Yorkton Film Festival
Yorkton Film Festival Logo
LocationYorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada
Founded-1947 as Yorkton International Film Festival
−1981 renamed as Yorkton International Short Film and Video Festival
−1983 renamed as Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival
Film titlesShort films
Hosted byYorkton International Film Festival Society
Festival dateHeld annually in May
Websitewww.yorktonfilm.com

Yorkton Film Festival (YFF) is an annual film festival held in late May in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.

In 1947, the Yorkton Film Council (YFC) was founded[1]: 6  and in 1950 the first international documentary film festival officially opened in western Canada[1]: 6  on 11 October.[2][3] The festival originally was named Yorkton International Documentary Film Festival[4] and latter become known as Yorkton International Film Festival.[1]: 6 

In 1969, the Yorkton Film Council disbanded and the Yorkton International Film Festival Society was formed. The film festival went through several name changes and currently operates as Yorkton Film Festival.[4] It is known as the longest running film festival held in North America.[4][5][6]

The festival is open to Canadian productions, or international productions directed by Canadians, and focuses on films that are under 60 minutes in length.[7] It is a qualifying festival for the Canadian Screen Awards.

The Yorkton Film Festival includes awards in 29 categories: 18 main categories, 6 accompanying categories, 3 craft categories and 2 special categories as of 2019. In 2020 the festival will include a new category for Mental Health, sponsored by the Mental Health Drop-in Centre for three years. The festival will be the first in Canada to Include an award for this category.[8]

Background

National Film Board of Canada

During World War II, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) instituted a program for Canadians during the war through the projection of NFB films across Canada.[1]: 6 [9]: 2  Under the leadership of John Grierson,[10][11] the NFB films[12] produced and distributed nationally and internationally during this time were focused on a range of cultural, technical and educational themes;[13] including the war series,"Canada Carries On" and "The World in Action."[14]

After the war ended, the NFB was faced with a series of budget cuts, which led to the development of film councils across Canada. Under this new system, the NFB would provide the films, and bare the operational costs, to those cities that formed film councils, secured their own projector and organized their own screenings. In 1947, the Yorkton Film Council was established to participate in this program.[1]: 6 [9]: 3 

James (Jim) Lysyshyn

In 1947, Jim Lysyshyn,[15] a National Film Board field officer, was developing the idea of creating a documentary film festival in Yorkton.[16][17] Having heard that the Edinburgh Festival of the Arts was planning to add film sections to their festival, Lysyshyn believed that the Yorkton Film Council was in the position to take similar action.[9]: 10  He was successful in convincing the council members of the merits of this project[9]: 10  and first international film festival was scheduled for 1950.[16]

Antoinette (Nettie) Kryski

Nettie Kryski's work with the Yorkton Film Council began in 1947 during a meeting held by the NFB representative and various organizations to discuss the creation of a film council in Yorkton.[1]: 7  As the film council's secretary, she wrote letters to various countries requesting films entries[18] which resulted in 40 films being submitted[1]: 10  to the first festival held in 1950. In 1979 she was awarded the Golden Sheaf for her hard work and dedication to the Yorkton Film Festival.[1]: 10/12  * In 2012, Nettie Kryski's hard work was acknowledged at the festival's 65th anniversary celebration.[1]: 12 

History

Chronology

Awards

Certificates of Merit

Up to 1954,[22][40][27] the audience participated in judging the films through ballot casting: rating films as excellent, good or fair.[3] The winners were issued Certificates of Merit.[23] In 1956, the audience approval was still registered by ballots; however, for the first time the films were adjudicated and rated by film experts and professionals.[28] The first adjudicators were Professor. A J. Wrick, supervisor of adult education division at University of Saskatchewan; Gordon Campbel, director of adult education division at the department of education in Regina; and Frank Morriss, drama and film editor of the Winnipeg Free Press.[28]

Golden Sheaf Awards

After the 1956 film festival, Frank Morris recommended to the council that the film festival adopt a grand prize.[41] The award was designed to be representative of the community and was named the Golden Sheaf Award.[34] The Winnipeg Brass company cast the original design.[41] In 1958 the festival awarded the Golden Sheaf, for the first time, for 'best film of all classes'[30] to the Czech film Inspiration.[16][42]

The Golden Sheaf Award, for 'best film in all categories', was awarded in 1960 to the NFB film Universe.[43] In the 1960s, the festival moved away from the heavy and expensive brass award and moved towards an engraved metal plaque and then to an acrylic standalone trophy.[44]

In the 1970s, Saskatchewan Government Insurance sponsored a new design for the Golden Sheaf Award.[41] The winning design, by Jerry Didur[45] proved to be too complex and costly to mass-produce.[9]: 33  As a result, the board asked Yorkton artist Jim Trinder to re-design a new Golden Sheaf Award that is still used to this day.[46]

In 1993 at the 31st film festival, referred to at this time as the Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival, Terry Steyn's Something to Cry About won five awards. This film went on the be nominated in 1995 for four Gemini Awards.[47]

In 1996, the Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival, hosted a four-day event and honoured the best in 13 categories with the Golden Sheaf Awards. Utshimassits: Place of the Boss a documentary directed by John Walker (NFB) and produced by Mike Mahoney won 'Best of the Festival' Award. At the next festival, 'The Fifty Years Celebration', an additional four categories for international entries will be added.[48]

In 2002, the documentary Nuliajuk: Mother of the Sea Beasts won the Golden Sheaf 'multicultural' award at the Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival.[49]

In 2013 the Golden Sheaf Awards were awarded in nineteen Main categories, three Craft awards , the Ruth Shaw (Best of Saskatchewan),Indigenous and Emerging Filmmaker Awards as well as the Founder's Award, awarded to a production depicting historical Canadian characters or events.[50]

In 2019, "Finding Big Country", "El Toro", "Beauty", "Tomorrow" and "Fast Horse" all were award winners. Awards were handed out in 29 categories at the Yorkton Film Festival Golden Sheaf Awards Gala, including the 'Ruth Shaw (Best of Saskatchewan)' was awarded "Bridging Borders – Season 2" and 'Best of Festival', 'Indigenous' and 'Multicultural (under 30 minutes)' were awarded to "Fast Horse."[51]

Golden Sheaf Awards gala

In the 1980 festival, the first Golden Sheaf Awards gala was introduced as part of another initiative by the Board of Directors to increase community participation in the festival. The gala included a traditional Ukrainian supper, celebrating Yorkton's Ukrainian heritage, the Golden Sheaf Awards presentation, a clip from winning films, and a dance to serve as a finale to the fun filled evening.[9]: 35  The gala has become a staple of the festival, and has been hosted by personalities like Shelia Coles,[9]: 36  Jeff Douglas,[5] and Costa Maragos.[52]

Golden Sheaf Award categories

Special awards

Main categories

Accompanying categories

Craft awards

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Morrel, Kathy (Fall 2011). "The little engine that could: Nettie Kryski and the Yorton Film Festival" (PDF). Saskatchewan History Magazine. 63 (2): 6–12. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Film festival for Yorkton". Regina Leader-Post. 1 June 1950. p. 2. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Documentary film festival turns spotlight on Yorkton". Regina Leader-Post. 21 October 1954. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d Andre Paquet; Wyndham Wise (17 October 2014). "Film Festivals". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 6 September 2019.((cite encyclopedia)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ a b Marr, Tonaya (24 May 2012). "Film fest is just part of what makes Yorkton unique". Regina Leader-Post. p. 62. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Film festival". Regina Leader-Post. 29 August 1971. p. 34. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Festival's name changed again". Regina Leader-Post. 28 January 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  8. ^ Wilger, Devin (23 October 2019). "Yorkton Film Festival to feature new award". Yorkton, Canada: Yorkton This Week. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "65 Years of Film" (PDF). Yorkton Film Festival. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  10. ^ Richardson, B. T. (8 June 1942). "Canada's Propaganda Films". Saskatoon Star Phoenix. p. 9. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  11. ^ Richardson, B. T. (3 February 1947). "John Grierson's Films". Saskatoon Star Phoenix. p. 9. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  12. ^ McLean, John (16 April 1949). "National Film Board To Observe Birthday". Ottawa Citizen. p. 13. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  13. ^ Woodsworth, Charles J. (15 November 1946). "Filming The Canadian Scene". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Canadian Films Making History". The Province. 31 October 1942. p. 44. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  15. ^ Courtesy of YFF Archives (22 April 2013). "Yorkton Film Festival founder James Lysyshyn". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Shaw, Ruth (9 October 1962). "International film festival means fame for Yorkton". Regina Leader-Post. p. 2. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  17. ^ Rosano, Michela (20 April 2016). "10 surprising facts about Canadians in cinema". Canadian Geographic. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Yorkton Film Festival began as community event". Saskatoon Star Phoenix. 28 June 1978. p. 10. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  19. ^ a b "West To Have Film Festival". Vancouver News-Herald. 12 June 1950. p. 14. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Foreign films for festival". Regina Leader-Post. 12 October 1950. p. 2. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  21. ^ a b "Festival planned". Regina Leader-Post. 3 April 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  22. ^ a b "Yorkton Film Festival Awards Announced". Regina Leader-Post. 23 October 1952. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  23. ^ a b "Entries from 16 nations received". Regina Leader-Post. 24 September 1952. p. 2. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  24. ^ a b c d e "47 films compete at festival". Regina Leader-Post. 17 October 1952. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  25. ^ "Canadian Films Promotion International Relations". Saskatoon Star Phoenix. 20 October 1952. p. 11. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  26. ^ "International Film Festival Starts Showings at Yorkton". Saskatoon Star Phoenix. 22 October 1954. p. 24. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  27. ^ a b "Documentary film festival turns spotlight on Yorkton". Regina Leader-Post. 21 October 1954. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g "14 countries enter fourth film festival". Regina Leader-Post. 16 October 1956. p. 2. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  29. ^ "Yorkton to Hold Film Festival". Saskatoon Star Phoenix. 17 April 1956. p. 22. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  30. ^ a b "Film Entries Pour in For Yorkton Festival". Saskatoon Star Phoenix. 12 September 1958. p. 2. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  31. ^ "Canadian Film Judged Best". Saskatoon Star Phoenix. 27 October 1956. p. 25. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  32. ^ "Films Lost in Blaze at Yorkton". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. 6 February 1957. p. 10. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  33. ^ "Yorkton Set For Film Festival". Saskatoon Star Phoenix. 29 September 1958. p. 12. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  34. ^ a b c "17 foreign nations show films as fifth Yorkton festival opens". Leader-Post-1956(5). 21 October 1958. p. 2. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  35. ^ "1,000 attend Tuesday film festival showing". Regina Leader-Post. 22 October 1958. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  36. ^ "Big film fest in small Sask. town". The Gazette. 13 September 1969. p. 75. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  37. ^ "Venice had first Chinese films this year but Yorkton had some in 1962 and in 1964". Calgary Herald. 13 October 1971. p. 29. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  38. ^ "Morse says entries superb". The Leader-Post. 19 November 1979. p. 24. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  39. ^ "Shaw, Ruth". The Leader-Post. 9 November 2013. p. 42. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  40. ^ "Canadian Films Promotion International Relations". Saskatoon Star Phoenix. 20 October 1952. p. 11. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  41. ^ a b c Humphries, Don (September 1977). "14th Yorkton international Film Festival" (pdf). Cinema Canada. p. 54. Retrieved 7 September 2019 – via EBSCO.
  42. ^ "Trophy Presented". Regina Leader-Post. 29 October 1958. p. 2. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  43. ^ Burton, Nik (December 1977 – January 1978). "14th The oldest, continuing North American fest" (pdf). Cinema Canada: 32–33. Retrieved 9 September 2019 – via EBSCO.
  44. ^ "The Golden Sheaf Awards". Yorkton Film Festival. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  45. ^ "Design award made". Regina Leader-Post. 26 September 1977. p. 41. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  46. ^ "Film entries pouring in for Yorkton Festival". Regina Leader-Post. 7 September 1979. p. 13. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  47. ^ "Screen". Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada. 29 (3). EBSCO: 44. Summer 1995. ISSN 1185-3433. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  48. ^ Caton, Jacolyn (Fall 1996). "Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival". Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada. 30 (3). EBSCO: 43. ISSN 1185-3433. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  49. ^ "Nuliajuk wins multicultural award". Inuit Art Quarterly. 17 (3): 60. Fall 2002. ISSN 0831-6708. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  50. ^ "Canada's Golden Sheaf Award Winners 2013" (PDF). Yorkton Film Festival. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  51. ^ Young, Ryan (27 May 2019). "Packed House at 2019 Yorkton Film Festival's Golden Sheaf Awards Gala at Gallagher Centre". GX94 Radio. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  52. ^ "A rookie at Yorkton Film Fest". National Screen Institute. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2019.

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