Reimagined Image Arts Film Festival to premiere slate of inspired student films
The Image Arts Film Festival - IMAFF (external link, opens in new window) (formerly the Ryerson University Film Festival - RUFF), is back with exciting in-person screenings of original films created by the graduating IMA film studies class, as well as from other years. From May 3rd to 4th, audiences can catch a riveting slate of films that vary in length from five minutes to 20 minutes, and cover a vast range of genres, styles, topics, and tones; all screening at the Cinesphere, the largest IMAX theatre in Ontario, located on the grounds of Ontario Place.This year’s slogan is “It all starts here”, is a reference to the event’s aim to kickstart students’ filmmaking careers.
These are all passion projects that students have been working on, sometimes even for years
Film still from “Tenth Generation”. Director Matthew Downs, Producers Lina Li, Sarah Douglas, DP Susan Liu
Behind the scenes of the film ‘Cordelia!’ Director Melissa Jones, Producer DC Dzoja, Assistant Producer Nada Abbass, DP Lucy Mahoney
Behind the scenes of the film ‘Copping Justice.’ Director Alexandra Dunlop, Producer Annalee Dimpfel, DP Aidan Bret-McNally
A new vision for the the festival
Executive Director & Co-Chair Lina Li
Artistic Director & Co-Chair Matthew Downs
In previous years, RUFF (as it was formerly known) was entirely focused on senior-year thesis films. IMAFF Co-Chairs Lina Li (also Executive Director) and Matthew Downs (also Artistic Director) saw an opportunity to reimagine the festival, inviting students across all years to submit.
“Because this is our first in-person film festival in two years, and because we knew we would be changing the name this year, we saw this as an incredible opportunity to step up and reimagine everything,” shares Downs. “This year, we hope to give students the experience that we wish we had in lower years, and as we're featuring industry panels, in hopes of informing and connecting students with the Canadian film industry.”
Supporting cinematography and the arts at The Creative School
Film still from ‘Sugar Baby’. Director Brooke Robertson, Producers Amy Falcon, Kristen Walsh, DP Michael McAsey
IMAFF is supported by Ryerson’s School of Image Arts and The Creative School. The annual student showcase celebrates the emerging filmmakers of the fourth-year IMA class, giving them an opportunity to network and screen their work in a public and professional setting. The thesis films created as part of the senior project course provide new filmmakers with an opportunity to apply and synthesise the theories, concepts, techniques, technologies, and practices of making films and videos learned in previous years.
Bold films in formidable times
Film still from ‘Flock’. Director Lina Li, Producer Angie Guo, DP Rob Mentov. Screening at IMAFF
Film still from 'Pimenta.' Director Naja Pereira, Producer Natasha Krauss, DP Sebastian Marin
Resilience in the face of seemingly undefeatable challenges is certainly the theme of the year
Downs is excited by the unique voices being showcased this year and the scope of perspectives and storytelling, in particular as most address significant challenges in creative ways.
“Our programmer, Paul Aguilera, noticed a recurring trend across most of the movies, which is the theme of resilience,” says Downs. “Though most of the films characters face up against systems and odds that are much larger than themselves, they remain strong as they push through. It's a bit reminiscent of how I think we all see ourselves right now. Resilience in the face of seemingly undefeatable challenges is certainly the theme of the year, if we had to pick something that seems to be overwhelmingly on people's minds.”
Guests can also take advantage of day-time industry panels with more information being released closer to the event.
Celebrating dedicated filmmakers and their passion projects
Film still from ‘Adore’. Director Beth Warrian, Producer Sofia Bant, DP Zack Clark
Director Beth Warrian of thesis film, Adore (external link, opens in new window) , which tackles issues of gender and identity, shares what this year’s festival means to her as a graduating film studies student.
“Working on my thesis film, Adore, has been a really inspiring process,” says Warrian. “My producer, Sofia, and I set out to explore the effects of intergenerational trauma on two queer relatives of very different ages and worldviews, and it’s been so humbling and inspiring to see the project organically attract such a range of passionate and dedicated talent from our class and the greater community.”
Warrian also shares the level of dedication shown by her team. “From our cast to every level of crew, everyone consistently touched me with the openness, vulnerability and absolute dedication they brought to the project.”
This dedication and openness, she feels, is something that will translate onto the big screen. “It makes all the difference when folks are able to see themselves and their values reflected in the work they do, and I hope this translates to audiences’ experience of the film.”
Warrian also shares that even in the online format, it was very meaningful to connect with likeminded artists and elevate each other’s work around a common goal. “The knowledge that I’m graduating with a network of talented and socially conscious folks gives me a lot of hope and excitement for what we’ll be able to do next!”
Image Arts Film Festival | May 3-4
Day-Time Industry Panels/Screenings at School of Image Arts|
Night-Time Thesis Screenings at Cinesphere
Support Student Filmmaking - Buy Tickets Here (external link, opens in new window)
Or visit https://www.imageartsff.com/ (external link, opens in new window)
Cinesphere - Ontario Place
955 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto, ON M6K 3B9
Buy your tickets here (external link, opens in new window) .
The Creative School at Ryerson University
The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.