Short Film & Video Festival

What do Bruce MacDonald, Sarah Polley, John Fawcett, Michael Dowse, Mike Hoolboom and Brian Stockton have in common? Apart from being some of Canada’s most renowned filmmakers, they have all screened shorts at the Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival.

Located in the heart of Toronto Canada, Old Cabbagetown is home to an artistic and economically diverse population. Each September, this colourful neighborhood celebrates its unique character with the week long fall party, the Cabbagetown Cultural Festival. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors who enjoy the renovated Victorian architecture, boutiques and restaurants as well as over 40 special events such as the Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival, musical acts, twice-around-the-block parade, art-in-the-park show, and many unique exhibits.

In the early `90s there were few local opportunities for filmmakers to show off their creations. So in 1992 Gina Dineen, then a York University film grad founded the Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival. The goal was to give the film community a place to screen interesting and entertaining short films and videos. Since then, the festival has grown substantially from a celebration of local filmmakers to an international juried show. It’s one of the best fringe festivals in the country.

Every year, the Festival receives hundreds of submissions from across Canada, the United States, Europe, the UK, South America, Australia and Japan. Entries range from digital video to 35mm Dolby and include comedies, dramas, experimental films, animation, and documentaries. None can run longer than 15 minutes.

The submissions are short listed to make up a two hour show. A panel of industry professionals juries the entries and hands out prizes in half a dozen categories. Past jurors have included: actor Paul Gross; executive director of the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund Andra Scheffer; film editor Eric Goddard; and producer Damon D’Oliveira.