The 3rd annual Mississauga Independent Film Festival sets another stage for Canadians to showcase their talent among industry professionals. Showcasing talent 2 months prior to September’s world famous “TIFF,” known for its “A-List” celebrities; MIFF features over 40 indie films. Founded by independent filmmakers, MIFF prides itself as being a filmmaker-friendly event that champions Canadian talent. A meeting place for the “generation next” of film professionals, MIFF supports eco-friendly initiatives by pioneering the Film Vert initiative; an endeavour aimed at producing the festival with a zero-carbon footprint. This year, MIFF launched with director Peter Stebbings’ Defendor, a comedy centered around three characters: an everyday guy who comes to believe he's a superhero starring actor Woody Harrleson, his psychiatrist (Sandra Oh), and the teenager he befriends. Harrelson says “independent filmmaking helps characterize cultures by relaying different points of view that might be too risky for studio productions, which tend to be constrained by commercial considerations. Festivals like MIFF /miff.ca/?page_id=13 provide a stage for their recognition. I’m excited Defendor http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1303828/ is the opening-night feature and hope your audience will enjoy it as much as I did making it.” Official selections were unveiled in June and included Mind the Gap by Gemini award winning comedian Shaun Majumder (CBC's This Hour Has 22 Minutes) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fkqGYrq88Y, and The Beast of Bottomless Lake starring David Nykl (Stargate: Atlantis, Cold Squad). "I am very excited to have my short film Mind the Gap showcased at this year’s MIFF,” says Majumder http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0538308/. “After leaving Newfoundland as a tween I moved to Clarkson to finish high school, and while living at my dad's Erin Mills home I decided to pursue my career as an actor/writer — now director. Festivals like MIFF showcase some of the best untapped talent and really help them get noticed by the industry and audiences at large; for me it’s special because I have roots in Mississauga.” The new category for web series, added this year, complements the short film program which makes up the bulk of the screenings. The festival also hosts workshops on the topics of film financing and professional soundtracks. “As a filmmaker myself, I know the amount of blood, sweat and tears that go into these films and how tough it is to penetrate this industry’s exclusive barriers,” says Matt Campagna http://mattcampagna.com/, festival founder, MIFF. “This strictly-Canadian festival breeds the next generation of talent by showcasing their compelling stories in a supportive environment, while offering a forum to jumpstart their careers.” Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion says “our arts community continues to grow and flourish. The Mississauga Independent Film Festival is a special opportunity for both residents and visitors to experience independent film at its best.” Following last year’s MIFF, distributors picked up 30 per cent of the films showcased.
MIFF 2010 Winners Are:
Best Feature Film "The Beast of Bottomless Lake" Director: Craig March
Best Web Series "Making Funny Stuff" Director: David, Daveed, Glen
Best Documentary "Remix-to-Rio" Director: Ravi Steve
Best Animation "Archon Defender" Director: David T. Krupicz
Best Music Video "Roll Yr Tongue" Director: Roy Bartell
Best Short Film "Patient" Director: Daniel Clements
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