The first annual Emerging Talent Festival took place on January 22, 2012.
The Emerging Talent Festival celebrates the work of emerging visual artists, filmmakers, performing artists and musicians from this community. The first annual Festival featured the premieres of two short documentaries by the Teens @ Evergreen youth as well a live theatre performance by the Teens @ Evergreen Theatre Ensemble (TETE). Both groups are comprised of students grade 9 - 12 with a strong interest in the visual and performing arts.
The Festival also celebrated the 15th annual Emerging Talent exhibition, a juried show featuring the artwork of talented and dedicated young artists from School District 43. The exhibition runs from January 13 to February 18 at the Art Gallery at Evergreen and is always a favourite among gallery-goers in the Tri-Cities.
Evergreen received over two dozen entries to the Emerging Talent Film Festival, and screened five juried selections in the Studio Theatre. Jury members included documentary filmmaker and Teens @ Evergreen mentor Pia Yona Massie and locally-based filmmaker Eva Wundermann.
Evergreen also welcomed young musicians from SONG: Songwriters of a New Generation, who performed during the Gallery opening and in the lobby.
**2012 FESTIVAL AWARD-WINNERS**
Emerging Talent XV Special Recognition (ECC Staff Choice)
Gold: Violet Patrich
Silver: Christine Park
Bronze: Anna Semyonova
Emerging Talent Film Festival
Best Documentary/Non-Fiction: "Return to Nature" by Jonathan Kang, Trevor Clelland & Gregory Lum
Best Narrative (Drama): "Refuge" by Brandon Hillier, Sebastian Faber, Haider Nayani & Kelvin Chung
Best Narrative (Comedy): "The Toronto Connection" by Kira Urquhart
Best Animation: "Women as Agents of Change" by Raiya Jessa - WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Best Experimental/Music Video: "Who I Am" by Brandon Hillier - WATCH ON YOUTUBE
Best Film (tie): "Women as Agents of Change" by Raiya Jessa & "Who I Am" by Brandon Hillier
For more information, check out the Emerging Talent XV Festival Program and Artist Statements here.
Check out the Emerging Talent Facebook page by clicking here.
Emerging Talent XV will run in the Art Gallery from January 13 - February 18. Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday, 12-5pm.
For more information contact Astrid Heyerdahl at 604.927.6565 or at astrid@evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
