U of T presents: the Scarborough Film Festival

The second annual Scarborough Film Festival is bringing cinema’s bright lights back to the eastern GTA, with The University of Toronto as the Festival’s Presenting Sponsor.

From June 3 to 8, 2014, the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) will be among the venues across Scarborough and East York hosting local, Canadian and world cinema, with screenings, on-stage conversations, and special educational programming for youth and families.

Bruce Kidd, UTSC’s interim vice-president and principal, sees great potential in the new partnership.

“Toronto is justifiably known throughout the world for its support of film festivals and the industry as a whole,” he says. “The Scarborough Film Festival is bringing an exciting focus to our local arts and cultural scene and with that comes enhanced opportunities for education and community engagement for the University.”

This year’s Festival will present screenings of 16 feature and 18 short films of various genres by filmmakers from 20 countries around the world — including Poland, Spain, Turkey, India, the Philippines, Somalia and Brazil — and there are a number of world, North American and Canadian premieres in the line-up. Seven of the films — both shorts and features — have a direct association with Scarborough and Toronto.

The opening gala on June 3 will feature the North American premiere of Grand Street by Lex Sidon, starring Scarborough actor Michael Wincott and Toronto actor Neal Bledsoe. It will be preceded by the short Cliffside, (pictured at right) by Scarborough native Steve Matthew Hoffner.

The Festival is organized by a volunteer, not-for-profit group of arts and culture professionals and aficionados. UTSC Professor of Literature and Film Garry Leonard has been invited to be a member of the Festival jury. Six prizes will be awarded, including an Audience Choice Award — two $600 tuition gift certificates from U of T’s School of Continuing Studies.

“This is an exciting line-up of local and international cinema,” says Leonard. “In addition to a number of free public screenings, the Festival brings opportunities for education and academic focus to the diversity and cultural dynamic in Scarborough. It supports aspiring artists and youth and includes drop-in and formal workshops.”

See the complete listing of screenings and related events. Students, faculty, staff and alumni can receive a 15 per cent discount on tickets by using the code SFFUOFT14 when buying tickets at www.scarboroughfilmfestival.com

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