Symposium

Short Films, Big Ideas: A Symposium on the Art & Commerce of Short Filmmaking

Distribution 101
10:30 – Noon
Need to know how to launch your film into the marketplace? Come and meet national and international distributors who will share tips on how to best approach them, what they can do for you, and what they are looking for. If you’re interested in selling your film, this is a great place to start.

Moderator:
Anneli Ekborn, Production Manager, CFC

Panelists:
Fred Joubard, Premium Films (USA/France)
Jessica Parkinson, OUAT Media
Yuni A. Hadi, Objectifs Films (Singapore)
Sydney Neter, SND Films, Netherlands
Susan Peterson, Shorts International, USA & UK

Festivals 101
1:00 – 2:30 PM
Getting into festivals is often the first break for emerging filmmakers. In this session with several festival directors, topics will include: figuring out where to apply; what to do once accepted; how to work a festival, and; what materials you need to get the most out of a fest. This is an opportunity to get inside the heads of folks who call the festival shots.

Moderator:
Todd Brown, Twitch Film, Fantasia Festival, Fantastic Fest, Toronto After Dark

Panelists:
Shane Smith, Sundance Film Festival
Eileen Arandiga, Worldwide Short Film Festival
Tim Redford, Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival
Audrey Cummings, Filmmaker, Burgeon and Fade

Inside A Composer’s Mind
3:00 – 4:30 PM
Creating original music for your film can be an intimidating task, often overlooked by film schools. This session will allow you to take a glimpse into a film composer's world - the tools of the trade, the time and resources needed, and how to make the most out of your music budgets. Hear about the working relationship with a director-composer team, with examples of how creative collaborations work.

Moderator:
Darren Fung, Board Member, Guild of Canadian Film Composers; Composer

Panelists:
Chris Landreth, Director, THE SPINE
Kirk Elliott, Original Music Composer, THE SPINE

LIFT Out Loud
$5 at the door, not available in advance
7:00 – 9:00 PM
Back by popular demand, LIFT has joined us to present their very popular screenplay reading series. Professional actors will do a reading of two selected short scripts, after which the floor will be open for feedback from the audience and a professional screenwriter. Learn about the craft of screenwriting - plot, dialogue, motivation and story arc - in a supportive environment of fellow writers, actors, and filmmakers.

Moderator:
Greg Klymkiw, Producer-in-Residence, CFC

Door Openers
10:30 – 11:45 AM
Canada has several programs to help emerging talent jumpstart their careers. This panel will speak to the opportunities available from the Canadian Film Centre, the National Screen Institute, Bravo!Fact, the National Film Board, and INIS (L'Institut national de l'image et du son). Learn what the folks who run these funds and programs are looking for, what they have to offer, and if - you’re interested - the best way to approach them.

Moderator:
Seema Sebnani, Recruiter, Media Lab, CFC

Panelists:
Liz Janzen, National Screen Insitute
Judy Gladstone, Bravo!FACT
Gerry Flahive, National Film Board
Kathryn Emslie, Director, CFC Film & TV

In the Palm of Your Hand
12:30 – 2:00 PM
This is where phones and movies meet. With the recent release of new technologies, mobile content has grown leaps and bounds, and different areas of the world are creating their own mobile cultures. This panel will present what’s happening in national and international jurisdictions, the opportunities available to short form content-makers, and emerging mobile consumption trends.

Moderator:
Sudha Krishna, Media Consultant

Panelists:
Hans Spielthenner, ohm:tv GMBH (Germany)
Duncan Kennedy, Mobifest
Myro Fal, Senior Programmer, Digital Content, Telus

Paper Me Up
2:30 – 4:00
Legal issues can be a drag - but this panel will help you position your business affairs to industry standards. Several professionals will discuss topics such as broadcaster expectations, first vs. third party liability, music rights, E&O (Errors and Omissions) insurance, what the CFTPA (Canadian Film and Television Production Association) can do for you, and how to dot your ‘i’s and cross your ‘t’s regarding your paper work. This is the place to ask questions and prepare for issues that may occur before, during, and after your productions. Resources and handouts will be distributed.

Moderator:
Jane Angel, Director of Legal and Business Affairs, CFC

Panelists:
Judi Heron, Senior Account Executive, Unionville Insurance Brokers
Ian Cooper, Associate, Stohn Jay Cafazzo Dembroski Richmond LLP
Greg Fisher, fish-fry music and sound
Karla Bobadilla, Director, New Media, Children's and Documentary Programming, CFPTA

Speed Networking
4:15 – 5:15 PM
Welcome to the world of real life social networking! Looking for a Producer? Writer? Director? This is a prime space for a quick networking opportunity amongst your peers. Meet the folks who may potentially help you realize future visions, or whom you could support. With a chance for a fun, energetic, and fast intro, this session will set you up to maximize your ongoing festival networking opportunities. Remember: much of your success is dependant on the strength and quality of your network.

Moderator:
Sue Biely, Symposium Producer, CFC

Writing Comedies
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
When surveyed, ice cream and laughter are two things most people love. So how can you dish up more guffaws to your hungry audience? How do you refine your cinematic comedic craft? Meet folks who have spent time studying the funny bone and have tips to dispense on what is often considered the hardest genre of all.

Moderator:
Christopher Bolton, RENT A GOALIE

Panelists:
Rob Sheridan, CORNER GAS, LESS THAN KIND, NAKED JOSH, THE RED GREEN SHOW, LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE
Kellie Ann Benz, AWKWARD
Dennis Heaton, FIDO, MY PAL SATAN, JPOD

CFC Master Class – Ronald Sanders: The Craft of Editing
1:00 – 2:30 PM
Join us for an inspirational conversation with multi award-winning editor Ronald Sanders on the craft of editing. Ron has built a career working with directors such as David Cronenberg, Henry Selick, Norman Jewison. Using clips from his oeuvre, which include CORALINE, EASTERN PROMISES and A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, Ron will deconstruct scenes and his storytelling choices. He will explore how to build tension, how to enhance performance and the scoring and sound editing process.

Hosted by editor Gareth C. Scales, Ron will explore his long standing collaboration with director David Cronenberg and how their relationship has affected his craft. This discussion will provide behind-the-scenes insights into the intimate relationship between the editor and the film, and how the editor is the final storyteller.

Who Buys What
3:00 – 6:00 PM
Back by popular demand! This is the power drink of panels packed with folks from the national, international, and alternative platform sectors who want to give you money for your films! Terms, fees, editorial styles, and how to get your work into their hands will be demystified. Bring your notepads to catch all the details.

Moderator:
Shane Smith, Executive Producer, In-Flight Entertainment at Spafax Canada, Short Film Programmer, Sundance Film Festival

Panelists:
Sharon Stevens, GlassBOX Television
Kara Haflidson, Movieola
Tina Santomauro, Atom Films
Aubie Greenberg, Astral Television Networks (TMN)
Mary Lampe, Southwest Alternate Media Project (USA)
Linda Olszewski, Shorts International (USA & UK)
Nick Solowski, Spafax
Kam Jey, ohm:tv (Germany)
Justin Rebelo, SuperChannel
Eric Neher, Encore Avenue & Scream TV
Jamie White, Colorado Film Foundation (USA)
Candida Zelaya, Movie Central, Corus Entertainment
Robin Neinstein, CBC
Karol Martesko-Fenster, Bablegum

Master Class with Oscar® Nominee Bill Plympton
6:00 - 8:00 PM
ROM Classroom 6

Be part of our intimate audience as animator Bill Plympton shares the gems of his internationally-renowned career with a slide show, content demonstrations, and some impromptu drawing. Open to only 24 participants, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn from one of the world’s most flavourful indie animators. Buy your tickets now!

Video in Cyberspace
Noon – 2:00 PM
The threat to television is a reality as more and more eyeballs switch over to the web. Learn about available opportunities in terms of financing, marketing, distributing, and monetizing your work, finding and leveraging other creative talent, and what tools and trends are influencing video media for global cyber-audiences.

Moderator:
Amy Davies, Head of Content & Digital Media, Achilles Media

Panelists:
Sudha Krishna, Media Consultant
Darren Wershler-Henry, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University & Cultural Critic
Yair Landau, Mass Animation

Episodic Shorts
2:30 – 4:30 PM
For those interested in serial creations who don’t want to wait for a broadcaster's green light, come and learn what's happening with episodic shorts on the web. From simple to sophisticated story structure, this format allows for brand traction to create a loyal audience, or simply test a concept that has the potential to expand. This panel will address several genres that cross from simple vlogs to all-out high-production serials.

Moderator:
Johnny Kalangis, Creative Director at Marble Media

Panelists:
Darren Wershler-Henry, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University & Cultural Critic
Jonas Diamond, Executive Producer, Smiley Guy Studios, Odd Job Jack
Lynne Kamm, VP Creative, InSeries Media Inc., ilovealuger.com
Dennis Heaton, Showrunner, MY PAL SATAN
Tina Santomauro, Acquisitions Manager, AtomFilms