While my usual (exhausting and exhaustive) festival blogging is reserved for the annual Toronto Film Festival in September, I thought mayhaps ‘Pie readers might like an appropriately brief glimpse at another movielovers’ event that arrives in the late-spring/early-summer every year in the Big Smoke.

I’ve attended for eight of its eleven years and, in some ways, I almost love this fest more than TIFF.

The Worldwide Short Film Festival has been around since 1995 and has grown into one of the biggest festivals in the world for short filmmakers. It’s officially recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, which means that award winners here can qualify for an Oscar nomination. Over 3000 films (varying in length from one to about 40 minutes) were submitted and some 240-odd of them were screened over six days (June 14-19th, 2005).

The WSFF is like TIFF’s cooler, calmer, more casual and much more accessible little sister. It’s relaxed and fun and has Myrocia Watamaniuk as one of its kick-ass Q&A moderators! [Note to TIFF: um, how about you steal this funny, articulate woman away and let her run a few of the shows in September instead of some of the dullards manning the mics at your screenings???] Tickets and passes are affordably priced – the Day Pass is the best deal going at any of the locals fests!, screenings are pleasantly full but not crowded and the filmmakers are always around, at their own screenings or sitting in on others, so chit-chatting with folks about their work is almost always possible.

Films are “packaged” into groups of at least six (and sometimes up to 17!) for “programs” of about 90-100 minutes each. They’re organized by things like country or category (sci-fi, horror and student films get their own programs) or theme (love! sex! dreams!), and you’re usually guaranteed to have one or two fantastic little gems in each set of shorts. Sometimes more. Sometimes, sadly, less. I know we’re intended to be loving and generous to all the films being shown, and to revel in the spirit and vision of all the filmmakers…but, honestly, some of the films do push the limits of patience. More than a few times I felt like poking sharp sticks in my eyes to escape the mind-numbing navel-gazing playing out onscreen and, based on the rising sighs of some of my fellow audience members, I was not alone. Just because a film is eight minutes long doesn’t mean it won’t feel like an eternity between its opening and closing credits. Trust me.

Happily, those duds were few and far between among the relatively small sampling (only about 50… drat!) of movies I watched this year. More than a few were great, and I thought they deserved some recognition. So, here then and in no particular order, are my favorites of this year’s festival. (Watch for them at film fests near you!)

Faves of the Fest:

The Race – directed by Robert Hamilton (Canada)
My favorite this year. This super-short short, which clocks in at a whopping two minutes (!), is like a cinematic haiku. It consists of a single shot, taken from a camera mounted on Hamilton’s front porch, of the wait for – and subsequent whirring past of – a pack of cyclists competing in an international bike race that set up shop in his city. That’s it. And yet, within that supremely simple set-up, is a great little visual poem, as the first hint of activity suddenly gives way to a furious flash of color…and then, again, nothing. Hamilton explained at the Q&A that the entire “film” was caught by accident as he attempted to shoot some elderly gent hitting on his spectator wife while she watched the race. As far as accidental filmmaking goes, this one rocks!

West Bank Story – directed by Ari Sandel (USA)
Screened at Sundance, this riotous musical comedy takes the well-known West Side Story story and sets it in…the West Bank. But instead of the Sharks and the Jets, the feuding clans are the proprietors and staff of competing fast-food restaurants: the Palestinian-owned Hummus Hut and the Israeli eatery, Kosher King. Not surprisingly, love breaks out amid the centuries-old war. Politically incorrect in the best possible way, the story features brilliantly written musical numbers, a terrific cast and a genuinely fun vibe throughout.

Pen Pals – directed by Art Curry (Canada)
This computer-animated short could easily have been made by Pixar. In fact, it boasts very Pixar-like storytelling and execution, which only adds to its charm. The story centers on a blue pencil who falls for a pink pencil…only to have his affections challenged by a super-sleek black ballpoint pen intent on winning “the girl” for itself. The dueling drawings and whimsical roadblocks to the pencil’s love were incredibly smart and imaginative.

His Passionate Bride – directed by Monika Forsberg (UK)
Another wonderful bit of whimsy neatly tucked into a small package. At only four minutes in length, this animated story of forbidden love between would-be in-laws still manages to be funny, inventive and cleverly naughty.

Backbone Tale – directed by Jeremy Clapin (France)
Like His Passionate Bride, this animated short is about love. Only this time, the lovelorn heart at the center of the story is a guy whose head faces straight down. His dream girl is, naturally, a lass with the exact opposite affliction – her head is perpetually pointed skyward. Their “courtship” (and their adorably animated pets!) is sweet, simple and earned a huge round of applause from the audience.

Groomed – directed by Joseph Raso (Canada)
A comedy about guys getting married! Only, the grooms in question aren’t gay – they’re both straight and looking to create the ideal future for themselves, where they can do what they want, watch what they want and even have “mistresses” without having to endure the emotional entanglements of being married to women. They’ll be bachelors for life, together! Or, at least, that’s what they think at the outset of their hilariously imperfect experiment.

Honorable Mentions:

The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello (Australia)
Gorgeously gothic and weird, it won the Best Animated Short award and I can see this one easily landing an Oscar nod.

Sugar Mountain - (USA)
Written and directed by 19-year-old actor Aaron Himelstein, who stars as Friedman on Joan of Arcadia!