The Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF), the only festival of its kind in North America, is a public film festival that reaches over 1.3 million subway commuters daily. Recently named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “20 Coolest Film Festivals,” TUFF takes place September 9 – 18, 2011 on Onestop platform screens across the Toronto subway system.

Award-winning Canadian filmmaker, Atom Egoyan, will guest judge the fifth annual Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF), selecting the top films of the festival.

Filmmakers, animators and video artists are invited to submit one-minute silent films an urban population. TUFF pays artist fees and awards thousands in cash and prizes.

Deadline for submissions to TUFF is July 15, 2011. TUFF is free to submit prior to June 1, 2011. After that date, there will be submission fees: $10 (June 1 – June 30) and $15 (July 1 – July 15). Films can be submitted through the TUFF Website.

5 Years and Still TUFF!





Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF) was just named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “20 Coolest Film Festivals” in the Fall 2010 edition. TUFF is the only Canadian festival that made the cut this year!

Published in NYC, MovieMaker is the the USA’s leading resource on the art and business of making movies and the world’s most widely read independent movie magazine.

Check out who else is up to snuff: http://www.moviemaker.com/festivals/article/20_coolest_film_festivals_2010_20101201

For more on TUFF: www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com

All I have to say is… ICE COLD! Way to go!

Making a great one-minute film, that’s TUFF!

The Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF) founded by CFC Media Lab Alumnus, Sharon Switzer, is a 10-day (September 10-19, 2010) public film festival that reaches over 1.3 million subway commuters daily. TUFF is looking for the best one-minute silent films from across Canada and around the world. Over $10,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the winning films (Check out the incredible prizes!) Artist fees of $100 will be payed to every film that’s selected by our jury to screen on the TTC and on the TUFF website.

Films are selected by a guest jury, with the top films chosen by a special Guest Judge. The TUFF 2010 Jury includes Min Sook Lee, Jorge Lozano, Kathleen Mullen, Sarah Robayo Sheridan, Haema Sivanesan, and Michael Zryd.

Filmmakers, animators and video artists are invited to consider our urban-themed categories:

• Urban Encounters and Other Stories

• Our Environment and Urban Growth

• The Medium is the Message

• Urban Ideas and Politics

• Urban Journeys

• The City is a Poem

• After Night Falls

TUFF SUBMISSION DEADLINE: July 15, 2010
Submit your film before June 1st and avoid the $10 entry fee. Fees rise to $15 on July 1st.

www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com

…Need support to make your TUFF film? Click HERE to find out about the Trinity Square Video (TSV) Pitch Award.

Alumni Sharon Switzer attended the Media Lab in 2006 and was part of the team that created Things Left Unsaid. She is founder of the Toronto Urban Film Festival which is currently accepting submissions.

www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com

Bio

Sharon Switzer (b. 1966, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada)

An artist and curator, Switzer has been exhibiting her media art since the early 1990’s. She regularly produces and curates public art festivals and exhibitions to massive audiences through her work with Art for Commuters. Switzer has also twice been contracted by Pride Toronto to commission and produce a series of video artworks for their festival, entitled ‘Video Art is Queer’. The first curatorial collective that she formed, Clamorous Intentions, was active in Toronto during the early 1990’s, producing 3 large-scale, multi-media public events in 2 years. Switzer is an instructor at OCAD, and is actively involved in the Toronto arts community, presently serving as President of Gallery TPW’s Board of Directors. Her video work traveled to museums across Canada as part of ‘18 Illuminations,’ and a catalogue of her work was produced by McMaster Museum of Art. Sharon received her B.F.A. from Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles, her M.F.A. from The University of Western Ontario, and is a Graduate of the CFC Media Lab at the Canadian Film Centre. She is represented by Corkin Gallery in Toronto, and her work can be found online at www.corkingallery.com, www.circuitgallery.com and www.sharonswitzer.com.

As Founder and Executive Director of Art for Commuters, Switzer initiated and continues to produce 3 large-scale public art projects each year on the Onestop network of over 270 LCD screens in Toronto’s subway system, to a daily audience of 1.3 million people. Scheduled to coincide with CONTACT, ‘Contacting Toronto’ is an annual, month-long photography exhibition, curated through invitation and open-call. Scheduled to coincide with the Toronto International Film Festival, the ‘Toronto Urban Film Festival’ is an annual 10-day public film festival. The only one of its kind in North America it features a different urban-themed program of silent, 1-minute films each day. ‘Words Travel Fast’ is an annual project scheduled to coincide with Toronto’s Nuit Blanche that pairs poets and animators. This unique collaborative project seeks to expand the possibilities for how both poetry and animation can be integrated and newly experienced. Other smaller projects include Station Portraits, an ongoing series of TTC photos by local photographers, and screening curated videos during Pride Week and Luminato. www.art4commuters.com, www.contactingtoronto.ca, www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com

TORONTO URBAN FILM FESTIVAL
Silent 1-Minute Films on the TTC

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: JULY 15, 2009
Trinity Square Video Pitch Deadline: June 15, 2009

Share your film with an audience of 1.3 million daily commuters. Finalists selected by a stellar panel of guest jurors, with top prizes awarded by this year’s guest judge, writer/director/actor Don McKellar.

ABOUT TUFF:
The Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF) is the only film festival of its kind in North America, and one of the largest in the world with an average daily viewing audience of over 1 million. The 3rd annual TUFF is programmed on the Onestop Network of 270 subway platforms screens throughout the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). We accept all genres of film, video, and animation from both professional and amateur filmmakers. All films screened are silent and 1-minute in length. TUFF is free to enter and open to both Canadian and international submissions.

2009 SUBMISSION CATEGORIES: Urban Diversity – Urban Encounters – Urban Ideas – Urban Imaginary – Urban Journeys – Urban Natural – Urban Secrets

AWARDS:
1ST PLACE – 4.5 star trip for two to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
2nd/3rd  PLACE – TBA

NAISH MCHUGH AWARD FOR EMERGING FILMMAKERS
$2,500 given to the film that best captures the unique qualities of Toronto, created by an emerging filmmaker living and/or working within the Greater Toronto Area (416/905 area code). Sponsored by the City of Toronto through the TFTO.

TRINITY SQUARE VIDEO PITCH AWARD:
NEW DEADLINE: JUNE 15, 2009
Looking for production help to make your TUFF film? Send a one or two paragraph pitch that describes your 1-minute film idea. The seven submissions that best capture the spirit of this year’s TUFF themes will receive a full TSV membership and up to $600 of in-kind support towards both the production and post-production of their TUFF movie. Send your pitch with CV and contact info to: A4C@torontourbanfilmfestival.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT YOUR FILM ONLINE: www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com

CFC ALumni Sharon Switzer founded / runs this fabulous short film festival:

TORONTO URBAN FILM FESTIVAL
Silent 1-minute films on the TTC
September 11-20, 2009
Presented by Heineken

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: JULY 15, 2009
TSV Pitch Deadline: May 30th, 2009
Share your work with an audience of 1.6 million daily commuters. And, win a trip for two to the Dominican Republic plus other great prizes. Finalists selected by a stellar panel of guest jurors, and screened by this year’s Guest Judge — writer-director-actor Don McKellar.
The 3rd annual Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF) is programmed on the Onestop network of 270 subway platforms screens throughout the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The festival runs concurrent with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
We accept all genres of film, video, and animation from both trained professional, and amateur filmmakers. All films screened are silent and 1-minute in length. TUFF is free to enter and open to both Canadians and international submissions.
2009 Submission Categories:
Urban Diversity – Urban Encounters – Urban Ideas – Urban Imaginary – Urban Journeys – Urban Natural – Urban Secrets

Trinity Square Video Pitch Award – Deadline May 30th, 2009
Locals, looking for support to make your TUFF film? Send us a one or two paragraph pitch that describes your 1-minute film idea. The seven submissions that best capture the spirit of this year’s TUFF themes will receive a TSV membership and up to $600 of in-kind support towards both the production and post-production of their TUFF movie. TSV Pitch Award Winners will be screened as their own category on the 8th day of TUFF. TSV: www.trinitysquarevideo.com Send your short pitch with CV and contact information to: A4C@torontourbanfilmfestival.com.
For more information or to submit your film online: www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com
TUFF is co-produced by Art for Commuters (www.art4commuters.com) and Onestop Media Group (www.onestopmediagroup.com).
Contact: A4C@torontourbanfilmfestival.com

This years festival features work from three other CFC Media Lab Alumni:

City Revenge by Faisal Anwar
Urban Secrets – stories about the hidden or forgotten city
Thursday September 11th

Change by Carlo Ghioni and Isabella Stefanescu
Urban Encounters – the moments that make city-living worthwhile
Saturday September 6th

For more information, to watch the videos and to VOTE for your favorite please go to www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com

Update:

It seems we have a boon of CFC Media Lab alum in this years’ TUFF Festival…  Congratulations to Midi Onodera who has two films in this years festival:

“Privacy”, Sept. 9
and
“I Could Never Forget You”, Sept. 1

Stop Them in Their Tracks
Final Submissions Call for TUFF

DEADLINE EXTENDED – JULY 7, 2008

Next MONDAY is the final day for submissions to the 2008 Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF).

Share your work with an audience of over 1 million people who ride the rails and another 50,000 who visit our Website and YouTube channel.

Now in its second year, TUFF is the only festival of its kind in North America. TUFF runs concurrent with TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) when Toronto — and the TTC — play host to thousands of film fans and film professionals alike.

Professional and first-time filmmakers are encouraged to submit their films, videos and animations to one of 7 urban themed categories. All submissions must be silent and exactly 60 seconds in length.

Filmmakers retain all rights, and will receive an honorarium of $150 per selected film. Prizes include a trip for 2 to Aruba from Belair Travel; a Sony HD Camcorder with accessories; Sony Digital Cameras; MP3 Players; dinner at the Drake Hotel with a notable filmmaker.

Submit your film now at: www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com <http://www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com/>

TUFF is co-produced by Art for Commuters (A4C) and Onestop Media Group.

Contact: Sharon Switzer, TUFF Executive Director, at A4C at torontourbanfilmfestival.com

An 8-day long public film festival on the TTC – the only one of its kind in North America – featuring a different urban-themed program of 1-minute films each day.

Submission Deadline: July 1st, 2008

6 Weeks is plenty of time to make a 1-minute film! Take part in the citizen’s film festival and share your work with an audience of over 1 million people.

We encourage all genres of film, video, and animation, from both professional and first-time filmmakers. All submissions must be silent and exactly 60 seconds. Filmmakers retain all rights, and will receive an honorarium of $150 per selected film.

Our 2008 guest jurors are Richard Fung, Judy Gladstone, Michelle Jacques, Deirdre Logue, Brenda Longfellow, Robert Ouellette and Jason St-Laurent.

The films selected by our jurors for each thematic category play on the network of 250 TTC subway platform screens repeatedly during one day of the festival. The 8th day of TUFF is programmed based on audience votes.

Award winning actor, writer, director and comedian Mark McKinney, is our 2008 guest judge. Mark will select the top 3 films of the festival, and each guest juror will choose the best in their category. Audience votes determine the winner of the TUFF Choice award.

Prizes include: Sony HD Camcorder with accessories; Sony Digital Cameras; MP3 Players; a ‘Creative Retreat’ from Belair Travel; dinner at the Drake Hotel with a notable filmmaker.

Filmmakers must submit to one of the following thematic categories:
* Urban Encounters – the moments that make city-living worthwhile
* Urban Fears – the darker side of living in a metropolis
* Urban Growth – from skyscrapers to suburban sprawl
* Urban Imaginary – hopes for the future of big cities
* Urban Natural – the living city, both nurtured and oppressed
* Urban Secrets – stories about the hidden or forgotten city
* Urban Travels – from public transit to Parkour

Submit films online by July 1st: www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com <http://www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com>

TUFF is co-produced by Art for Commuters (A4C) and Onestop Media Group.
Contact: Sharon Switzer, TUFF Executive Director, at A4C@torontourbanfilmfestival.com

We acknowledge the support the Ontario Arts Council, and the Canada Council for the Arts which last year invested $11.8 million in media arts throughout Canada.

Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF)
Cinema by Citizens Celebrating the City
September 8 – 14, 2007

Attention: filmmakers, video artists, animators, and urbanites with video cellphones.

We’re looking for 1-minute, silent videos that address the following urban themes: My TOwn; Urban Ennui; 905 to the 416; The Imaginary City; Big Smoke, Big Dreams; Forgotten Places, Uncommon Spaces.

Genie award-winning director Jeremy Podeswa will be awarding prizes for the top 3 videos in the Festival. The TUFF Choice award will also be given to the video with the most online votes.

Prizes include: Camcorder with tripod; Wireless devices; Digital cameras; iPods; Retailer giftcards, and a trip for 2 to Jamaica from Bel-Air Travel!

TUFF Programmers John Greyson, Steve Reinke, Heather Keung, Jon Davies, Kim Simon and Jacqueline Nuwame will select films from submissions to the six thematic categories. Not all submissions will be accepted to TUFF.

Each day of TUFF will feature a different thematic programme on the network of TTC subway screens, with individual films cycling throughout the day. Films will also be available online for viewing and voting.

Format: 60 seconds (exactly), no sound, 720x480dpi (4:3), 30 fps. Quicktime, AVI, MPEG and SWF formats accepted.
TUFF is open to local, national and international submissions. It’s free to enter, but all submissions must be uploaded or postmarked by Aug. 20th. International submissions must be postmarked by August 13th. Selected films will be listed on the website by September 1st.

For more information, or to submit films: www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com
Contact: A4C@torontourbanfilmfestival.com