OCan FilmFest 2018

Pur Laine, Alexander Cruz (Ottawa, ON) [ Narrative | Feature ] * World Premiere

An old man suddenly dies, leaving his most recent wife to sell the house and start a new life. When his daughter from a previous marriage appears and claims the house is hers, all hell breaks loose.

Alexander Cruz was born and raised in Ottawa (b. 1985), but has worked and lived in Calgary, Toronto and Manila. He spent most of his twenties looking for greener pastures as a production assistant and videographer for different studios. Once he realized you have to be rich to be a starving artist, he returned to Ottawa a few years back and found inspiration telling local stories. He has made several short documentaries like “Mémoires sans frontières,” (2012),“Fiesta” (2013) and “68 années de l’hiver” (2014), and other experimental art house stuff that even he doesn’t quite understand. His films have been exhibited at art and film festivals across Canada, in the United States and in South East Asia. With “Pur Laine” (2018), he followed the advice of others and wrote about what he knows: the struggle of first and second-generation immigrants, and the lingering anxieties of les habitants. He lives in Hull.

More info: Trailer | Behind the Scenes video

The True North Project, Emil Egopian (Calgary, AB) [ Documentary | Feature ]

A celebration of Canada’s multi-ethnic society and its ongoing process of reconciliation with the indigenous community. The True North Project, commissioned by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, is a celebration of Canada’s multi-ethnic society and its ongoing process of reconciliation with the indigenous community. In this celebration of diversity, artists from vastly different backgrounds are brought together to create a collaborative work for orchestra. The documentary focuses on national identity and the idea of “home,” in a country where 20 percent of the population is foreign-born.

Young filmmaker Emil Agopian has an astonishing number of film credits to his name. A cellist, Agopian has a particular feeling for film work involving classical music. In addition to his work for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra – one of Canada’s top professional orchestras – traveling across Canada to film his feature documentary “The True North Project”, he has created a documentary series and other media for the Morningside Music Bridge International Music Festival in Beijing (2016), and Boston (2017), shooting in China (Guangzhou and Shanghai) and Poland (Warsaw).

More info: Trailer

the art of the morning, Nathan Hauch (Ottawa, ON) [ Cine-poetry | Short ]

A lyrical look at how one person prepares for the day ahead, savouring each moment.

Nathan Hauch has been active in Ottawa’s poetry scene, having published in journals such as Bywords.ca. He was part of the creative team behind “City that Fun Forgot?”, a documentary exploring Ottawa’s (undeserved?) reputation as a boring capital, that was released to national media attention in 2014.

More info: Trailer | Radio interview

Harevan, Marilou Caravecchia-Pelletier (Montreal, QC) [ Narrative | Short ]

Constrained by her shyness, Clemence is struggling to build relationships with others. To help, she spends time with her Armenian neighbor in whom she will find a confidant.

Born in Montreal, Marilou Caravecchia-Pelletier was raised by a Quebec born father and a Franco-Italian mother. Her origins motivated her to travel, first to visit her family, later to fulfill a passion. Graduate from the program of cinema at UQAM in the director profile, this young filmmaker draws inspiration from many subjects that touch her deeply to convey her own vision of the world and to try to move others.

More info: Trailer

Russian Gangster, Maissa Houri (Ottawa, ON) [ Narrative | Short ]

Nikolai Dalca has been aspiring to be a great actor in Hollywood. The only thing stopping him is who he is.

Maissa Houri is an Middle-Eastern-Canadian actress and emerging filmmaker based out of Ottawa, Canada. She is also one of the Co-Founders and the Director of Industry Events for the Eve Film Festival, a festival dedicated to women and women-identifying directors. Recently, her short film Inara won her two awards at the Ottawa Digi60 2018 Spring Edition including the SAW Video Female Filmmaker Award and Best Director Award. Her first short film Russian Gangster, a comedy dedicated to diverse actors, is an official selection of the Women’s Only Entertainment Film Festival and most recently the Canadian Diversity Film Festival 2018.

More info: Trailer

As It Was, Blake Garbe (Toronto, ON) [ Narrative | Short ]

A young boy, Mason, senses that the relationship between his parents isn’t as perfect as he thought. A young boy, Mason, senses that the relationship between his parents isn’t as perfect as he thought. His older siblings are coming to terms with their futures already, while he struggles to understand the nature of family separation.

Blake Garbe is a Canadian-born director who works out of Toronto, ON. Blake has directed multiple short films including As It Was (2017), #JoelforPrez (2016), The Feeding (2015) and Bright Idea (2015). His films have been accepted into multiple festivals such as Toronto Youth Shorts TS180, #TOFF, LA Cinefest and The Kyiv International Film Festival.

More info: Trailer

It Could Be You, Cody Westman (St. John's, NL) [ Narrative | Short ]

‘It could be you!’ says the big cardboard man in the convenience store. Bernie knows it will never be him. Still, as he trudges through life in a grey, dull world where people say as little as possible to each other, the highlight of Bernie’s soul-crushing daily routine is buying, checking and then crumpling his losing lottery tickets. What Bernie doesn’t know – yet – is that fortune comes in many forms, and at any moment it can slam into you like a speeding car. Or in this case, an SUV.

Cody Westman has been involved in the film and entertainment industries in Montreal, Vancouver and St. John’s since 1999. In 2001 Cody directed and produced his first piece, a web pilot entitled ‘Beyond Travel’. Since then he has worked in the film industry, while producing and directing commercials, corporate video, music videos, short films, and working as a touring musician. In 2013, Cody began production on his first documentary ‘That LITTLE Room – The Story of Erin’s Pub’ which was picked up by Air Canada internationally, NTV, the Nickel Film Festival, and the Kerry Film Festival in Ireland. Under the production company Cats Eye Cinema INC., Cody has produced / directed / edited two short films (Deadline & It Could Be You) and is starting production on a Telefilm supported short film CASEY in April 2017. Cody works full time in video production and lives with his wife and 2 boys in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

More info: Trailer | Vimeo

Away Home, Jana Stackhouse (Toronto, ON) [ Narrative | Short ]

A man returns to his family home on the East Coast of Canada to unite his family and say goodbye to his terminally ill mother.

Jana Stackhouse is an award-winning director whose films have screened at various festivals internationally including TIFF, The Atlantic International Film Festival, and Los Angeles CineFest. While earning a BFA in Film at Ryerson University, Jana received numerous awards including The Norman Jewison Award and the Harvey Hart Director’s Award. Jana wrote and directed “Away Home”, which was selected for TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival and won the Best Female Director Award at Hollywood North Film Festival. Jana’s latest project is directing the web series “Note To Self” for CBC which garnered over one million views and received a Canadian Screen Award Nomination for Best Fiction Web Program or Series.

More info: Trailer | Vimeo

Super Bingo, Matthew J. Blecha (Vancouver, BC) [ Narrative | Short ]

When Leo, the bingo hall number-caller unexpectedly quits, Steve, the concessions guy is forced to take his place and uses the opportunity at the microphone to makes his dreams come true.

Born in Sault Ste. Marie and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Matthew Blecha developed an interest in filmmaking at Queen’s University in Kingston. After graduating with a B.A (Honors) in 1989 in film Studies, Matthew moved to Vancouver and entered the film industry as a production assistant, working on features films such as This Boy’s Life and Look Who’s Talking Now, and Television shows such as MacGyver & Neon Rider

More info: Trailer | official website

What We Owe, Bryce Mercier (Oakville, ON) [ Narrative | Short ]

Noah struggles with moving forward with his serious girlfriend Emily, as he wants to be there 24/7 for his sick mother, Ann. When it is suggested that Ann be moved into an assisted living home, Noah cannot seem to let go, even the slightest.

Bryce Mercier is 21 years old and comes from Bradford, Ontario. Completing his final year of his Bachelor of Film & Television at Sheridan College. ‘What We Owe‘ is the second short film that he has directed since starting his directing career.

More info: Behind the Scenes | Why this film | Why this film | Telling the Story

Intercept, Kirk Knapp (Ottawa, ON) [ Narrative | Short ]

After breaking up with her boyfriend, a tech glitch connects two strangers together. Intercept was produced for the spring 2018 Digi60 Film Festival in Ottawa, Canada. It premiered at the Mayfair Theater in May 2018 with over 30 other short films. This is the DIRECTOR’S CUT which has an additional 2 minutes of footage and a re-scored soundtrack.

Kirk Knapp is an Ottawa-based filmmaker.

More info: IMDB

End of the Night, Tavit Melikian (Montreal, QC) [ Narrative | Short ]

After the accidental death of his best friend, Jimmy comes to believe that the friend now haunts his car, but selling it – even with the brother’s help – takes them to a very dark place.

Tavit Melikian graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema in 2010. One of his biggest achievements was having the opportunity to work on the movie “Noah”, as a special makeup effects artist. He directed his first short film titled “End of The Night” and is currently working on directing his next film.

More info: Trailer

Angels, Taylor Olson (Halifax, NS) [ Narrative | Short ]

A young Dad struggles to reconcile with protecting his daughter and bringing her up in a world that has nothing to offer her and will only take everything from her.

Taylor Olson is an ACTRA nominated actor and Screen NS nominated writer/ film maker based in Halifax, NS. He is one half of Afro Viking Pictures, and has directed/ written films such as Hustle and Heart, Cut, Perfectly Sane, Danny Dare Me, Grace and Angels. His films have screened internationally and won prizes at CBC’s Short Film Face Off, FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival, Emerging Lens Film Festival, Bluenose Ability Film Festival and Big Terror Film Festival.

More info: Trailer

Photos by Maurice Rainbow, Megha Dash, #OCanFilmFest2018 Crew. Full album here: OCanFilmFest2018 Festival Photos