Canadian Filmmakers Awarded for Taking 'The REEL Challenge'

Comedic and Animated Short Films Celebrate the Work
Behind the Scenes in Film and Television Production in Canada

TORONTO, March 28, 2013 /CNW/ - The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) proudly announces the winners of The REEL Challenge Contest - Take 4.

The 4^th edition of The REEL Challenge, Celebrating the Movie and Television Industry at Work: Behind the Scenes, showcased the importance of promoting and protecting the dynamic production industry in Canada, which in 2012 supported the livelihoods of over 130,000 artists, creators and workers. Aspiring filmmakers were given the opportunity to share this very important message and showcase their talents by creating a 60 second comedic or animated short.

This year's contest awarded prizes of $7,500 for Best Comedic Short and $7,500 for Best Animated Short.

James Cadelli from Enbrun, Ontario was awarded the prize for Best Comedic Short for his entry 'Hands'.  In his witty take on this year's theme, 'Hands' showcases all of the people behind the camera who work to support film and television production in Canada. The prize for Best Animated Short was awarded to Maja Zonjic from Mississauga, Ontario for her entry 'Preserve'.  The 60 second animated short looks at the bigger picture of film production in Canada, while asking the audience, "What if all of the people behind the scenes didn't exist?"

Filmed entertainment takes enormous amounts of time, investment, and effort to make - and in the age of the internet, no time at all to steal.  The REEL Challenge is an opportunity to help tell the story of a dynamic production industry in Canada that supports the livelihoods of the thousands of artists, creators, and workers - in front of the camera and behind it - who shoot and put together entertainment that make us cry, laugh, or even see our world differently.

"Protecting our industry is how we ensure its longevity. There are countless people who work daily in the production industry in Canada and we want to acknowledge them," said Slawko Klymkiw, CFC's Chief Executive Officer.

The two winning entries are available to watch at www.thereelchallenge.ca.

The contest ran from October 16, 2012 until February 25, 2013. Only films of a comedic or animated nature were eligible to enter.

The REEL Challenge Contest is an initiative of the Canadian Film Centre, supported by the Copyright Collective of Canada.

About CFC

Celebrating 25 years, CFC accelerates the careers of the brightest talent in film, television, screen acting, music, and digital media. A charitable organization, CFC is committed to promoting and investing in Canada's diverse talent; providing exhibition, financial, and distribution opportunities, industry collaborations and creative partnerships for top creative content leaders. CFC makes a significant cultural and economic contribution to Canada by launching the country's most creative ideas and voices to the world.

The REEL Challenge - Winners' Biographies Maja Zonjic - Animated Short Winner

Maja Zonjic is a Toronto-based documentary photographer and filmmaker. With a M.F.A degree in Documentary Media, Zonjic creates work that explores the interwoven layers of life through social, economic, and political undercurrents in an effort to affect social change through the documentary medium. She has exhibited and screened her work within Canada and internationally. Additionally, her work has been published in Verge Magazine, Torontoist, Surface and Symbol, Red Flag Magazine, and Function Magazine amongst others. Zonjic is currently directing Postcards from Utila - a feature-length documentary film examining the exacerbation of environmental degradation due to unsustainable tourism development in Honduras.

James Cadelli - Comedic Short Winner

James Cadelli is a video artist and illustrator. He developed an eye for the visual arts growing up in the town of Embrun, Ontario. He currently works all over Central Canada.

SOURCE: Canadian Film Centre

For media inquiries, please contact:

Danielle Morgan
Communications Coordinator, CFC
[email protected]
416-445-1446 ext. 286