Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF)
http://www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com/
September 5 - 12, 2008

TUFF is an 8-day long public film festival on the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) - the only one of its kind in North America - featuring a different urban-themed program of 1-minute films each day. The festival runs from September 5 - 12, 2008, parallel to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

Submission Deadline: July 1st, 2008

All you have to do is make a 1-minute film! Take part in the citizens' 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

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.