Short films by a handful of emerging and student filmmakers were feted in Toronto Tuesday night as part of the Air Canada enRoute Film Festival.
Organizers announced the winners of the fledgling awards, now in their third year, at a gala following a free screening of this year's top contenders at a downtown cinema.
The 2009 winners, who have all won a trip to the Palm Springs International Film festival, are:
- Best short film: Synthétiseur, by Sarah Fortin, Montreal.
- Achievement in direction: Synthétiseur, by Sarah Fortin, Montreal.
- Achievement in cinematography: A Season to Wither, by Leigh Ann Maynard, Edmonton.
- Achievement in animation: Intermedium, by Alain Huynh, Toronto
- Best documentary: The Freshwater Plague, by Jake Chirico, Toronto.
Organizers received approximately 300 submissions this year and whittled the contenders down to 20 entries, which were then posted online and screened on Air Canada flights beginning in July. These films will continue to screen on flights through December.
Jurors — including director Deepa Mehta and actors Lisa Ray and Rémy Girard — then chose the finalists and winners.
Web viewers of the top 20 shorts were also able to vote for their favourite, with Montreal's Maxim Rheault winning the Viewer's Choice prize for his film Les Gratteux.
