Posted on September 27, 2015

Calgary director Olaf Blomerus has won the 2015 Enbridge Alberta Spirit Award for his short film HELLO WORLD.

In this 10 minute short, a social services android observes the relationship between a father and son after their loving wife and devoted mother dies. The robot soon realizes the complexity that human emotion and circumstance can bring to a situation.

The 2015 edition of the Alberta Spirit Gala, held at Theatre Junction GRAND, featured 10 homegrown films from the festival. Celebrating a quickly rising tide of talent, the highly competitive 2015 Alberta Spirit Gala encompases CIFF’s selection of the best overall short films of the year from the province’s filmmakers.

This year marks the 11th edition of Alberta Spirit, originally launched to mark the province’s centennial.

The finalists are screened for a special gala audience, again sold out this year, who remain on hand to hear the jury’s pick for the winner of the Enbridge Alberta Spirit award, featuring a $2,500 cash prize.

The five jurors charged with making this difficult choice were renowned Alberta producer Sue Bristow, writer and director Jason Lewis, sound editor Paul Schreve, producer Jayson Therrien and actor Melanie Scrofano.

“Our Alberta Spirit Gala shows the fruits of supporting the province’s incredible filmmakers,” explained Steve Schroeder, executive director of the Calgary International Film Festival. “In 2015 we saw an increase in the overall number of Alberta films submitted to the festival, while the quality remains exceptionally high. One notable trend this year was a surge in the number of documentaries that made the list of ten finalists. It’s wonderful to see so many films featuring Albertans telling the true stories of fellow Albertans.”

HELLO WORLD screens as part of CIFF’s short film package, OUR MODERN WORLD on Thursday October 1 at 9:30 p.m. and Friday October 2 and 6:30 p.m. at Cineplex Eau Claire.

HELLO WORLD will also screen as part of CIFF’s Best of Shorts on Saturday October 3 at 6:15 p.m. at the Globe. Honourable mentions were given to MARKOWSKY DRAWS IN A FIGHTER PLANE directed by Michael Peterson and DO YOU SEE ME? HUMAN RIGHTS AND DISCRIMINATION ON THE STREETS OF CALGARY directed by Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi.

---

For more information or to book interviews contact:
Nadine bibi, Marketing Director, The Calgary International Film Festival
nadine.bibi@calgaryfilm.com
403.452.4845

About the Calgary International Film Festival

The Calgary International Film Festival (Calgary Film) is a 12-day showcase of up to 200 multi-genre feature and short films from Canada and over 40 other countries. The festival hosts gala events, screenings, special presentations, and a Behind the Screen series that emphasizes unique and exciting ways for filmmakers and fans to interact.

Back to news page