We asked some of the talented filmmakers behind the films in this year's Short Cuts Canada programme 5 short questions in order to get a quick introduction to them and some insight into their genius minds. Have a read through the first installment here and you'll see the madcap bunch we're dealing with. More to come!
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SIMON ENNIS, Director, The Canadian Shield
1. Where do you come from?
I was born in Toronto, Ontario but came into my own in Drumheller, Alberta - the dinosaur capital of Canada.
2. What influenced your film?
The hard work and talent of everybody who worked on it.
3. Why filmmaking?
I'm a lousy baseball player, a lazy musician and, thanks to a thyroid condition, unable to qualify as a guinea pig for pharmaseudical research.
4. Who is your creative hero?
Having a 'hero' seems to me a little antithetical to being creative. That being said I'm a big fan of Jerry Lee Lewis, Marcel Duchamp and the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays.
5. What are you most looking forward to at TIFF?
The guest pass - I hope to see at least 30 films!
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JULIA KWAN, Director, Smile
1. Where do you come from?
Born and raised in Vancouver, B.C.
2. What influenced your film?
Smile was one of the short stories I wrote while I was developing my feature, Eve & the Fire Horse. I turned that story into a short script, which was meant to be my "calling card" film for my feature. However, with finances in place for both, the production for the feature came together faster than the short so I ended up making my "calling card" after my feature!
3. Why filmmaking?
Filmmaking gives me a voice and allows me to connect with people on a personal level.
4. Who is your creative hero?
Hirokazu Koreeda
5. What are you most looking forward to at TIFF?
Watching films! (Particularly excited about the new films by Ang Lee, Julie Taymor, Noah Baumbach, Auraeus Solito)
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SHERRY WHITE, Director, Diamonds in a Bucket
1. Where do you come from?
I come from Stephenville, on the west coast of Newfoundland, a community of about 7 thousand people.
2. What influenced your film?
I think I was inspired by how much we will delude ourselves in relationships - so many people are so afraid to be alone that they will convince themselves that anything fits. But it's hard to go back to the delusion when someone blows the whistle on it.
3. Why filmmaking?
I really believe in stories, I think they help us feel connected
to humanity. With film, there is so much potential for rich and provocative story telling, because you have both words and pictures.
4. Who is your creative hero?
I don't really have one creative hero, but I have loads and loads of people how have influenced me. From Mary Walsh to Lynne Ramsay to Bruce Springsteen - all tellers of great stories.
5. What are you most looking forward to at TIFF?
I'm looking forward to stumbling upon some gems that I wouldn't have otherwise stumbled upon.
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DECO DAWSON, Director, The Last Moment
1. Where do you come from?
I was born and raised in Winnipeg the geographic asshole of Canada, but now live in Detroit, the economic asshole of America.
2. What influenced your film?
100 years of film history, as my film depicts an on again off again relationship told through five periods of film history, Film Noir, Dogme95, Late-Era Hitchcock, Tarantino and French New Wave.
3. Why filmmaking?
It is my most recent obsession.
4. Who is your creative hero?
Tied, Kelsey Grammer and Jackie Joyner-Kersee
5. What are you most looking forward to at TIFF?
All those nifty AFG commercials before the films.
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SEAN GARRITY, Director, ReOrder
1. Where do you come from?
Born in Winnipeg. Live in Winnipeg.
2. What influenced your film?
A dream I had. In the dream I was writing and writing and writing and never actually making a film? at least I wish it were a dream.
3. Why filmmaking?
My mom thought it would be more financially stable than being a musician.
4. Who is your creative hero?
Jaco Pastorius, Guy Maddin, Paul Klee, Iwai Shinji, Zadie Smith, Chris Marker
5. What are you most looking forward to at TIFF?
There are so many great films that won?t get distributed in Canada ? I have to see ?em at the TIFF or forever hold my peace.
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