The 11th annual Toronto Jewish Film Festival, held May 3-11, wrapped with a 20% increase in attendance and a 15% jump in box-office revenue, says the festival’s managing director Ellie Skrow.

In what is no doubt a troubled time on Toronto’s festival circuit, Skrow says the festival (the second largest Jewish film fest in North America) saw more than 25,000 patrons.

‘We were fortunate in the timing because just before the festival the WHO travel advisory [concerning SARS] was lifted, but going into it we really didn’t know that,’ says Skrow, who adds the festival made some serious industry ‘inroads’ this year as well.

‘We’ve had inquiries from broadcasters like CBC, Showcase, Discovery Health Channel and Life Network for about 15 of our titles that they’re interested in at least screening and perhaps acquiring, and that’s a first for us,’ she says.

The festival also unveiled a new award – the @Wallace Jewish Film Award, sponsored by Toronto’s @Wallace Studios. The award, worth over $18,000 from various Canadian production service providers, will go to the filmmaker behind a script that meets a certain Jewish content criteria.

Inside Out wraps on up note

The 13th annual Inside Out Toronto Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, held May 15-25, also saw a slight increase in both box office and attendance. B.O. revenue was up 6% at approximately $102,000, says the fest’s executive director Scott Ferguson, while attendance was somewhere in the vicinity of 23,000.

‘It was a really well-rounded festival experience,’ he says.

Awards were presented at the festival’s closing party gala.

The Showcase Award for best feature went to filmmaker Karim Ainouz for Madame Sata, while the Ellen Flanders Documentary Award went to Marsha Emerman for Children of the Crocodile. Jo Si Malaya received the Mickey Award short film award for I Am Good Inside.

Jury prizes went to filmmakers Ziad Touma (Saved By The Belles), Amy Burt (This Boy), Benny Nemerofsky Ramsey (Audition Tape), Pamila Matharu (Fracture), Jeffrey Erbach (The Nature of Nicholas) and Nico Stagias (How To Lose a Guy).

-www.insideout.on.ca