The Best of Alberta Award celebrates Alberta short films, created by both established artists and up-and-coming filmmakers. They collectively span a number of different genres, styles, and subject matter and over the years the program has seen a number of returning filmmakers, and a lot of fresh faces. These are the ones to watch, as they are all poised to make a mark in the industry.

With one of the strongest showing of submissions in the history of CIFF, it was exceptionally difficult to narrow the program down to ten finalists. This year, variety abounds with the Best of Alberta; from a zombie cowboy flick (DEAD WALKERS) and a chilling prairie farm film (FALLOW), to an introspective and cinematic music video (THE INDIE QUEENS ARE WAITING) and the latest “Pochsy” film from Karen Hines (A TAX ON POCSHY). The program also includes a sweet narrative about moving on (ELLEN’S SHOES) and a humorous but catastrophic heist-caper (GREENWASH GANG). There are two animated shorts, one about an intergalactic world (INTERGALACTIC WHO’S WHO – ZIG 5), and the latest from Cam Christiansen (two time Best of Alberta winner), 5 HOLE:TALES OF HOCKEY EROTICA. There is also a performance art piece from Eva Colmers (LUZ), and Trevor Anderson’s THE ISLAND, which premiered at Berlinale. At the end of the evening, only one will be dubbed the Best of Alberta.

Greenwash Gang
DIRECTORS Ian Day, Scott Townend, Canada, 2008, 5 MIN
Five former money launderers decide to take a chance and plan a big heist for themselves... Then things go catastrophically wrong.

Ellen’s Shoes
DIRECTOR Han Siu , Canada, 2009, 20 MIN
A film about a woman with broken shoes who meets a man with broken dreams.

Luz
DIRECTOR Eva Colmers, Canada, 2008, 6 MIN
In the dark, a Woman is drawn to the light. A performance art film featuring a solo performance by dancer / choreographer Tania Alvarado.

The Island
DIRECTOR Trevor Anderson, Canada, 2009, 5 MIN
After receiving a letter which asks: ‘why don’t all gays just go and live together on an island and infect each other with Aids?’ filmmaker Trevor Anderson sets out across the ice and creates a gay scenario with a happy end.

Fallow
DIRECTORS Dave Alexander, Colin Landry, Canada, 2009, 14 MIN
A farming community that adheres to very old traditions undertakes extreme actions to placate a being they believe lives within the soil. Drawing upon elements of H.P. Lovecraft and prairie gothic fiction, FALLOW is a new mythology born in the land, in the flesh, and in the blood.

Intergalactic Who’s Who – Zig 5
DIRECTOR Kevin D.A. Kurytnik, Canada, 2008, 8 MIN
Animated homage to Canada's Hinterland Who's Who that presents one of the fantastical species inhabiting the wild desert planet of Zig 5.

A Tax On Pochsy
DIRECTOR Karen Hines, Canada, 2009, 16 MIN
Set in the waiting room at an audit from hell, Pochsy, a mercury-poisoned factory worker who glows like the ghost of a silent film star and is pretty as the corpse, provides her part confession, and part alibi.

5 Hole: Tales of Hockey Erotica
DIRECTOR Cam Christiansen, Canada, 2009, 5 MIN
World Premiere
Taking the "love" of the game to a whole new level, 5 HOLE it is a scintillating look at hockey passion. Featuring the vocals of Selina Martin and the 5 Hole Band. Adapted Dave Bidini’s 5 Hole stories.

Indie Queens Are Waiting
DIRECTOR Trevor Smith, Canada, 2009, 3 MIN
World Premiere
Down the road and on the right hand side there's a place I sometimes like to dine. Coffee refills far as I can see. I'll be waking, are you watching me?

Dead Walkers
DIRECTOR Spencer Estabrooks, Canada, 2009, 14 MIN
Bounty hunter and gunman Jack Link has a knack for trouble, but when he stumbles into a town cursed with the undead, he might have bit off more than he can chew.












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