A few years ago, there was a lot of talk how "new delivery platforms" would be a key factor in bring short film to a wider audience. But now — notwithstanding the fact that the technologically-adept can watch youtube videos on their smartphones — shorts are still the runt of the cinematic litter, mostly thought about only as the weird spoiler in the annual Oscar pool. An annual sign that spring is turning to summer, the Worldwide Short Film Festival (WSFF) does its best to remedy that, with a week of well-curated screenings.
As local film festivals go, this is one that's easy to take part in. Tickets are generally easy enough to get a hold of, and if you end up at something you don't like, you know it'll be over sooner rather than later. Most previews for the festival start with the big hook of the Celebrity Shorts programmes, and I guess that's fine for people who are impressed by — ugh — celebrities. Truth be told, there's more puff pieces there than elsewhere in the festival, stuff that mostly has a big name going for it. The real gems will come to those who dig deeper.
Some music fans will probably be eager to check out Scenes From The Suburbs (playing in the Choose Your Own Adventure programme) but those not particularly taken with Arcade Fire would have a better time at Scene Not Herd, a selection of innovative music videos. If that just sounds like something you could just watch on youtube, do take note that seeing it on the big screen in the company of an engaged audience makes these even better.
Genre fans are decently served at the festival, and the Midnight Mania selections are now so numerous that they are split over two programmes, "Creepy" and "Freaky". The Sci-Fi programme also has consistently good stuff — a chance for film-makers to sketch out ideas of the fantastic without having to bloat them (or stretch out a limited budget).
Other specialty selections include two programmes in the festival's "Spotlight on Italy" as well the family-friendly "Shorts for Shorties". Me, I'm of the disposition to just pick out something of other from the thematically-grouped Official Selections that I can fit into my schedule, and would recommend you do the same.
The festival runs may 31 to June 5 with most screenings at the Varsity, ROM and Bloor cinemas. The whole schedule can he found here.
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