TELUS AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD ANNOUNCED AS CFC WORLDWIDE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL COMES TO A CLOSE

TORONTO, June 5, 2011 /CNW/ - CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival (WSFF), presented by TELUS comes to a close with the announcement of the TELUS Audience Choice Award.  Announced at the packed Festival Award Winners screening at the Royal Ontario Museum on Sunday evening, this year's festival goers voted for The Gruffalo, directed by Jakob Schuh and Max Lang (UK, Germany) to win the TELUS Audience Choice Award and a $5,000 cash prize. Based on the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, this Academy Award®-nominated animation tells the delightfully tall tale of a small mouse who concocts a ghastly creature known as The Gruffalo in order to hoodwink his predators.

Screened in both Shorts For Shorties programs, The Gruffalo features the voices of Helen Bonham Carter and Robbie Coltrane.

Chosen out of all 275 films in the festival, the TELUS Audience Choice Award is the only prize in which all films, in both competition and non-competition screenings are eligible to win.

About Worldwide Short Film Festival
Now in its 17^th year, the Canadian Film Centre's Worldwide Short Film Festival is the leading venue for the exhibition and promotion of short film in North America and is one of the premier short film festivals in the world. Taking place May 31^st-June 5^th, 2011, the WSFF will present 275 films from 36 countries. Offering one of the largest prize packages for short film in the world, top WSFF winners are eligible for both Academy Award^® and Genie Award consideration. The WSFF Short Films, BIG IDEAS Symposium offers renowned professional development, while the WSFF Business Centre is home to the largest short film marketplace in North America.  For more information please visit: www.shorterisbetter.com

Photography available at: http://www.worldwideshortfilmfest.com/media/image_gallery
The WSFF recognizes the generous support of: TELUS, doug & serge Agency, Deluxe, Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Telefilm Canada

Festival founded by Brenda Sherwood

For further information:

Media Contacts: V Kelly & Associates, Inc. / 416.466.9799 / [e-mail] Tamara MacKeigan / 416.445.1446 x304 / [e-mail]
For detailed film descriptions visit - www.shorterisbetter.com