Grande Prairie’s Annual Short Film Festival

15th Reel Shorts Film Festival: Apr 26 – May 1, 2022 (In-Person) | May 2-8, 2022 (Virtual)

PURPOSE

The Reel Shorts Film Festival celebrates short films and the filmmakers who make them by screening gems of storytelling brilliance from around the world, across Canada, and here in the Peace Region. The goals of the Reel Shorts Film Society are: (1) to entertain, educate, and engage audiences; and (2) to grow the filmmaking community in the Peace Region of northwest Alberta and northeast British Columbia by inspiring, developing, and showcasing its filmmakers.

Watch Fest Favorites and Films Awarded at the Fest here.

HISTORY

Early Years

In the fall of 2006, Terry Scerbak attended the Edmonton International Film Festival where a film she had written and produced was screening. She came back to Grande Prairie with a desire to share great short films. The Reel Shorts Film Festival began in March 2007 as a production of Grande Prairie Live Theatre, one of Canada’s largest nonprofit community theaters.

In 2007, the fest screened 1 feature and 37 short films over 3 days. In 2008, 44 short films. The years 2009-2011 had programs of 62-72 films. In 2012, the fest screened 101 films from 26 countries over 5 days.

The 2009-2012 festivals screened the results of the Youth Filmmaking Challenge workshops – 11 films made by junior high and high school students during 2½-day workshops led by Scott Belyea, Scooter Corkle, and Michael Bourree (scroll down to view them).

Growth of a Filmmaking Community

The Youth Filmmaking Challenge workshops were retired after the 2012 festival and replaced with more ambitious training programs led by Scott, Scooter, and Michael: the two-week Shoot for Reel internship program in July 2012, and the seven-week Youth Film Mentorship Project leading up to the 2013 festival.

As a result, two of the films in the 2013 fest’s program of 102 films from 22 countries were produced by the festival: The Horizon Project directed by Scott Belyea, and HB directed by Nathan Fast (scroll down to view them). After having their world premiere in Grande Prairie, these films went on to have a successful festival tour including festivals in Europe and North America. HB won the Best Overall Youth Short Film at the 2013 Calgary International Film Festival and it was the first international film to win the Young Filmmakers Program Competition Grand Prize at the Austin Film Festival in 2013.

Shoot for Reel led directly to the formation of PRIMAA (Peace Region Independent Media Arts Society) in 2013 and the creation of a filmmaking community in Grande Prairie and the Peace Region. Also in 2013, Reel Shorts became a qualifying festival for the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, one of four in Alberta and 39 film festivals across the country at that time to be recognized as such.

The first Screenwriting Competition was held in 2013 with a prize of $2,500 in production funding won by Chris Beauchamp for his script The Device which screened at the 2015 fest.

In 2014, Reel Shorts became competitive, bringing in three jury members to select the Best Live Action Short, Best Animated Shorts, and Best Documentary Short. Grande Prairie sculptor Grant Berg designed the award to reflect the fact that the festival takes place in Grande Prairie which is known as the Swan City as a result of having adopted the trumpeter swan as an official symbol. The birds return every spring to nest much to the delight of residents. Similarly, the festival takes place at about the same time the birds arrive. The award’s flame shape symbolizes the passion of the filmmakers whose work we celebrate as well as the volunteers who make it possible to do so. As well as being locally designed, the award is made locally. Decca Industries in Clairmont fabricates the aluminum award by cutting it on their water jet table, and DR Sales Woodworking in Grande Prairie makes the wooden bases which are engraved and presented to the winning directors.

Two screenwriter mentorship projects were offered in 2014:

In 2014, Reel Shorts partnered with PRIMAA on the first annual Frantic48, a 48-hour film challenge for Peace Region teams to write, shoot, and edit a short film on a weekend in late April. The qualifying films screen at the fest and are eligible to win cash prizes and awards. Including the 11 Frantic48 films and 1 feature, the 2014 fest screened 111 films from 28 countries.

In 2015, the fest screened 121 films from 25 countries including 13 Frantic48 films. In collaboration with PRIMAA, the fest also introduced the first Filmmaker Insights Day with 1 workshop and 2 panels.

In 2016, the Oscar Shorts packages (the Oscar-nominated animated and live action shorts) were pulled from the festival to become their own event preceding the Academy Awards telecast. As a result, the number of films screened at the festival dropped to 79-90 programmed films for a total of 90-105 films including the Frantic48 films.

In 2016, with the support of Grande Prairie Live Theatre, the Reel Shorts volunteers formed the Reel Shorts Film Society. The 2016 festival was the 10th festival and the last one produced under the umbrella of GPLT.

In 2018, Reel Shorts partnered with The Distillery Film Company on the second Shoot for Reel, a 5-day internship for 12 Peace Region interns (8 adult and 4 youth aged 16-18) during the production of Aeternitas, a 16-minute film shot in and around Grande Prairie. Chris Beauchamp, co-owner of The Distillery Film Company, was an intern during the first Shoot for Reel in 2012. The film was nominated for six 2019 Alberta Film and Television Awards (known as Rosie Awards) from AMPIA (Alberta Media Production Industries Association) and won two Rosies: Gordie Haakstad for Best Director (Drama Under 30 Minutes) and Chris Beauchamp for Best Cinematographer.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 14th Reel Shorts Film Festival that was originally scheduled for May 4-11, 2020 was rescheduled to April 26 to May 9, 2021. Since in-person events were still not allowed at that time, the fest became an online free event with 73 films from 20 countries including 6 from the Peace Region.

Growth of the School Program

The school program of screenings, workshops, and class visits is an important part of the film festival. In 2017, more than 2,400 Grade 1-12 students from 19 schools in the region came to one of six film packages programmed specifically for them. These screenings introduce students to short films from around the world that help to broaden their world view while providing a basis for further classroom discussion. Over the first six years of the fest, filmmaking workshops for junior high and high school students introduced them to the most collaborative art form in the world and to the experience of sharing their films with an audience. Filmmaker class visits give students the opportunity to meet a filmmaker, watch his/her short film, and then participate in a discussion of the film and the filmmaking process.

With the jump in school attendance, 2017 was the first year that Grade 1-12 students outnumbered the general public at screenings. Total attendance at the 2017 fest was 3,600. Comments from teachers can be read here.

AWARD WINNERS

Audience Choice

Since 2010, audiences have chosen their favorite film for the Audience Choice Award (with the exception of 2020-21):

  • 2019 – The Blue Door, a 9-minute film from the UK directed by Paul Taylor which also won the award for Best Live Action Under 15 Minutes
  • 2018 – The Ambassador, a 19-minute film from France written and directed by Shane Atkinson
  • 2017 – The Babysitter Murders, a 22-minute film from the United States written and directed by Ryan Spindell
  • 2016 – Discipline, a 12-minute film from Switzerland written and directed by Christophe M. Saber
  • 2015 – The Gunfighter, a 9-minute film from the US directed by Eric Kissack
  • 2014 – Fool’s Day, a 19-minute film from the US directed by Cody Blue Snider
  • 2013 – A Senior Moment, a 6-minute film from the US directed by Michelle Davidson
  • 2012 – Sugar (Suiker), an 8-minute film from the Netherlands directed by Jeroen Annokkée
  • 2011 – The Legend of Beaver Dam, a 12-minute film from Canada and the US directed by Jerome Sable
  • 2010 – Multiple Choice, a 5-minute film from Australia directed by Michael Goode

Since 2015, school audiences have chosen the Youth Audience Choice Award (with the exception of 2020-21):

  • 2019 – All in Good Time, a 15-minute film from Ireland produced and directed by Bonnie Dempsey
  • 2018 – Rag Dolls, a 4-minute film from the United States written, produced, and directed by Justin and Kristin Schaack
  • 2017 – Get up Kinshasa!, a 21-minute film from France written and directed by Sébastien Maitre
  • 2016 – Dji. Death Sails, a 5-minute film from the Republic of Moldova directed by Dmitri Voloshin
  • 2015 – Foster Dog, a 14-minute film from the US co-written, produced, and directed by Lisa Alonso Vear

Juried Awards

Since 2014, the fest has presented juried awards:

  • 2021
    • Special Jury PrizeHomesick, a 27-minute film from France written and directed by Koya Kamura
    • Best Live Action Short Under 15 MinutesThe Devil’s Harmony, a 14-minute film from the UK directed by Dylan Holmes Williams
    • Honorable Mention – W, a 6-minute film from Greece written, produced, and directed by Stelios Koupetoris
    • Best Live Action Short 15+ MinutesStephanie, a 15-minute film from Belgium written and directed by Leonardo van Dijl
    • Honorable Mention – The Present, a 24-minute film from Palestine directed by Farah Nabulsi
    • Best Animated ShortThe Beauty, a 4-minute film from Germany directed by Pascal Schelbli
    • Honorable Mention – Grandad Was a Romantic, a 5-minute film from the UK written, produced, and directed by Maryam Mohajer
    • Best Documentary ShortThe Deepest Hole, a 12-minute film from the United States produced and directed by Matt McCormick
    • Honorable Mention – Zone Rouge, a 15-minute film from Canada co-written and directed by Dominique van Olm
    • Best Peace Region ShortWith the Land, a 14-minute film from Alberta directed by Dominique Keller
    • Honorable Mention – Zombies and Indians, a 12-minute film from Alberta written, produced, and directed by Keith Lawrence
  • 2019
    • Best Live Action Short Under 15 Minutes – The Blue Door, a 9-minute film from the UK directed by Paul Taylor which also won the Audience Choice Award
    • Best Live Action Short 15+ Minutes – Suck It Up (Avaler des couleuvres), a 19-minute film from France directed by Jan Sitta
    • Best Animated Short – The Driver is Red, a 15-minute film from the United States written, produced, directed, and animated by Randall Christopher
    • Best Documentary Short – The Day Don Died, a 15-minute film from Canada produced and directed by Steve J. Adams and Sean Horlor
  • 2018
    • Best Live Action Short Under 15 Minutes – About the Birds and the Bees, a 12-minute film from Finland written and directed by J.J. (Janne) Vanhanen
    • Best Live Action Short 15+ Minutes – The Winkles (Les Bigorneaux), a 24-minute film from France co-written and directed by Alice Vial
    • Best Animated Short – Two Trams, a 10-minute film from the Russian Federation written and directed by Svetlana Andrianova
    • Best Documentary Short – Fixed!, a 14-minute film from Canada written, produced, and directed by Cat Mills
  • 2017
    • Best Live Action Short Under 15 Minutes – Camping with Ada (Campingliv), a 15-minute film from Norway directed by Ina Lerner Grevstad
    • Best Live Action Short 15+ Minutes – La Femme et le TGV, a 30-minute film from Switzerland written and directed by Timo von Gunten
    • Best Animated Short – Borrowed Time, a 7-minute film from the United States written and directed by Lou Hamou-Lhadj and Andrew Coats
    • Best Documentary Short – 12 Days in Idomeni, a 20-minute film from Germany written and directed by Javier Sobremazas
  • 2016
    • Best Live Action Short Under 13 Minutes – The Jacket (Die Jacke), a 9-minute film from Austria written, produced, and directed by Patrick Vollrath
    • Best Live Action Short 13+ Minutes – Wolf Head (Guele de loup), a 25-minute film from France written and directed by Alice Vial
    • Best Animated Short – The OceanMaker, a 10-minute film from Belize and the United States written, produced, and directed by Lucas Martell
    • Best Documentary Short – The House is Innocent, a 12-minute film from the United States produced and directed by Nicholas Coles
    • Best Peace Region Short – The Souvenir, a 7-minute film written, produced, and directed by Chris Beauchamp and Gordie Haakstad
  • 2015
  • 2014

Fest Favorites

Produced by the Fest

The Horizon Project, directed by Scott Belyea in 2012 as part of the two-week Shoot for Reel internship program.

HB, directed by Nathan Fast in 2013 as part of the Youth Film Mentorship Project, won the Best Overall Youth Short Film at the 2013 Calgary International Film Festival and the Young Filmmakers Program Competition Grand Prize at the Austin Film Festival in 2013.

Awarded at the Fest

2021

Homesick, a 27-minute film from France written and directed by Koya Kamura – won Special Jury Prize

Grandad Was a Romantic, a 5-minute film from the UK written, produced, and directed by Maryam Mohajer – won Honorable Mention Best Animated Short

Zone Rouge, a 15-minute film from Canada co-written and directed by Dominique van Olm – won Honorable Mention Best Documentary Short

With the Land, a 14-minute film from Alberta directed by Dominique Keller – won Best Peace Region Short

2019

The Blue Door, a 9-minute film from the UK directed by Paul Taylor – won the Audience Choice Award and Best Live Action Under 15 Minutes

The Day Don Died, a 15-minute film from Canada produced and directed by Steve J. Adams and Sean Horlor – won Best Documentary Short

2017

Borrowed Time, a 7-minute film from the United States written and directed by Lou Hamou-Lhadj and Andrew Coats – won Best Animated Short

2016

Dji. Death Sails, a 5-minute film from the Republic of Moldova directed by Dmitri Voloshin – won the Youth Audience Choice Award

The OceanMaker, a 10-minute film from Belize and the United States written, produced, and directed by Lucas Martell – won Best Animated Short

The House is Innocent, a 12-minute film from the United States produced and directed by Nicholas Coles – won Best Documentary Short

2015

The Gunfighter, a 9-minute film from the US directed by Eric Kissack – won the Audience Choice Award – MATURE

2014

Fool’s Day, a 19-minute film from the US directed by Cody Blue Snider – won the Audience Choice Award

Grandpa and Me and a Helicopter to Heaven (Morfar och Jag och Helikoptern till Himlen), a 15-minute film from Sweden directed by Johan Palmgren and Åsa Blanck – won Best Documentary Short

2013

A Senior Moment, a 6-minute film from the US directed by Michelle Davidson – won the Audience Choice Award

2010

Multiple Choice, a 5-minute film from Australia directed by Michael Goode – won the Audience Choice Award

Youth Filmmaking Challenge Films

Created during the Youth Filmmaking Challenge workshops led by Scott Belyea, Scooter Corkle, and Michael Bourree during the 2009-2012 festivals.

2012

Private Dick (Alpha)

Bridges to the Past (Bravo)

Lovers… in a Dangerous Time

2011

Causality Report (Alpha group)
A high school student must fix his mistakes before they fix him.

There’s An App For That (Bravo group)
A group of teens are magically transported to the past using an iPhone.

The Afterlove (Charlie group)
A hopeless romantic must get a life to find a way back to his love.

2010

The Wallflowers (Alpha group)
Young love blossoms at a high school dance.

Ninja Revenge (Bravo group)
A young man must learn the ways of the ninja to avenge a fallen loved one.

The Big One (Charlie group)
A hunting trip turns sideways when the hunters become the hunted.