Watch Canada’s best short films from the comfort of your computer chair

NSI’s online festival gives filmmakers an audience, and is free to see

A scene from Robert Huynh’s Red Birds of Happiness, one of the 25 films short-listed for NSI’s Online Short Film Festival.
A scene from Robert Huynh’s Red Birds of Happiness, one of the 25 films short-listed for NSI’s Online Short Film Festival.

Ah, it’s time again for NSI’s online film fest. And with this summer’s record breaking cold spells, there’s no better place to be than glued to your computer screen checking out the finest Canadian shorts out there.

Short films, that is.

Four times a year the National Screen Institute (NSI) holds their Online Short Film Festival, calling on the nation’s best and brightest filmmakers to submit their work. The winner receives a $2,500 cash prize, as well as invaluable national recognition. This section’s deadline is Aug. 17.

“It’s a doorway for young filmmakers to get national exposure, it gives you the encouragement and support artists need to succeed,” said filmmaker Robert Huynh, a Red River College graduate and second-time submitter to the festival.

His first attempt was unsuccessful, but with his animation Red Birds of Happiness, he hopes to gain new recognition and experience.

The festival is free to submit a piece and free to watch the entries, but only accessible to Canadian IP addresses. Only 25 of the films entered are chosen to be screened on the website.

Liz Hover, website manager and producer for NSI, believes that technology is a powerful tool in the sharing of modern films.

 

With so many good film schools in Canada, the competition is definitely tough.

Robert Huynh, filmmaker

“We’re trying to take elements of an actual film festival and incorporate them online, by including the educational aspect of interviews with the filmmakers. Yet we also have the means to archive past films and re-watch current ones using the Internet.”

There’s no doubt that being selected for the festival opens doors to the industry. Huynh looks forward to including it in his portfolio, and aspires to submit more films in the future.

“With so many good film schools in Canada, the competition is definitely tough.”

This year the NSI had to deal with a significant cut to their government funding, losing $520,000 from the National Training Program in the Film and Video Sector. This represented 22 per cent of NSI’s annual budget. As a result, training programs and outreach initiatives were cutback.

To Hover, this was a big hit, especially with so many underrepresented Canadian films and no money for larger bandwidth.

Hence why only Canadians can view the content.

“No jobs were lost, but everyone has definitely been effected.”

But NSI’s main focus will always be on their training school, Hover said.

Funding and resources aside, both Hover and Huynh agree a good film boils down to having a good story. Check out some great ones at www.www.nsi-canada.ca/film_festival.aspx.

Published in Volume 63, Number 30 of The Uniter (August 13, 2009)

Related Reads