Brad Frenette of the National Post caught up with Agata Smoluch Del Sorbo (SCC programmer), to get the lowdown on Short Cuts Canada.

This year’s Short Cuts Canada program features 40 short films – ranging in length from one minute to 45 minutes - from established filmmakers such as Guy Maddin, Chris Landreth and Cordell Barker as well as emerging talent such as Dev Khanna, Émile Proulx-Cloutier and Sonya Di Rienzo.  I caught up with Agata Smoluch Del Sorbo, TIFF’s Manager of Canadian Programming and Short Cuts Canada programmer to discuss this year’s offering.
   
Q: What makes a great short film?
A: In general, a great short is original, imaginative, well-executed, and has a sense of purpose.

Q: Short films are seeing a rise in popularity. What might you attribute that to?  
A: I think there are a few causes for this. There have been some recent successes that have added to the attention that Canadian short films usually get – Next Floor, Madame Tutli-Putli, I Met the Walrus, The Danish Poet, Ryan.  More and more established feature filmmakers (Guy Maddin, Denis Villeneuve, Don McKellar) are choosing to work in the short form.  And there are also some new distribution models, particularly online, that have made short films easier to find and see.

 
Q: The lineup for this years Short Cuts is quite varied, and each programme seems thematically diverse. Is there a common theme to Short Cuts, other than the film being Canadian?  
A: There are definitely shared themes among groups of films within the Short Cuts programme.  For example, we have a number of films that tackle the subject of children dealing with really difficult situations like losing a parent or a friend, or being teased at school (The Armoire, Big Head, Interview with the Earth, On a Lonely Drive, Smoke).  But in terms of a theme that is common to all, there really isn’t one.  The commonality is that they are all Canadian and are all original, high quality short films.
 
Q: If you had to pick three films from the programme to show someone who doesn’t have a taste for short films, which would they be, and why?
A: Runaway is a wonderful animated film about a reckless train ride.  It is zany fun, brilliantly animated and an Oscar-worthy short from Academy Award nominated director Cordell Barker.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, and equally as great, is Danse Macabre  - a bold, stunning and morbid experimental dance film about a corpse.  A singular work of art and unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. And La Vie Commence - subtle and controlled, this is a strong and affecting Quebec drama about two brothers. There is a real quiet confidence to it. The director, Émile Proulx-Cloutier, is someone to watch.
 
Q: How did you find the shorts for the programme? Is there a specific submission process, and does it differ from submitting a full length feature for consideration in the festival?   
A: We found most of these shorts through our open submission process.  Anyone can submit a short to us for consideration as long as the film meets the eligibility requirements.  The process is pretty much the same for full length features - we have an open submission process for Canadian and International features as well.  Submissions open for the 2010 Festival in February 2010.

• Short Cuts Canada is presented in five programmes. Visit TIFF.net for screening times.