Final Extended Deadline – May 15
The final extended deadline is only 4 days away! Get your entries in by May 15 to be considered for this year’s festival! Entries can be submitted through the MIFF website or through Withoutabox. Click the link below for full details on submission prices and extended entry deadlines.
10 Questions with Greg Kovac
In the hopes of providing a platform where Canadian’s can learn more about independent film makers that have been involved in MIFF in the past, we’ve started a series called “10 Questions”. We’re reaching out to these film makers so that they can give us their thoughts about Canadian film, the film making process and everything in between…
Our 2012 Short Film Winner, Greg Kovacs, Writer/Director Post Lifers let us in on the secret!
1. What is your favourite movie and why?
My favorite movie is Raiders of the Lost Ark because it represents everything I love about movies. Great script, characters and direction. And just plain fun.
2. What drives you as a film maker?
Great stories and great story-telling.
3. Who is your greatest influence and why?
My biggest influence just in terms of loving movies and wanting to be involved in making movies is probably Steven Spielberg. I was an 80′s kid and it seemed like everything I watched and loved back then had his name stamped on it.
4. What actor would you most like to work with and why?
Bill Murray. Because that guy can’t NOT be cool.
5. Please share your process around how you bring a project together
First, I write a story that I think I like. Then I send the script to people who will be completely honest with me. If they don’t like it, I cry and tell them they’re dumb. If they like it, I then figure out if it’s financially possible to make. If it is, then it’s a matter of getting the right people for the right jobs. Then we make a movie and cross our fingers.
6. Have you ever done anything illegal while getting the shot? Do tell us.
I once clubbed a baby seal while shooting a sex scene.
7. If you could be a successful film maker in any era, when would it be?
I’d like to be a successful film maker in this era.
8. If you could go studio, would you? Why or why not?
I don’t know if I’d go studio if given the opportunity. That sounds stressful. I like having creative control. It’s probably the biggest reason I’m doing it right now. It’s fun. The second it’s not fun, I think I’d stop. I’m not above receiving an unreasonably big pay cheque though, so I might do it for a bit and then I could use that money to make more fun stuff.
9. How has MIFF affected you? In terms of where you are now, movie making, the festival itself?
MIFF was the first festival where our movie received an award. We were incredibly honored especially seeing the calibre of films in the line up. Being in the festival and getting the award has helped us a great deal in terms of exposure. We’re trying to do more with The Post-Lifers with an end goal of possibly making it into a feature film. MIFF has definitely helped us in taking the first steps towards reaching that goal.
10. What’s next from you?
We are in the process of making a short film that I wrote called Tasha and Friends. It’s a horror/comedy with puppets. Also, we’re working on more Post-Lifers material that we’re putting on YouTube. We have one up right now called Cookin’ the Shit Outta Things with Mike. Hopefully there will be more to come soon.
10 Questions with Noam Kroll
1. What is your favourite movie and why?
I’ve never had just one. I love films for different reasons and many of my favourites are very different from each other so it is difficult to pick one over the other.
Some of my more contemporary favourites include Melancholia, American History X, Shame, Mulholland Drive, Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Prestige and The Fountain.
As for classics there are too many to list.
2. What drives you as a film maker?
It’s the stylistic elements that drive me the most. Any good film will always start with a great story and script, but the stylistic choices whether music, colour, camera work, etc. are what allow that story to flourish into something greater than the words on the page. What I love about film is that it’s the only medium that can simultaneously showcase every single art form in existence. For example a piece of music can be listened to and enjoyed on its own, but when integrated into a film it may become more powerful. The same goes for any other art form that is present in a film: Costume design, camera, art work, etc. On their own, each of these pieces of art can stand alone but when put together in a stylistic way, the sum is greater than the parts. Film is the only medium capable of fusing together so many art forms. Read more
MIFF2012 Winners Announced!
Each year, MIFF recognizes the most outstanding films in each of the categories presented, and this year we have the most impressive prizes ever! So if you missed the Award Show on Sunday night, here are the results of MIFF2012:
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Viewer’s Choice Award
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"Blind Spot"
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Best Web Series
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"Out With Dad" dir. Jason Leaver |
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Best Music Video
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"Love is You"
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Best Animation
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"The Lady of Names" dir. Adam Ciolfi |
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Vistek Best Documentary
Prize: $500 in Vistek Rentals |
"Unity: Hip Hop’s Next Chapter"
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G-Tech Best Short Film
Prize: 6TB G-Tech Hard Drive |
"The Post Lifers"
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Best Actor
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Rogan Christopher "Footsteps" |
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RBC Royal Bank Best Feature Film
Prize: $1000 cash |
"Footsteps" dir. Noam Kroll |
KATIE CHATS: With Festival Director Matt Campagna
Katie Uhlmann is no stranger to red carpets; from MIFFs gone by the Oscars themselves, she has walked and talked on the red with the best of them.
So each year, MIFF is excited when she graces the Gala and brings the world a little bit of MIFF’s indie spirit. Be sure to hit up her YouTube channel to all of her amazing coverage of MIFF2012 and more!
~the MIFFteam
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