An unprecedented five out of 29 short films featured in the Toronto International Film Festival’s Perspective Canada program were chosen from the Ontario Film Development Corp.’s Calling Card program for dramatic shorts.

‘It’s a goal of the Calling Card program to see filmmakers move on to producing longer format productions,’ says James Weyman, acting director, ofdc’s Skills Development and Marketing Initiatives, of which the Calling Card program is a part. ‘Being programmed in Perspective Canada will springboard these filmmakers into an international spotlight, which will give more clout to the projects that they have in development.’

The Calling Card program allows shortlisted applicants to pitch their projects to an industry jury. The successful director/producer teams receive financial assistance of up to $40,000 toward the budget of their 15- to 25-minute dramatic film.

The five Calling Card films to be recognized at the tiff are: Clean Rite Cowboy (Joel Awerbuck, producer, Michael Downing, director); Foxy Lady, Wild Cherry (Marlene Rodgers, producer, Ines Buchli, director); Landscaping (Megan O’Neail, producer, Paul Carriere, director); Moon Palace (Tashi Bieler, producer, David Weaver, director); and 3 Stories From the End of Everything (John Buchna, producer, Semi Chellas, director).

More than 350 shorts from across the country were up for competition. *

-www.bell.ca/filmfest