2016 Canadian Screen Awards – Television & Digital Media Gala 2 Winners

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television held their gala evening at the Westin Harbour Castle for the second round of Canadian Screen Award winners for 2016.

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is pleased to announce that 49 Canadian Screen Awards and six Academy Special Awards were presented tonight in Drama, Children’s or Youth, Comedy and Variety categories. This Canadian Screen Awards Gala was hosted tonight by comedian Steve Patterson at the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto.

2016 Canadian Screen Awards – Television & Digital Media, Gala 1 Winners

The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television held its first gala tonight at the Westin Harbour Castle for the first round of Canadian Screen Award winners for 2016. The event was hosted by comedian Seán Cullen and presented 50 Canadian Screen Awards in the News & Sports, Documentary, Lifestyle, Reality & Digital Media categories.

In addition, they presented and three previously announced Academy Special Awards – Canada in Perspective received the Diversity Award; Mark Starowicz received the Gordon Sinclair Award for Broadcast Journalism; and Much Music Video Awards – Router-Based Production Audio Design received the Outstanding Technical Achievement Award.

10 contenders remain in Visual Effects Oscar race

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced that 10 films remain in the running in the Visual Effects category for the 88th Academy Awards®.

The Academy’s Visual Effects Branch Executive Committee determined the shortlist. All members of the Visual Effects Branch will now be invited to view 10-minute excerpts from each of the shortlisted films on Saturday, January 9, 2016. Following the screenings, the members will vote to nominate five films for final Oscar consideration.

Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television announces nominees for 2015 Canadian Screen Awards

“Today we are very proud to reveal the nominees for the 2015 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS,” says Helga Stephenson, CEO, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

“2014 was an exceptionally competitive year for Canadian film, television & digital media,” Stephenson adds. “The Academy received a record number of Canadian Screen Awards submissions, which is also a good sign for the industry.”

CSA nominations in 128 categories (24 film, 97 in television and 7 in digital media) were announced today at simultaneous press conferences in Toronto and Montreal and via live webcast on the Academy’s new FanZone website, launched today.

2014 TIFF announces Wavelengths, Future Projections selections

WAVELENGTHS TRANSFORMS THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE INTO A RICH, CINEMATIC OFFERING FOR ADVENTUROUS AUDIENCES
Including films by Pedro Costa, Sergei Loznitsa, Lav Diaz, Soon-Mi Yoo, Manoel de Oliveira, Matías Piñeiro, Josh and Benny Safdie, Ken Jacobs, Johann Lurf, Alexandre Larose, Mary Helena Clark, Shinya Tsukamoto, Rebecca Baron, René Frölke, Basma Alsharif, Lisandro Alonso, Gabriel Abrantes, Yuri Ancarani, KwieKulik, Mich’ael Zupraner and more…


For cinephiles, art lovers and daring Festival-goers who refuse to be categorized, the Toronto International Film Festival®’s Wavelengths programme offers 46 films which challenge conventional approaches to cinema and propose daring new forms of filmic expression. Overseen by film curator Andréa Picard, with contributions from members of TIFF’s international programming team, Wavelengths is committed to showcasing a wide range of film art, including artist-made film and video, hybrid and essayistic documentaries, and feature-length films employing daring approaches to style and storytelling. This year’s dynamic selection includes the latest gem by the world’s oldest living working filmmaker, Manoel de Oliveira (105), alongside new films by radical auteurs Sergei Loznitsa, Tsai Ming-liang and Lav Diaz, emerging Canadian talents Alexandre Larose, Malena Szlam, Blake Williams and Jean-Paul Kelly, and internationally acclaimed artist-filmmakers Soon-Mi Yoo, Eric Baudelaire, KwieKulik, Ken Jacobs, and Lonnie van Brummelen & Siebren de Haan.

2014 Teen Choice Awards – winners

Teens Cast More Than 164 Million Votes

The following were honored today at TEEN CHOICE 2014, which aired live on FOX from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA. This year, teens logged on to teenchoiceawards.com and cast more than 164 million votes in support of their favorite celebrities from film, television, music, sports, digital and fashion.

Hosted by Modern Family's Sarah Hyland and Teen Wolf's Tyler Posey, the special also honored Selena Gomez with the Ultimate Choice Award.

Bella Thorne and Cameron Dallas presented the Choice Candie's Style Icon award to actress, singer and dancer Zendaya for her red carpet style and bold fashion choices. Actress Odeya Rush scored the Olay Fresh Effects Breakout Star Award," which was presented by MKTO and Cody Simpson. The award is a special accolade celebrating a fresh face who is poised to "break out" from the pack and showcase her best, beautiful work.

2014 Canadian Screen Awards – nominations

The 2014 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS nominees in film, television and digital media were announced today by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

“We are exceedingly proud today to reveal the nominees for the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards,” says Academy Chair Martin Katz. “This was a year marked by a record-breaking number of submissions, reflecting a robust level of activity in the screen-based industries in Canada which we will celebrate during Canadian Screen Week, March 3-9. Congratulations to all,” says Katz.

“2014 marks 65 years of celebrating leading talent in Canada: first film, then television and now digital media...with the greatest Canadian stars in our history gracing our awards year after year,” says Academy CEO Helga Stephenson. “From Mary Pickford to Martin Short, we have been blessed with the best, a tradition we intend to carry forward,” adds Stephenson. “Congratulations to all the nominees, you have already won.”

The Great Digital Film Festival 2014, Jan 31–Feb 6

CINEPLEX BRINGS FAN FAVOURITES TO THE BIG SCREEN
WITH FIFTH ANNUAL GREAT DIGITAL FILM FESTIVAL

Event brings sci-fi, action and cult classics to Cineplex theatres across Canada

January 7, 2014 – Back by popular demand, The Great Digital Film Festival returns to Cineplex theatres from January 31 to February 6, 2014.

The Great Digital Film Festival brings a week of fan favourite sci-fi, action and cult films back to the big screen, where they were meant to be seen – often for the first time in crystal clear digital format.

The festival expands again this year, with Cineplex’s Front Row Centre events adding locations at Cineplex Odeon Gardiners Road Cinemas in Kingston, ON; Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane in Halifax, Nova Scotia andCineplex Cinemas Avalon Mall Cinemas in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Canadian Screen Awards reveal Academy Special Award winners

Semi Chellas, David Cronenberg, Alanis Obomsawin, Alan Sawyer & W5 honoured
 
TORONTO, November 5, 2013 – The Academy Special Award winners for the 2014 CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS were announced today by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.
 
“The Academy is proud to celebrate these exceptionally talented Canadians, and to recognize their successes at home and on the world stage,” says Academy Chair Martin Katz. “We are especially pleased to champion Canada’s most creative filmmakers and writers as well as our hardnosed journalists, uncompromising humanitarians and world-class digital innovators.”

2012 Festival Les HTMlles, Nov 10-18

The women's artist-run centre Studio XX launches their 10th edition of the Festival Les HTMlles Festival féministe d'arts médiatiques + de culture numérique (Feminist festival of media arts + digital culture) tonight with an open house. The festival name HTMlles is a clever wordplay on "html" and the French word "elles."

The two floors of the 4001 Berri space will be animated by the festival partners and artists as part of an open house exhibition, Risky Business. There will be a launch of a special double issue of the electronic periodical .dpi, featuring a one-time-only print component at the occasion of the anniversary of The HTMlles. The evening also includes Oboro's Sound Saloon featuring Alexis O'Hara, art performances at the GIV, a projection/installation in CQAM’s window, and 360 degree photos by Time Code and Orangium. Finally, there will be a performance The Ultimate Company – Dominations, risques, profits by Franco-Belgian artist Valérie Cordy

2012 FITC Toronto, Apr 23–25

After a day of Sunday workshops, Monday April 23 marks the opening of FITC Toronto 2012, The Digital Technology Festival. FITC stands for Future, Innovation, Technology, Creativity and is a art, design and technology conference that takes place in cities around the world including Tokyo, Los Angeles and Amsterdam.

The conference includes workshops, lectures and panels, and offers over seventy guest speakers. Highlights include Through the Shredder: The Magic Behind Making Abstract 3D Portraits with Ayaka Ito and Randy Church; The Future of HTML5 Motion Design with Mark Anders; Kinect-Based MoCap for After Effects with Nick Fox-Gieg; and BLA BLA: Making a Film for Computer with Vincent Morisset.

Call for submissions: Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2012

Toronto's Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is now accepting submissions for their 7th annual event in 2012.

Toronto has been hosting the Nuit Blanche since 2006 and now attracts around 1 million people to the all-night free event.. This year there are over 130 art exhibitions, projects and events for everyone to check out.

As in previous years, the program will include a mix of City-produced Exhibition and Open Call projects, as well as Independent Projects.

There are two different ways artists and venues can participate in next year's event:  either as part of an Open Call Project or an Independent Project.  Those interested in submitting an application are encouraged to attend an information session hosted by the City of Toronto. It is an opportunity to, ask questions, share ideas and meet event organizers and other artists. The information session will take place Monday, November 21 at City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, 2nd floor in Committee Room 2 starting at 7 pm.

Digifest, Toronto's Digital Media Festival, Oct 26-30

After a five year hiatus, Digifest returns with its 4th edition of their Toronto Digital Media Festival. For the event, the School of Design at George Brown College has partnered with the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, the Toronto International Film Festival Group (TIFF), Applied Arts Inc., Meet The Media Guru (Italy), TOJam and various academic, cultural, media and venue partners.

For the next five days, you'll have a chance to attend various events and activities such as Innovation Days, Meet The Media Guru talks, the All Our Digital Futures conference, the Halloween Spooktacular, and the opening and closing parties. Free events include the Gaming Incubator Launch Party, The Applied Arts Annual Winners Exhibit, the First Person Show, the Link Exhibit, TOJam Arcade, and the Yonge-Dundas Square Funday Sunday.

The first-ever TIFF Nexus Innovation Day is an all-day event on Friday October 28 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. It will feature emerging technology talks and presentations, and they will present the results of the 2011 Gaming Peripherals Jam (where game developers and hardware hackers worked together) at an evening reception.

TIFF introduces TIFF Nexus for gaming and interactive media

CULTURE, LEARNING, TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY COME TOGETHER THIS FALL WITH TIFF NEXUS
New series unites the world of film, games and interactive media, enhancing TIFF’s commitment to the art of the moving image. Video introduction available at tiff.net/nexus

Toronto – TIFF announced today an exciting new initiative designed to equip a new generation of Ontario storytellers with the network, skills and partners that they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving and growing digital media landscape. Launching this fall, TIFF Nexus will support Canada’s film, game, digital and new media communities as well as foster integrations between academics, industry members and enthusiasts. Complementing such other TIFF programmes as Future Projections, Talent Lab and the Student Film Showcase that are dedicated to supporting filmmakers and visual artists, TIFF Nexus will encourage relationships between the existing and emerging sectors of film, gaming and interactive media and utilize the cinema, educational and exhibition spaces of TIFF Bell Lightbox as an opportune home for its activities.

Call for submissions: Exhibit P: Photography and Media Art from the Prairies

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FROM ARTISTS

Exhibit P: Photography and Media Art from the Prairies

The western interior is not simply W.O. Mitchell’s “basic requirements of land and sky,” the kettle lakes and bluffs of Gabrielle Roy’s water-hen country, or the remote forests and mountains of Ralph Connor’s Mounted Police – it is all three and more. – Gerald Friesen

Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art is seeking submissions from photo, film, video and digital artists at all stages of their careers for feature coverage in an upcoming issue of Prefix Photo magazine. To be considered for inclusion, an artist must be a current resident of Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta, or a native of the Canadian Prairies residing elsewhere. Consideration will also be given to any artist whose work explicitly addresses the subject of the Prairies.

15th Annual Webby Awards - five-word speeches

Five-Word Speeches Mark 15th Annual Webby Awards at Hammerstein Ballroom

Dan Savage: Tracy Morgan Can Suck My…
Anna Wintour: Sometimes Geek Can Be Chic
Will Ferrell Ignores Five-Word Mandate in Favor of Haiku

New York, NY (June 14, 2010) - Highlighting a star-studded evening of Webby friendly five-word speeches, Dan Savage struck back at Tracy Morgan's recent controversial remarks in his acceptance speech of a Special Recognition Award at the 15th Annual Webbys tonight at The Hammerstein Ballroom. Savage, accepting his award for founding the groundbreaking It Gets Better Project, used his short speech to deliver a pointed message to the outspoken comic.

"Tracy Morgan can suck my…," said Savage in his scathing critique of the star of NBC's 30 Rock.
In another notable five-word speech, Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour delivered remarks clearly aimed at her audience: "Sometimes geek can be chic," the legendary editor said.

17th North by Northeast (NXNE) festival - music, film, interactive; June 13-19

The 17th North by Northeast (NXNE) festival starts tonight in Toronto. Primarily a week-long music festival, it also features a companion film festival and an interactive component.

The music portion will see 650 Bands on 50 Stages. Acts include Devo, Descendents, Stars, The Pharcyde, Men Without Hats, Digable Planets, Twin Shadow, OFF!, Art Brut, Shad, Land of Talk, Chad VanGaalen, and Cults. As well, they will be joined by the likes of The Dodos, Deerhoof, Hot Water Music, The Bouncing Souls, and Anti-Flag (previously announced), plus Dum Dum Girls, Evan Dando & Juliana Hatfield, Braids, Ty Segall, Suuns, PS I Love You, Crocodiles, Wild Nothing, The Pack A.D., Metz, Dirty Beaches, Forest City Lovers, The Luyas, Lower Dens, Gentlemen Husbands, Rusty, Royal Bangs, Julianna Barwick, No Joy, Prince Rama, Doldrums, Secret Cities, Evening Hymns, Snowblink, Parlovr, Talk Normal, PUJOL, Woodsman, Gauntlet Hair, Joey Cape, Tape Deck Mountain, AIDS Wolf, Houses, CJ Ramone, and Kevin Seconds. A number of free public concerts will take place at Yonge-Dundas Square.

The film festival takes place primarily at the National Film Board (150 John Street), the Hyatt Regency Toronto (370 King W) and at the Toronto Underground Cinema (186 Spadina Ave). A short film that I co-directed with Katarina Soukup called Notes from the Kuerti Keyboard with renowned pianist Anton Kuerti will play at 12:30pm Saturday, June 18 at the NFB theatre. I hope to see you there.

Inaugural Toronto International Stereoscopic 3D Conference, June 11-14

Today is the launch of the first ever Toronto International Stereoscopic 3D Conference. Organized by York University and 3D FLIC, the event promises to be a "one of a kind international gathering of experts in the stereoscopic 3D art and entertainment arena."

The conference kicks off with a bang with renowned German director Wim Wenders presenting a Keynote/Masterclass. His latest award-winning film is PINA, a 3D feature documentary about the legendary dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch.

Other highlights include a screening and post-production case study on Resident Evil: Afterlife with producer Don Carmody and the post-production team, and other Keynote/Masterclasses by Peter Anderson, ASC – On Stereography and by Catherine Owens - On Directing 3D.

This is sure to be an interesting event, especially since 3D has undergone a decline after the huge excitement created by Avatar. After overcharging for bad conversions, recent controversies about low light levels in 3D projection at theatres, ongoing campaigns against 3D by Roger Ebert and others against 3D, and criticism within the industry as 3D ticket sales collapse, 3D is an important filmmaking tool and technique that is in danger of becoming extinct.

15th Annual Webby Awards - winners [UPDATED]

The winners for the 15th Annual Webby Awards were announced today. Each of the nearly 70 categories had a winner named for the Webby Award and the People’s Voice Award. Winners in multiple categories include Funny Or Die (8), Google Creative Labs (5), Wieden+Kennedy (4), @radical.media (4), Discovery Communications (4), Goodby, Silverstein & Partners (4), MLB Advanced Media, LP (3), The New York Times (3), TED.com (3),  ESPN (3) and AOL (3).

“This year’s Webby winners exemplify the type of profound effect the Internet is having on popular culture and the world at large,” declares Webby Awards’ exec-director David-Michel Davies. “From Arcade Fire’s reinvention of the music video format with The Wilderness Downtown, or the New York Times coverage of revolution in Egypt and the Middle East, the Internet is the driving force of change in the world today.” Among the individual winners are Lisa Kudrow, Conan O’Brien, Arcade Fire, Zach Galifianakis, Angry Birds, and Snoop Dogg.

The awards ceremony will take place in New York City on June 13th. Winners traditionally accept their Webby Awards with five-word acceptance speeches. Past winners include Al Gore ("Please don't recount this vote") and Jimmy Fallon ("Thank God Conan got promoted"). You can like the Webbys on Facebook for your invite to watch a live online broadcast of the awards show.

Call for submissions: 12th imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival

The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival has put out a call for submissions for their 12th annual festival.

imagineNATIVE is an international festival for works by Indigenous peoples in the fields of film, video, radio, and new media. The festival takes place each fall in Toronto. In addition to screenings, the festival hosts parties, panel discussions, and cultural events. 

To submit to the festival, there are no fees required. However, each submission must have had major contribution by an Indigenous person as director, writer or producer.

The 12th Annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival runs from October 19-23, 2011 in Toronto, Canada.