The Youth Arts Movement (YAM) in South Etobicoke and Lakeshore Arts are presenting a showcase of short films written, produced, directed and starring talented area youth this weekend.
Krissy Pengilley, YAM youth co-ordinator, said the YAMMIES Youth Film Showcase event has drawn 16 entries from young people aged 13 to 26 from all across the GTA.
"The films are of really great quality and deal with issues that are important to, and provide a voice for, these youth," she said. Themes explored within the films, she added, range from identity issues, aboriginal themes and the power of positivity, to bullying, peer pressure and drug use and addiction.
Pengilley said that while some of the two- to 10-minute short films were made as part of school projects, many were made independently by the aspiring filmmakers involved. YAM's role in the process was simply to provide an outlet for the films to be screened by the public and to link the young Spielbergs with industry professionals from local independent production companies.
Hugh Gibson, president of Midnight Lamp Films, Gurbeen Bhasin, producer/president of Meow Films and Malinda Francis, editor and artistic director of Meow Films, have been commissioned to judge the film entries on five criteria: content and storyline; creativity; technical (lighting and sound quality); photography; and editing.
The top three films, as decided on by the judges, will be awarded cash prizes ranging from $50 to $150 and will also get the opportunity to have their films screened at one of Meow Films' Night at the Indies events - and the top film will also be screened at the closing event for International Youth Week (May 5-12) at City Hall. There will also be a People's Choice Award, voted on by the audience.
The YAMMIES Youth Film Showcase take place on Saturday, May 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the auditorium at Lakeshore Collegiate Institute, 350 Kipling Ave. Following the film presentation, there will be a Question and Answer period with both the filmmakers and the judges. Admission is free and all are welcome. For more information, go to www.lakeshorearts.ca/yam.