2010 TUFF Winners Announced

I was pleased to be in attendance last night as the Toronto Urban Film Festival's 2010 category winners were honoured at The Drake, here in windy T.O. TUFF filmmakers face the unique challenge of producing a one-minute silent film--a truly silent film, since they run not in theatres, but on the speakerless transit-information boards that dot Toronto's subway platforms. As always, the creativity of artists within and this city and beyond it is inspirational.

All these films are worth watching (they're barely even a time commitment--so get cracking). I particularly recommend Paper Games and Scenes from a Separated Life.

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1st PLACE - Ahmet Serif Yıldırım (Yenibaglar, Turkey) for RECYCLE

1st Place was selected by TUFF Guest Judge Deepa Mehta.

2nd PLACE - Patrick Jenkins (Toronto, Canada) for TARA'S DREAM

3rd PLACE - Sally Larson (Philadelphia, USA) for AXIOM

3rd Place is selected by the TUFF Guest Judge Deepa Mehta.

HONOURABLE MENTION - Vikram Dasgupta and Dinesh Sachdev (Toronto, Canada) for THE BEE

Selected by Guest Judge Deepa Mehta.

HONOURABLE MENTION - Steven Shanahan (Toronto, Canada) for PAPER GAMES

NAISH MCHUGH AWARD FOR EMERGING FILMMAKERS - Dave Martyn & Nadine Espinoza (Toronto, Canada) for A WALK THROUGH

This award was selected by Guest Judge, Deepa Mehta, and was awarded by deputy-mayor Joe Pantalone.

MOST AMBITIOUS FILM BY A LOCAL FEMALE DIRECTOR - Laura Nashman (Toronto, Canada) for ITO'S TORONTO

Awarded by Executive Director of Women in Film and Television Toronto and selected Guest Judge Deepa Mehta.

VIEWER'S CHOICE AWARD - Steven Shanahan (Toronto, Canada) for PAPER GAMES

Awarded to the film that receives the most online votes during the 2010 festival. Paper Games won with 1786 votes.

BEST ENVIRONMENTAL FILM BY A CANADIAN FILMMAKER - Vikram Dasgupta and Dinesh Sachdev for THE BEE

Awarded to the best Canadian film, in any genre, that marries environmental issues with the art of filmmaking. Selected by juror Kathleen Mullen, and awarded by Jed Goldberg, Executive Director or Earth Day Canada.

BEST ANIMATION BY A LOCAL ARTIST - Patrick Jenkins (Toronto, Canada) for TARA'S DREAM

Awarded to the best animated film by a southern-Ontario-based artist, as selected by juror Chris Gehman.

BEST LOCAL 1ST TIME FILMMAKER - Ben Roberts (Toronto, Canada) for HOOKED

Selected by the Art for Commuters and the Toronto Urban Film Festival. Awarded to a local, emerging filmmaker who has never before screened their work, outside of a student context.

BEST LOCAL SCREENPLAY - Steven Shanahan (Toronto, Canada) for PAPER GAMES

Awarded to the best screenplay for a local film. Selected by the Art for Commuters and the Toronto Urban Film Festival.

BEST IN CATEGORY - Urban Encounters and Other Stories - Martine Blue (Epworth, Canada) for URBAN TWIRL

The award for Best Film in this category selected by Haema Sivanesan.

BEST IN CATEGORY - Urban Ideas and Politics - Paul Wong & Tony Pantages (Vancouver, Canada) for DOVETALE

The award for Best Film in this category selected by Min Sook Lee.

BEST IN CATEGORY - Our Environment and Urban Growth - Stan Krzyzanowski (Toronto, Canada) for SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

The award for Best Film in this category selected by Kathleen Mullen.

BEST IN CATEGORY - Urban Journeys - Payal Kapadia & Stuart Dacosta (Mumbai, India) for DAILY VIOLENCE

Best Film in this category selected by Sarah Robayo Sheridan

BEST IN CATEGORY - The City is a Poem - Octavian Fedorovici (Arad, Romania) for CASABLANCA 1PM

Best Film in this category selected by Michael Zry.

BEST IN CATEGORY - The Medium is the Message - Sally Larson (Philadelphia, USA) for AXIOM

Best Film in this category selected by Chris Gehman.

BEST IN CATEGORY - The Emotional City - Tara Cooper and Terry O'Neil (Toronto, Canada) for SCENES FROM A SEPARATED LIFE

Best Film in this category selected by Jorge Lozano.

BEST IN CATEGORY - TSV and A4C Selections - Jochen Neumann (Toronto, Canada) for A_POEM_TORONTO

Best in this category selected by jury member Chris Gehman.