tiff RBC Emerging Filmmakers Competition Award 2013

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

tiff RBC Emerging Filmmakers Competition Award 2013

The #Toronto International Film Festival #tiff_net not only seeks to review and reward good films - it also works with new talent to develop the industry with the RBC Emerging Filmmakers Competition. This is the fourth year of the program which attracts filmmakers from the tiff Talent Lab. This year the topic for the short 1-5 minute movies was 'memory' and sixteen participants received a small bursary donated by RBC and set to work to create their movies with a time limit of four months. (Top photo, l to r: Piers Handling, Kevan Funk, Christoph Rainer, Dan Popa and Jennifer Tory).

Five finalists were chosen by a panel of directors and producers: 'My Name is Solomon Hagos' by Rafael Balulu (Isreal), 'Destroyer' by Kevan Funk (Canada), 'The Lull Breaker' by Mako Kamitsuna (USA), 'Tales of Santa Fe' by Dan Popa and 'Requiem For A Robot' by Christoph Rainer (Austria).

Finalists Rafeal Balulu and Mako Kamitsuna join the group photo

On Wednesday, September 4, 2013 Piers Handling, Director and CEO tiff and Jennifer Troy, Regional Vice President (Greater Toronto Region) of RBC Royal Bank announced the winners of the competition at the tiff Bell Lightbox on King Street West. Taking the $20,000 top prize was Christoph Rainer with 'Requiem For A Robot'. Two honourable mentions were awarded - Dan Popa and Kevan Funk, each taking a prize of $5,000.

Christoph's robot cries and vomits

Christoph's film description is as follows 'Tortured by a reoccurring nightmare, an alcoholic robot has nothing left but a corrupt memory. In order to find out what has happened, he returns to his creator.' His robot learns to cry, not without a few short circuits, as he regains his memory. He cannot find after peace after disappointing his 'father' with his continuous failures that he seeks an end to his pain. The message is intense and Christoph admits that the film ended up being very personal.

Piers was impressed by the quality of the films and look forward to seeing them on the big screen. The finalists were grateful for tiff and RBC for sponsoring both the Talent Lab and the Emerging Filmmaker Competition as it provides such an amazing experience. "These winning films demonstrate the work of unique, emerging voices in filmmaking," said Piers Handling, director and CEO, TIFF. "The Emerging Filmmakers Competition is a platform to share these voices and we are thrilled to partner with RBC once again on this initiative."

"We look forward to seeing how up-and-coming filmmakers interpret, define and express the theme each year," saidJennifer Tory, RBC's regional president for Greater Toronto. "The winning films chosen this year represent the talent and creativity that make us proud to support TIFF and the RBC Emerging Filmmakers Competition."

The award is especially significant as it occurs on the cusp of the launch of the 2013 edition of the the festival which takes place at a number of theaters in Toronto, including tiff headquarters at Bell Lightbox, from September 5 to 15 - so keep your eyes peeled for movie stars and other celebrities. Workers are scurrying around making final preparations for the event - John Street has been closed and a large video screen has been setup beside Roy Thomson Hall, while the red carpet is being placed in David Peacut Square by Metro Hall. The L'Oreal two floor beauty tent is going up so we will hopefully see the lovely Theresa Longo as she represents L'Oreal Paris Canada.