VFS and The Guggenheim

The Guggenheim Picks Four Vancouver Film School Student Films
for YouTube Play Shortlist

Just 125 Videos Selected from Over 23,000 Entries in Groundbreaking Biennial September 21, 2010 – Vancouver, B.C. Canada – Four Vancouver Film School (VFS) student films were handpicked by the curatorial staff of the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum this week, beating out over 23,000 submissions to make the YouTube Play shortlist of just 125 videos. YouTube Play is a groundbreaking collaboration between YouTube and the Guggenheim, dubbed “A Biennial of Creative Video”, and seeks to unearth the world’s most exceptional talent that pushes the boundaries of music, film, and art. The four shortlisted student films include two created in the one-year Classical Animation program at VFS and two more from the six-month VFS Digital Character Animation program. The films are now showing in kiosks at the Guggenheim museums in New York City, Berlin, Bilbao, and Venice, as well as online at youtube.com/play. Up to 20 of these videos will be chosen by a jury of eleven luminaries, including designer Stefan Sagmeister and filmmaker Darren Aronofsky. The jurors’ top choices will be presented on October 21 at a special event at the Guggenheim and will be on show for public viewing at the museum’s Tower 2 gallery from October 22 through 24. “These students manage amazing work in 6 short months and these particular pieces are shining examples of the quality and calibre of work that we strive towards and attain on a regular basis,” says Greg Berridge, senior instructor in Digital Character Animation at VFS. “The honour is truly deserved." The four shortlisted student films signify the continued emergence of Vancouver Film School in the boundary-defying medium of online video. VFS has the number one school channel on YouTube (youtube.com/vancouverfilmschool), with over 29 million total views. The 125 shortlisted videos represent 91 countries. Both of Mexico’s two representatives are VFS graduates. VFS student films shortlisted for YouTube Play, A Biennial of Creative Video are listed as follows:

The Light Pressure of a Thought - Paula Assadourian (Mexico) Classical Animation Graduate, 2010

Dreamscape - Nicole Duquette (Canada) Classical Animation Graduate 2010

Kibble Kat - Daniel Farrera Saldana (Mexico) Digital Character Animation Graduate, 2009

Estudio Mendizábal - Kiko Pérez (Spain) Digital Character Animation Graduate, 2010

Vancouver Film School is Canada’s premier post-secondary entertainment arts institution and one of the most distinguished in the world. Its one-year production-oriented programs encompass all aspects of visual media, from Animation & Visual Effects to Acting to Film Production to Game Design to Sound Design. Practicing industry professionals guide students as they create the professional-quality reels and portfolios that get them noticed on the global stage. In recent years, VFS alumni have won Emmys, Oscars, and Spirit Awards. For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact: Thuy Khuc Public Relations Coordinator 604.631.3563 or toll-free in North America 1.800.661.4101 tkhuc@vfs.com