Enries for the 2012 Festival, which will celebrate the 65th anniversary of the event, are now closed.
Three new prizes announced
In partnership with VideoBlocks.com, the festival will choose one entrant at random to receive a full year subscription to the VideoBlocks.com website which contains over 50,000 clips of stock video, backgrounds, sound effects, music and more. This subscription is valued at over $1,000 and is eligible to be won by any submitter, nominated or otherwise.
The winner of the Drama category will be the recipient of a $2,500 rental credit from William F. White Interational, while the winner of our Emerging Filmmaker award will receive a $1,000 bursary from RBC.
Access Communications High School Video Competition announced
The Yorkton Film Festival is now accepting entries for the 2012 Access Communications High School Video competition, open to all Saskatchewan high school students. Entry is free of charge. The winners of each film category will have their films screen on Access Communications network province-wide.. For details about the entry rules and competition categories, visit the High School Video page.
Stories from 65 years of film
The Yorkton Film Festival is researching and writing its history as part of a 65th anniversary celebration slated for May 24-27, 2012. In 1947, volunteers established Yorkton’s International Film Festival, the first established in all of North America. Many considered the city too small, too isolated, for a major documentary competition.
That the festival continues after 65 years gives the lie to that hasty opinion. That the festival continues after 65 years gives testimony to the work and dedication of the people of Yorkton and the film industry of Canada.
The first 17 vignettes, spanning the years 1945 to 1979, are now online, with more to come between now and the next festival in May of 2012. Read about them and see the historical photos at About Us > 65 Years of Film.
The 2011 Festival
Lipsett Diaries (Les journaux de Lipsett), a National Film Board of Canada production, received the Golden Sheaf Award as the best entry in this year's festival. See the trailer on YouTube.
The Best of Saskatchewan Ruth Shaw Award was won by Remote Control War, produced by Leslea Mair and directed by Leif Kaldor. Production company is Zoot Pictures.
The award for Best Aboriginal entry went to Lumaajuuq. It is a production of the National Film Board of Canada, and the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation. See the complete list of 2011 winners.
Dear Yorkton Film Festival, board, staff, volunteers, judges and supporters,
Thank you so very much for putting on such an awesome festival. The blend of high-caliber workshops, fun social mingling and outstanding films is unrivaled. Furthermore, your hard-working core of loyal volunteers and staff made us delegates feel so warmly welcomed and appreciated. Clearly, that required lots of time, planning, energy and effort for which I like to express my heartfelt thank you.
I hope to see you again and wish you successful planning for the next big festival year.
Eva Colmers No Problem Productions, Edmonton AB
Kudos to all! The festival was FANTASTIC! I had the best time and am so pleased that I attended. I met many great people and reunited or reacquainted with colleagues - some I hadn't seen in years. The filmmakers were lovely. The couple of films I saw - incredible.
I loved the local Yorkton volunteers and staff. I had some great conversations with many of them. A highlight was the Friday night event - the Lions who worked it were fun and so damn committed. The shooting team were all very special and worked with us without a moments rest to facilitate our enjoyment. (True story - I was so pathetic at shooting that on my last round - one of them fired at the same time as me - in hopes that I wouldn't notice - so that I thought I had been successful with at least one shot! Now that's commitment and caring!). The meal on Saturday was delicious and very special with its local flavour. The awards ceremony very well done.
I really like how the festival engages the town and how the town rolled out the red carpet - literally and figuratively. I love how welcoming and inviting the whole experience was. All the drivers were great. Jason was fantastic with the technical support and accommodating everything we could possibly want/need.
I have returned home with a full belly, great memories and positively inspired. Thank you for inviting me to contribute. I enjoyed the whole experience and hope to return again and again. It was well worth the trip! Saskatchewan has such pride and with good reason. There is so much to be proud of. Keep well and keep doing it!
Very best and thanks again, Deb Deborah Day, Transmedia Producer Digital And Social Media Strategist Innovate by Day
Dear Randy, and the friends from the festival,
Just wanted to express my deepest and sincere gratitude for the amazing time, that I had in Yorkton, the charming atmosphere and everything that you did for me, and my film! I will never forget those two days! Thank you! You are the best!
