Aspiring young filmmakers from the graduating class of the Confederation College Film Production department recently received top marks from the North of Superior Film Association (NOSFA). NOSFA has issued cash awards totalling $1,000 to four young directors for their distinctive films. The winners were the cream of the crop of 26 short films reviewed by the NOSFA panel.
Ani Pande received the first place award of $500 for “Life in the Making,” a stylized drama about an android undergoing assimilation training.
Zac Wilson took second place honours of $300 for "Red Lights," which centers on a troubled young man undergoing therapy for a hit and run accident he caused two years ago. However, there is a twist ending that suggests something more sinister is afoot.
Jordan Bouma (“Eyes like Yours”) and Sean Mcnear (“The Littledeers”) shared third place, receiving $100 apiece. “Eyes like Yours” deals with a young man going through an emotional crisis while “Littledeers” deals with two members of a high school basketball team dealing with the aftermath of a car accident that leaves one of them wheelchair-bound.
Aside from their cash awards, the directors also received a short critique in a congratulatory letter presented by NOSFA President Marty Mascarin. The judging panel used criteria centering on direction, story, editing, lighting, and sound in their assessment.
This marks the 21st year that NOSFA has issued the David Brown awards to graduates of the College’s film production program. The awards are named in honour of NOSFA’s vice-president, the late David Brown, who passed away from cancer in 2008.