Location: Instagram @formvancouver
Time: Daily between 8AM and 12PM PST
FREE EVENT
Brand new to the festival this year is the Mini Commissions Program! As a youth-driven festival, we’ve seen firsthand the power that young artists have when their creative voices are empowered. F-O-R-M launched this initiative with a desire to provide a supportive space for high school aged youth (15-18 years old) to explore movement-on-screen creation and play with movement and film. We’re beyond excited to introduce you to these 11 inspiring young artists from across BC, Alberta, and Ontario.
In anticipation of creating their own 1-2 minute short films, our cohort of artists met throughout May to August and were mentored by Erin Lum and Sophia Wolfe. Exploration, experimentation, and education are values that guided this process. Artists asked questions like; where do our ideas come from? How far can one concept take us? What can we learn about ourselves in the process of creating art? Creative workshops led by Nancy Lee, Nita Bowerman, Sasha Langford, and Siam Obregón planted seeds to dive deeper into topics such as collaborative care, DIY filmmaking, sound, and editing.
Every day from November 21 to 25, catch the premieres of the Mini Commissioned short films on the @formvancouver Instagram. Be inspired by these young artists' dreamy reflections, growing pains, and explorations into the capabilities of the human body. The future of movement-on-screen is so bright.
Monday, November 21
REVERIE
Ella McCartney | CANADA | YOUTH
My goal for this film was to transport viewers into a daydream by utilizing various forms of movement to relay the feelings of a dreamscape. The plot of the film, much like a dream, is open to interpretation. The goal is to allow viewers to project their personal life experiences into a meaning of their own.
Credits:
Calla Wagorn (@callamakena) - Dancer, Ella McCartney (ellamarie.jpg).
CROOKED
Aurora Jessica Martens | CANADA | YOUTH
‘Crooked’ is a glimpse into what it can be like to experience pain alone and learn to cope with it by yourself. Particularly young adults, who often feel like they don’t belong in their own skin. Healing looks different for everyone, and the process is always ongoing. I hope that ‘Crooked’ can inspire even one person to check up on those they love. Humans aren’t made to experience life alone, yet many of us do. Even an action as small as a text or answering a phone call can be immense to someone else.
Credits:
Directing, Editing and Filming: Aurora Martens
Filming: Denice Martens
Tuesday, November 22
eureka!
Jenna Wadden | CANADA | YOUTH | WORLD PREMIERE
As humans, we take comfort in following paths journeyed by those before us. This is because we know these paths will lead to a life that we believe is successful. Following an uncharted path is scary, but if we choose not to follow it, we’ll never know if there was a treasure waiting to be discovered. My film eureka! is a celebration of emerging artists that have started the journey down their own path, and a reminder that every path is valid. A big thank you to Kiki and Ronan for their commitment to helping my vision come to life.
Credits:
Director, Editor, Videographer: Jenna Wadden @jenna.wadden
Dancer: Kiki Roberts @_kikiroberts
Choreography: Jenna Wadden in collaboration with Kiki Roberts
Music Composer: Ronan Donat Block Paulhus @the_true_ronan
‘TIL REALITY TEAR US APART
Valeria Mondragon Vargas | CANADA | YOUTH | WORLD PREMIERE
Our teen protagonist is trapped in a routine of nothingness. She doesn’t have a reason to live, she is just surviving. She dreams of a new era where she can be with her loved one, Raven, and she’s no longer alone. Her soul and heart are in her dreams. But, there are consequences for not living in reality.
Credits:
Writer: Valeria Mondragón Vargas
Editor: Mateo Numa, Luis Angel Vazquez
First AD: Neoma Alexa Rojas Ponce
Sound Editor: Mateo Numa
Assistant Director: Raul Chapa Dávila
Production Assistant: Pamela Mondragón Vargas
Storyboard: Valeria Mondragón Vargas
2nd AC: Danna Valeria Ramírez
Screenplay: Andrea Loyo del Castillo, Mateo Numa, Valeria Mondragon Vargas
Casting Director: Valeria Mondragón Vargas
Script supervisor: Luciana Belen Moreira Santos
Camera Operators: Pamela Mondragón Vargas, Raúl Chapa Dávila, Lucas Nicolás Veizaga
Location Manager: Valeria Mondragón Vargas
Drivers: Cecilia Vargas Águila, Gabriel Mondragon
Music: Gently by Sky Gienger, Travel In The Mountain by Monument music
Cast:
Protagonist: Valeria Mondragón Vargas
Raven: Neoma Alexa Rojas Ponce
Mother: Cecilia Vargas Águila
Father: Gabriel Mondragon Cedillo
Friends: Raúl Chapa Davila, Luciana Belen Moreira Santos, Lucas Nicolás, Veizaga, Danna Valeria Ramírez, and Aldo Obando Cabrera
Wednesday, November 23
EQUILIBRIUM
Chanel Hulston, Isabella Tarasoff | CANADA | YOUTH | WORLD PREMIERE
The idea of the human body has remained at the forefront in terms of what kind of story we wanted to tell. As dancers we’ve developed an understanding of body, spatial, and musical awareness. What would it look like, sound like, or feel like to rebel against the rules and boxes that have once limited our view on the human body? An open ended conversation that challenges physical limitations, exploration, vulnerability, and stagnant beliefs. Our film is orchestrated by visual research that’s done between the both of us in relation to the world around us, using our movement and experimental use of film to capture it for all audiences to digest.
Credits:
Artists, Cinematographers, Editors: Chanel Hulston, Isabella Tarasoff
@chanelhulston & @isabellatarasoff
BREAK FREE
Liam Hurley | CANADA | YOUTH | WORLD PREMIERE
This short film leads us on the emotional journey of a male dancer through interpretive dance. It begins with the whimsy and innocence of youth, the joy of simple movement and exploration. Fond memories of running through the sand creating temporary art, swayed by the rhythm of the waves. With time, those memories fade, replaced by an awareness of self and others. Made conscious of being the only male in the room, feeling awkward and out of place. Encountering bullying and stereotypes that question one’s identity leading to self doubt and thoughts of giving up. Lifted up by family, friends and an instructor that never gave up, he finds his passion once again.
Credits:
Director, Producer, Dancer and Choreographer: Liam Hurley
Editor: Liam Hurley
Music Producers: Kim Martin and Liam Hurley
Camera Assistants: Kim Martin and Dan Hurley
Thursday, November 24
TEMPO
Anika Takahashi | CANADA | YOUTH | WORLD PREMIERE
TEMPO, often referenced from music, is significant in the realm of badminton. Badminton is categorized as a racialized sport resulting in absence in the film industry.
When people look into the sport’s competitive side, the correlation between badminton and music surfaces. The rhythm from players’ squeaky shoes doing footwork, the crisp sound of the shuttle and racket in contact, and even the motion of the moving players on court are all aspects of badminton’s tempo.
These characteristics can assist those who have yet to experience this form of music. Hopefully, people can look at the sport from a new perspective.
Sound Credits:
Cyberpunk Computer Game | IDRA by Alex-Productions | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx0_M61F81Nfb-BRXE-SeVA
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 3.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Actors: Adrian Liu @adrianliu38, Eugene Chan @eugenechan1995, Wendy Zhang @wendy_zhanggg, Larry Pong @xxplyyy, Kern Pong @thisisplkern
LOOKS LIKE ME
Sarah Cameron | CANADA | YOUTH | WORLD PREMIERE
LOOKS LIKE ME is a film about bridging the gap between where you are in life and where you want to be. Dance is used as a symbol to show that one day you will leave the studio, and experience opportunities that you once dreamed of.
Credits:
Project Director: Sarah Cameron @sarahcmrn
Choreography: Lillian Chen @lillianchennn
Dancers: Rylie Sauder @ryliesauder , Lillian Chen @lillianchennn , Lily Gagnon @lilyjulietsadiee , Ahria McNichol @_ahriamcnichol
Friday, November 25
INTERACTING WITH WATER
Sidney Vidler | CANADA | YOUTH | WORLD PREMIERE
In my short film of movement, I chose to explore movement in water. I began to understand dance by experimenting with this concept. I started playing around with how my arms run in water, feeling the resistance, to understand the imaginary push and pull I feel when dancing out of water. I wanted to illustrate this in my film, giving a glimpse of the way dancing feels to me. This short film has deep meaning for me, and I hope that each viewer interprets the film in a way that connects with themselves.
Credits:
Co-Director, Dancer: Sydney Vidler (@sydney.vidler)
Co-Director, Videographer: Caitlyn Berg (@cberg336)
Videographer: Lauren Ho (@lauren_redbean), Talia Viljoen (@taliajordann)
Chauffeur: Lynne Vidler (@l_vidler_15)
LIKE A TOY
Crystal Zhu | CANADA | YOUTH | WORLD PREMIERE
Following the lyrics to the song “Like A Boy” by Ciara, a girl fed up with the way men treat her reverses the roles, forcing them to ask themselves how would they feel if put in her situation.
Credits:
Videographer, Director, Editor: Crystal Zhu (@crys.zhu)
Choreographer, Dancer: Alaya Butler (@alayabutler)