Second edition of The Shortest Day: a treat for families, kids and movie-lovers of all ages in Western Canada and Yukon

Free screenings of Canada's best short films, including Godhead from Victoria-based director and screenwriter Connor Gaston

MONTREAL, Dec. 9, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ -  The Shortest Day returns for a second year across the country—including Winnipeg, Yorkton (Saskatchewan), Edmonton, Kamloops, Vancouver, Victoria and Dawson City (Yukon)—on December 19, 20 and 21, 2014, with an outstanding program of new, classic and award-winning shorts by some of Canada's most talented filmmakers. This year's free event—a fun way for families and movie-lovers to celebrate the lead-up to the winter solstice on December 21, the shortest day of the year, and usher in the holiday season—features 27 shorts organized into three thematic programs: Kids Under 8 (56 minutes), Family (88 minutes) and Comedy (13+, 99 minutes).

The free screenings will be held in more than 60 venues across the country—not just in movie theatres but in cultural centres, community spaces, schools, hospitals and public libraries, making the event accessible across Canada to as many movie-lovers as possible.

In Western Canada and Yukon, Shortest Day programs will be screened, notably, at the Bandwidth Theatre and the Children's Hospital, Health Sciences Centre, in Winnipeg; at the Yorkton Public Library in Yorkton and the Grand Theatre in Indian Head, Saskatchewan; the Metro Cinema in Edmonton; the Pacific Center in Vancouver and the Vic Theatre in Victoria; and the Klondike Institute of Art and Culture in Dawson City.

The Shortest Day was started in 2011 by the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC) in France to celebrate an art form that has moved in exciting new directions. Presented in more than 50 countries, the Shortest Day is sponsored in Canada by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), Quebec's Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) and Telefilm Canada.

"A country of such talent"
Among the shorts from B.C-based filmmakers being screened at The Shortest Day this year is Godhead (Family program) from Victoria filmmaker Connor Gaston, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2014. The film also just received the ShortWork Student Award, presented by the Capilano University Film Centre, at the Whistler Film Festival.

"I'm thrilled be a part of The Shortest Day program," said Gaston. "It's a privilege to have your work shown on the big screen, let alone big screens across the country. And in a country of such talent, it's an honour to be included."

Connor Gaston's first short, Bardo Light, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012, and his short 'Til Death screened as part of Telefilm's Not Short on Talent market screenings at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Gaston recently graduated with an MFA in screenwriting from the University of Victoria and is currently working on his first feature film as a recipient of Telefilm's Micro-Budget Production Program.

The following works from B.C.-based filmmakers are also being presented during The Shortest Day:

• The Magic Ferret (Family program), Vancouver director and producer Alison Parker's award-winning film about six-year-old orphan Sam and his pet ferret, has been selected for 21 film festivals to date, including the 2014 TIFF Kids International Film Festival in Toronto.
• Pour retourner (Comedy program; English with French subtitles), from Vancouver-based filmmaker Scooter Corkle, tells the story of a respected prison chef who struggles to find his place in the outside world. The film recently won the Best Short Drama prize at the 2014 Devour! The Food Film Fest in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

To learn more about The Shortest Day

The microsite (www.theshortestday.ca) includes the campaign trailer, as well as provides a list of the films in the program and up-to-date details about screening venues and times across the country.

You can also get real-time Twitter updates via the hashtag #ShortestDay.

About the NFB
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) it's 75 years of innovation and leadership in social-issue documentaries, auteur animation, and most recently, groundbreaking interactive works. The NFB has produced over 13,000 productions and won over 5,000 awards, including 10 Webbys, 9 Canadian Screen Awards, 12 Oscars and more than 90 Genies. To access acclaimed NFB content, visit NFB.ca or download its apps for smartphones, tablets and connected TV.

About the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles
SODEC is a government corporation overseen by Quebec's Minister of Culture and Communications. It supports the creation and growth of cultural enterprises throughout the province. SODEC is a true driving force for cultural development in Quebec. SODEC brings together the passion of artistic creation with the power of economic development and provides cultural enterprises with a range of solutions designed to nurture Quebec creators and promote the production, distribution and exportation of their work. Follow SODEC on Facebook, Twitter and visit www.sodec.gouv.qc.ca.

About Telefilm Canada
Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada's audiovisual industry. Through its various funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world. Telefilm also administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/telefilmcanada.

SOURCE: Telefilm Canada

Media enquiries: Sources: NFB, SODEC, Telefilm Canada; Laura Sosin, Jive Communications, [phone], [email protected]