If you like poutine a lot-a, and getting caught in the rain

Sunday night was a fun kick-off for this year’s Worldwide Short Film Festival! Last night, the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) hosted its first “Square Party” at Toronto’s Yonge & Dundas Square to launch the festival. I attended with my brother and sister, and in addition to enjoying some video art on the funky Mega-Cube (like a 3D jumbo-tron), we took in a few rounds of Steamwhistle and free apps from Jack Astor’s (consensus: the Lobster-thing on cucumber slices was best). There was also live music by DJ TLO, The Wooden Sky, and Kids & Explosions. Special mention goes out to The Wooden Sky for keeping everyone’s spirit going at the event after the rain/thunderstorm hit!

Once the rain started, we made a mad dash for the poutine cart and then took shelter under an overhang and sampled a round of behemoth poutines from Smokes. I felt adventurous and tried the CFC Special Poutine, which had sausage, bacon, and pulled pork. It was a lot of meat… The festival diet begins!

The Shorts Bus (locations)

It was a fun night and a good way to start the week! If you are planning to attend the festival, which you should, here is a rundown of some films that are among the highlights of WSFF. Also of particular note for aspiring filmmakers or interested moviegoers are the symposiums that are happening throughout the week. For example, Wednesday (June 1^st) offers a Master Class on Directing Performance. The leaders of this workshop are big-time Masters: Genie winning director Kari Skogland (The Stone Angel, Fifty Dead Men Walking) and two-time Genie winning actor Callum Keith Rennie (Last Night, Memento). Finally, festivalgoers can cash in on extra movies with the “Shorts Bus”, which will be zipping around Toronto and allow interested persons to hop aboard the travelling theatre and watch a short film. Who doesn’t love a ride with a stranger, especially if there’s a movie involved?

Tickets/info is available at www.shorterisbetter.com. Also make sure to stay in the know by following #WSFF11 on Twitter, where you’re bound to see plenty of reviews that are, appropriately, short n’ sweet. See you at the festival!