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Guest Post: "The Shorts Report"

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When Biz Books asked The Shorts Report to bloggity blog up their site, it occurred to this Shorts Reporter that the timing couldn’t be more perfect. Afterall, it was just a year ago that The Shorts Report was born.

My name is Kellie Ann Benz and in 2008 I made my third short film, Awkward. I made Awkward with my own money, knowing it wasn’t government funding-attractive. When it started getting into festivals from Quebec to England, I knew it was money was well spent. Then it got invited to the prestigious Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France. Boo-ya!

There I was in France, at the Cannes of short film festivals – one of only 3 other English language Canadian films – representin’ for my county at home. Unlike North America, France treats the short film as a marketable entity. Their eight day long festival and five day long market energetically reflected the international fervour for quality short films.

My favourite little medium which on my continent is treated like a training vehicle was, in France, a career worthy master craft that people could make a living from.

I returned home with a fire for short films burning so bright in my belly that no amount of apathy could douse it. Taking a gander around I noticed that we here in Canada spend millions every year on the production of short films, yet we still treat the medium like its practise.

The first of April 2009, The Shorts Report went live. My main focus was on Canadian made short films and the festivals in Canada that were programming them. The benefit of being your own publisher is you can jump at news other outlets are ignoring. Within months I was signed up for more newsletters, newsfeeds, site subscriptions and blogs than I’d ever even known existed.

By August, the sweet order of Festivals in Canada – Montreal in August, Toronto in September, Vancouver in October – bore coverage that begged for a title. Festada became the umbrella under which all announcements of programmed Canadian shorts came out one after the other. This allowed a quick reference for which films were accepting multiple invitations.

Shorts films Dance Macabre, (now a Genie Nominee), The Armoire, Chili & Cheese: A Condiment Rift, La Vie Commence, Out in the Deep Blue Sea, Runaway, The Spine, Ten for Grandpa, Funky Prairie Boy joined Awkward on the festival circuit on a pretty regular basis.

By August, I was lucky enough to be invited by Sandy Gow at the Vancouver International Film Festival to help program their return to International shorts, and to moderate a lively panel at their trade forum regarding the medium. Nate Weinstein from Youtube and Tina Santamauro from NY’s Atom.com joined the conversation about the future of online distribution.

By November, the National Screen Institute showed their generosity by ordering up a monthly column about the medium of short films.

It seemed the little medium was starting to be heard.

Despite my many posts about funding sources, web series and distribution, the most popular posts remain the festival programming announcements. No surprise, as getting that letter is akin to being invited into a coveted club. You’re special, you’re unique and we want you.

As the year comes around the bend, I can tell you now that The Shorts Report will remain in place for as long as I can keep running it. A sponsor would be lovely, but until the right one comes along, I’ll keep the integrity of the site alive.

So thank you Biz Books for giving this Shorts Reporter a chance to reflect on this last first year, a year that has been worth every single second!

Posted on March 30, 2010.
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Goin' Green

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So in our never ending quest to keep you updated with pictures of Bronwen (!?) we have a new one to share with you.

Earlier this week writer/director Mark Leiren-Young was in Biz Books thrilled to pick up the Watchmen swag he had won from our recent contest. (What Watchmen swag contest you ask…do you not get our newsletter? ) Anywho…it was during this visit that we were privy to witnessing the reunion of “writer” Mark with one of his stellar actors…our aforementioned Bronwen… as they discussed their collaboration on The Green Film ...not to be confused with “director” Mark’s other current offering…The Green Chain which is currently in theatres. The Green Film — which premiered last year at Crazy 8s in Vancouver — has been selected by the Tribeca Film Festival to participate in the third annual Fly-In Movies Film Competition. Tribeca has partnered with Delta Air Lines to showcase emerging filmmakers online and on select Delta flights. The Green Film was one of only five Short Film Finalists chosen from thousands of entries.

From March 1 through April 12, you can view all five short films for free and vote for your favourite

And while Mark was definitely thrilled with the attention being paid to the film he penned, it seemed that the film he helmed might have been in the forefront of his mind as chatted with us about his recent sharing of thoughts about the film in the Georgia Straight

And if that wasn’t enough to keep this renaissance guy busy…he was also jazzed to share with us that his recently released book Never Shoot a Stampede Queen had just made it (again) onto the top 10 list of The Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia

And then, after we had concluded our wonderful visit and Mark was walking out the door, a customer who had overheard our conversation mentioned that he had attended a recent screening of The Green Chain and proceeded to thank and congratulate Mark for his work. So. Cool.

So yeah…it was the Watchmen swag that made Mark’s day…...it WAS really cool….

Posted on March 13, 2009.
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A Dozen Canadian Films to Screen at Sundance

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Congratulations to the 12 Canadian films selected for screening at the Sundance Film Festival this year! From documentary to animation, from shorts to features, Canadian Film is well represented and we wish you all great audiences and enthusiastic reviews!

Posted on January 15, 2009.
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Festival Like a Film Star!

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Our good friends at the First Weekend Club are presenting
The Whistler “Festival Like A Star” Contest

First Weekend Club, Canada’s Ticket to Great Film, is giving their members a chance to win a trip for two to one of the coolest festivals on the planet! The Whistler International Film Festival 08 December 4th-7th

First Weekend Club and their generous contest partners agree that you deserve some star treatment, so they’ve planned your epic film vacation for you.

How does this sound?


- Airfare for two to Vancouver courtesy of Renshaw Travel

- A chauffeured Star Limousine scenic drive to Whistler

- 3 nights stay at the Pan Pacific Village Centre hotel

- Passes to Whistler Film Festival films and Gala party

- Fine dining from Araxi & fine foods from Astrid’s

Yeah, we think it sounds great too…

Enter online before November 27th at www.firstweekendclub.ca

Posted on November 22, 2008.
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