and the Berlin International Film Festival Talent Lab, while others are now working for film festivals, galleries and broadcasters, including CBC, TVO, the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation and CPAC.

Join us for a reunion of these talented individuals and a special screening of some of the fantastic work made through the program, curated by SAW Video Youth Program alumni Jason St-Laurent & Anne Clarke.

Screening details:
When We Were Young: Videos and Stories from the SAW Video Youth program
Thursday, December 8th
Arts Court Theatre & Studio, 2 Daly Avenue
Screening 8pm
Free admission
Event sponsors: Sparrow Floral Design, Kichisippi Beer

For more details or to arrange for an interview, please contact:

Rolf Klausener
Communications Coordinator
communications@sawvideo.com
(613) 238-7648

Christopher Rohde
Programming Coordinator
programming@sawvideo.com
(613) 238-7648

SAW Video is an artist-run-centre committed to support ground breaking artistic production, presentation and programming of independent video and media art. SAW Video provides many services to its membership including affordable technical facilities, and a wide range of programmes designed to create an atmosphere that will inspire production through the exchange of ideas around form, content and style.

4 furnished working stations
Within a Television and Movie Production Agency
Kitchenette, conference room, washrooms to share
Parking available
Ideal for small production office, graphic, communication or educational services
Friendly atmosphere

$2000 all inclusive

For information: Marie-France Léonard (613) 742-8499, ext. 251

Ottawa, CANADA – November 22, 2011 – The Ottawa International Film Festival features a documentary shot by The Indefinite Project on the Ottawa Rock Lottery for the second screening of the OIFF Spotlight Series, taking place on Wednesday, December 14 at Mercury Lounge from 7-9:30pm.

The documentary, shot over 24 intense hours, follows local musicians who are brought together by their common enthusiasm for music and excitement for challenge as they are tasked to come together and create music in one day. The film crew captures rare glimpses into the intimate jam spaces of some of Ottawa’s finest artists and reveals all the moments – from the new camaraderies, beginning of the songs to live performance footage, and everything in between.

The documentary screening is the second screening for the OIFF Spotlight Series and includes a rare acoustic performance by Amos The Transparent, and music videos by The Joynt, Kalle Mattson, Zebrassieres, The Goodluck Assembly, and Ian Keteku – many of which have exclusive Ottawa content and references.

Join us Wednesday, December 14 at Mercury Lounge, 56 Byward Market Sq – Doors open at 7pm. Tickets $8 at the door. Must be 19+ to enter.

Follow OIFF on Twitter @ottawafilmfest
Become a fan on Facebook

OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (OIFF) focuses on promoting local and Canadian talent and aims to serve as a niche platform for independent filmmaking. The festival showcases Canadian and international feature length, short and documentary films, and includes a music-video challenge, which brings together local musicians and filmmakers. The second annual OIFF was voted Best Film Festival of 2011 by Ottawa Xpress readers. For more information, visit www.oiff.ca.

Media Contacts:
Lina Seto
PR Office, Ottawa International Film Festival
outreach@oiff.ca, 613-851-4882