North Bay Director Kevin Hoffman’s ‘Strangers’ walked away with top honours at Cinéfest Sudbury over the weekend winning the CTV Best In Shorts Competition.
Writer and star of the short, Jim Calarco, says the team put together a timely piece that has been received on film festival circuit.
‘Strangers’ takes a warm and touching look at a family living with Alzheimer’s was used at the conference on geriatric care last week and will be used by the Sudbury Alzheimer’s society.
“We’ve done so well with this production.”
“We found a niche,” he explains of recent awards including the Bronze at Mexican Film Festival.
“We know firsthand what’s like getting old,” he laughs.
“The aging process the joys and hazards in getting old.”
But Calarco says the winning formula belongs to the unsung heroes in the process of making the 8 minute short and that is the crew.
"It is great to see the director Kevin Hoffman receive this."
“We feel pretty good; it validates the work that goes into making a film.”
Strangers from Kevin Hoffman on Vimeo.
Calarco says ‘Strangers’ is entered in one final festival in Victoria in January but has already turned his focus to this next short film which will head into production in October.
“It’s called ‘Anniversary’ and Lewis Hodgson is directing.”
With this film they will team up with the seniors’ advocacy group at the Empire Living Centre to use the video for fundraisers.
City film makers hitting the international stage
CINEFEST SUDBURY AWARD AND CTV BEST IN SHORTS WINNERS ANNOUNCED:
Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival Award Winners
Best Canadian Film $2,500
Gabrielle, directed by Louise Archambault, distributed by Entertainment One Films
Best Foreign Film $2,500
The Lunchbox, directed by Ritesh Batra, distributed by Mongrel Media
Best Northern Ontario Film $2,500
The Story of Luke, directed by Alonso Mayo, distributed by Gravitas Ventures
Best Canadian Independent Song in a Feature Film $5,000 ($2,500 to artist/$2,500 to producer)
Ariane Moffatt, "Too Late," from Sarah préfère la course
CTV Best In Shorts Winners
First Place Open Catgory $1,500
Dancing is Meaningless, directed by John Alden Milne, Sudbury
Runner-up Open Category $750
The Shed, directed by Ryan Kozicki, Sudbury
First Place Student Category $1,500
Cursed with a Single Kiss, directed by Alek Belanger, New Liskeard
Runner-up Student Category $750
Frenchy Plays Matchmaker, directed by Amanda M. Darling, Sudbury
Northern Flicks Award Sponsored by Sault College $1,000
Strangers, directed by Kevin Hoffman, North Bay
Best Animation Award Sponsored by College Boreal $1,000
The Last Straw, directed by Luke Grandmont, Sault Ste. Marie
