TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 2, 2016) - Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF) North America's largest and longest-running commuter film festival is pleased to announce Zaib Shaikh, City of Toronto's Film Commissioner & Director of Entertainment Industries, as guest judge, awarding this year's top prizes.
Celebrating a decade of outstanding one-minute films from around the world, TUFF returns to Toronto subway platforms from September 10 - 18, 2016 and launches the 10th anniversary celebrations with TUFF TEN, a special programme in recognition of the festival's history. TUFF TEN will take over all 346 PATTISON Onestop digital subway screens, replacing most commercial content from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 10, 2016.
For 9 days, amid the hustle and bustle of a subway station, a unique venue for film emerges. For the price of a TTC token, a subway traveller becomes a movie goer, engaged by ultra-short films catering to an urban public. The true-to-life and the surreal. Heartwarming and hilarious. Great storytelling, all without sound. There is no better way to wait for the next subway train. And there is no other film experience like the Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF).
Take Up the Challenge. Make a Minute that Counts. Share it with Millions.
TUFF's Call for Entries is now open to Canadian and international filmmakers.
TUFF accepts all genres of silent, one-minute film, video, and animation. FINAL submission deadline is July 15, 2016. www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com
"Toronto is such a great city for diverse artists and artistic expression that it's no wonder our City and festival goers have enjoyed and celebrated the TUFF experience for the last decade," said Zaib Shaikh. "A treat to be guest judge for TUFF's 10th anniversary and I'm looking forward to this year's entries of minute long films from around the globe that enlighten, inspire and challenge our notions of story and story-telling."
Zaib Shaikh, City of Toronto's Film Commissioner & Director of Entertainment Industries has worked as an actor, writer, director and producer internationally. Recently, he played Nadir Khan in Oscar‐nominated director Deepa Mehta's film, Midnight's Children, adapted from the novel by Salman Rushdie and was the star of CBC's international hit comedy, Little Mosque on the Prairie. Shaikh co‐produced, Long Story Short: CBC Turns 75, and co‐wrote, directed and co‐produced the Gemini Award winning television film, Othello, the Tragedy of the Moor. Shaikh has had the pleasure of working with some of the largest theatre companies in Canada including: Canadian Stage, National Arts Centre, Globe Theatre, Grand Theatre and the Stratford Festival of Canada. Promoting the City of Toronto's film, music, tourism and entertainment industries, Shaikh has also travelled across Canada and the world speaking about the power of arts and the media as a platform to greater understanding between Eastern and Western culture.
TUFF rolls out on September 11th and will be seen daily at five-minute intervals from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., on all subway platform screens across Toronto, entertaining an audience of over 1.2 million daily commuters.
Named one of the 'Coolest Film Festivals' by MovieMaker Magazine, TUFF is North America's largest and longest running commuter film festival. Selected films are eligible for cash prizes and awards with a top prize of $3,000. Past guest judges include: Patricia Rozema, Guy Maddin, Bruce McDonald, Jennifer Baichwal, Atom Egoyan, and Deepa Mehta.
One Minute. Ten Years. Endless Imagination.
Visit the TUFF website for submission details, festival information and to view past films at www.torontourbanfilmfestival.com.
TUFF is produced and presented by PATTISON Onestop and supported by Art for Commuters.
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Email -- info@torontourbanfilmfestival.com
Facebook -- http://www.facebook.com/torontourbanfilmfestival
Twitter -- http://www.twitter.com/tuffest
Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/torontourbanfilmfest
About PATTISON Onestop - www.pattisononestop.com @onestopmedia
Onestop is a world leader in the development and operation of Digital Out-of-Home Media (DOOH). Onestop creates and delivers uniquely engaging experiences that connect the physical and digital worlds, and provides audiences timely and relevant information in engaging spaces. Onestop leverages proprietary technology to deploy digital campaigns for mass transit, office, airport, residential, and retail environments, as well as being the exclusive media provider in the PATH - Toronto's underground walkway connecting office towers and subway stations to over 1,200 shops and services. Onestop is a division of PATTISON Outdoor Advertising.
About Art for Commuters - www.art4commuters.com @art4commuters
Art for Commuters (A4C) is a non-profit curatorial collective that initiates unique, thought-provoking projects in the public realm. Since it was founded in 2007, A4C has enjoyed successful partnerships, and has brought hundreds of artworks to the TTC subway platform screens as PATTISON's arts programming partner. The collective co-founded TUFF and continues to support the festival.
Contact Information:
marie.nazar@bell.net
416-762-7702
