Canada·UPDATE

B.C. filmmaker wins Short Film Face Off Season 17

Congratulations to Derek Kwan winner of this year's Telefiilm Canada Short Film Face Off Award for his film 100 Days.

Watch all nine short films by emerging filmmakers across Canada on CBC Gem

A young black haired man in a red shirt. His photo is in front of a photo of a baby wearing a grey knitted cap. The words 100 Days are on the top of the baby photo. It's a poster for the short film. The words Director Derek Kwan are next to the man's photo.
British Columbia director Derek Kwan was voted winner of the 17th season of Short Film Face Off on CBC TV and CBC Gem. (CBC)
Congratulations to Derek Kwan winner of this year's Telefilm Canada Short Film Face Off Award for his film 100 Days.


The British Columbia director was among nine directors from across the country who competed in Season 17 of the short film competition. Home viewers got to vote on all nine films, to determine the winner.

Short Film Face Off producers thank all the directors and their teams for sharing their remarkable films.

"Again this year it was our privilege to present nine new talented filmmaking voices to a national audience. Clearly, the future of Canadian filmmaking is bright," says Bill Niven, the independent producer of the Halifax-lensed series.

In addition to the national broadcast opportunity on CBC, Telefilm Canada provided an award of $30,000 to the top filmmaker.

You can watch this year's episodes and all nine films on CBC Gem.

About 100 Days 
A tradition in Asian cultures when a baby turns 100 days old, family and friends celebrate over a banquet style dinner welcoming the infant into the world. An unexpected guest arrives and a bowl of red bean dessert soup causes tensions to boil over in this modern day family dramedy.

 


 

 

A program poster for Short Film Face Off, showing the nine competing films for Season 17. The words Short Film Face Off are written on tape which is attached to a mobile phone.
CBC's and CBC Gem's long-running series, Short Film Face Off, is back for its 17th season showcasing the best of short films and emerging filmmakers from across the country.

Home viewers get to vote on all nine films. The season runs Saturdays (Sept 14, 21, 28 and Oct. 5) on CBC TV at 8 p.m. ET (9 p.m. AT and 9:30 p.m. NT). All nine films will be available on CBC Gem on Friday, Sept. 13.

A Black woman with black hair and a navy blue dress standing smiling with her hands in front of her.
Amanda Parris is back as host of Short Film Face Off Season 17 coming to CBC TV and CBC Gem in September. (CBC)
Amanda Parris, nationally acclaimed writer and broadcaster, returns as host of the Halifax-produced show. Cultural commentator Eli Glasner, content curator Mohit Rajhans and Cinespace Studios' Magali Simard are back as panelists.


With the mission to increase audience awareness of talented filmmakers across Canada, Short Film Face Off  is one of the highest profile showcases of short films in the country.

"Our alumni now includes over 160 filmmakers from all across the country," says the show's independent producer, Bill Niven. "Our aim is to entertain audiences and to provide a springboard for the next generation of Canadian filmmakers. Many of them have graduated to feature films and prime-time TV series." 

In addition to the national broadcast opportunity on CBC, Telefilm Canada provides an award of $30,000 to the top filmmaker.

Watch this year's competing films:

Sept. 14 - Episode One

A drummer from a marching band jumps in the air with arms stretched and hat flying in the air. The word "BOUNCE' is next to the drummer on a teal background. It's a show poster for the movie Bounce.
Bounce - Elizabeth Hicks (Newfoundland and Labrador)
When an ultra-cute boy from Darcy's cadet corps insists that she attend that night's Trampoline Social, she sets off for a dramatic evening of self acceptance and sweet backflips.
 
A Black woman looks with short black hair and big hoop earrings looks upward. She is wearing a green sweater turtleneck. The word Home is next to her. This is a show poster for the movie HOME.
Home – Duane Crichton (Ontario)
A woman's home AI system stages an intervention to persuade her to leave her slowly dying marriage.
 
A little girl with long brown hair tied back stands among origami cranes that are hanging from the ceiling. The words "For Roy" on next to her. It's a show poster for the movie For Roy.
For Roy – Vivian Cheung (British Columbia)
Inspired by true events, an imaginative girl attempts to fold a thousand cranes as she learns to lose her father during his final days in the hospice.

Sept 21st: Episode Two

An Indigenous woman appears through a cutout of a flying eagle.The word Datrin is in white above her. This is a show poster for the movie Datrin.
Datrin -  Douglas Joe (Yukon)
A Gwich'in elder in Canada's far North dreams of the last remaining Datrin ( Raven ). Who would you talk to if you were the last speaker of your language?
 
A profile of a woman with a ponytail looking up to the sky. There is a clothesline with clothes hanging in the background. The words The Mess We're In is to the left. It's a poster for The Mess We're In.
The Mess We're In - Jamie Lam (British Columbia)
Still living in her mother's hoarder house, a young woman struggles to balance her feelings of duty towards her family and her desire for independence.
 
Someone places a tea cup on a table. You only see the persons hands. The words The Tea Cup are included in the poster. It's a poster for the movie, The Tea Cup.
The Teacup - Zhi Min Hu (Ontario)
A teacup triggers an immigrant's memories and nostalgia. How she deals with this past affects her perspective on her childhood, her family, and her future.

Sept 28th: Episode Three

A young woman is looking into her phone and it's glow is lighting her face. There is a bubble with the words My Digital Boyfriend in it. Parts of the image are digitized. Thisis a poster for the movie My Digital Boyfriend.
My Digital Boyfriend - Lauren Eden (Ontario)
A lonely college student downloads a dating simulator app only to find her pixelated partner may be more real than she thought.


A little boy wearing a knitted hat smiles as he appears to be before lit candles. The words 100 Days are next to him. It is a show poster for the movie 100 Days.
100 Days – Derek Kwan (British Columbia)
A tradition in Asian cultures when a baby turns 100 days old, family and friends celebrate over a banquet style dinner welcoming the infant into the world. An unexpected guest arrives and a bowl of red bean dessert soup causes tensions to boil over in this modern day family dramedy.
 
A woman with blonde hair lights up a cigarette. The word smokeBreak is next to her. This is a post for the movie smokeBreak.
smokeBreak – Lisa Robertson (Ontario)
smokeBreak tells the story of a mother's uncomfortable reunion with her daughter,  exposing how their deep bond broke and why it may remain forever – in pieces.
 

Oct. 5 - The Finale - find out the winner of Season 17
 

Photos courtesy of CBC.