Congratulations to director Nicole Dorsey whose short film Arlo Alone is the latest winner of the $1,250 A&E Short Filmmakers Award for best film in the NSI Online Short Film Festival, run by the National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI).
Nicole also receives a complimentary Friend membership to the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.
In Arlo Alone, a woman comes to terms with her own loneliness in a world where in-person contact has become a rarity.
The NSI Online Short Film Festival is a year-round Canadian short film showcase with new films added every week. Since launching in 2008, the festival has programmed hundreds of films and awarded over $125K to Canadian media artists. Many of the films are available to watch in the festival archives.
The latest award selection was made by an independent jury: Inside Out and OUTeast festival programmer Jenna Dufton, actor and filmmaker Koumbie, and recent A&E Short Filmmakers Award winner Felicity Justrabo.
Our jurors had this to say about Arlo Alone:
Jenna Dufton: “A masterful sci-fi tale about the importance of human contact in a world that increasingly makes it possible to avoid. Beautifully directed by Nicole Dorsey and featuring a subtle but powerful performance by Grace Glowicki, this film is an important reminder to stay present and I could not be more thrilled to award it the A&E Short Filmmakers Award.”
Koumbie: “A glimpse into an all-too-possible future, Arlo Alone is the trifecta of being well written, directed and performed.”
Felicity Justrabo: “While Arlo Alone takes place in a cold futuristic world where humans are ruled by technology, the film is a warm and thoughtful look at the power of human connection. I was captivated by the film’s intimacy, and completely impressed by the creative team’s subtle yet imaginative storytelling.”
Director Nicole Dorsey said, “We’re so thrilled to hear Arlo Alone has won the A&E Short Filmmakers Award. We made the film in hopes of connecting with others and sharing the importance of human interaction, so we’re over the moon to see it enjoyed by many. Thanks to all who came together for the making of our little film.”
About the jury
Jenna Dufton is the programming manager for the Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, and the director of programming at OUTeast, Atlantic Canada’s queer film festival, which she co-founded in 2011.
Koumbie is an actor, writer and director based in Halifax. Upcoming projects include developing her feature film Bystanders and spending as much time in the ocean as possible.
Felicity Justrabo is a documentary film producer based in Toronto. Her recent credits include Counting on a New Crop (2019), Finding Fukue (2018), In Search of a Perfect World (2018) and Dilveen (2018).
Call for films / submit by September 3
Film submissions for the NSI Online Short Film Festival are being accepted through FilmFreeway until Tuesday, September 3, 2019.
If your film is programmed, you have a chance of winning the $1,250 A&E Short Filmmakers Award. We accept films released after January 1, 2014.
All NSI Online Short Film Festival winners receive a complimentary Friend membership for the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and are qualified to be nominated for a Canadian Screen Award (if award criteria are met).
Submissions must be less than 30 mins. Drama, comedy, animation, documentary, sci-fi, horror, music video and experimental are all eligible and must be made by a Canadian writer, director or producer.
The NSI Online Short Film Festival is made possible through the support of Festival Partner Telefilm Canada; Supporting Sponsors Corus Entertainment, CBC Gem, Super Channel; Award Sponsor A&E Television Networks; and Industry Partner the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
All media enquiries
Laura Friesen, Manager, Communications & Alumni Relations
Phone: 204.957.2999 or email: laura.friesen@nsi-canada.ca