Just in case you thought short films were only for students and unknowns, check out some of the celebrity talent coming to the screen at WSFF 2012: Michael Fassbender, John Malkovich, Scott Thompson, Michael Cera, Margaret Cho, Stellan Skarsgård, Rachel Wilson, Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Wilkinson, Dave Foley, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anna Paquin, Christopher Plummer and Judy Dench. Not too shabby!

This year’s film offerings, like usual, are parcelled out in nice, bite-sized short film programs, grouped by theme or genre. There truly is something for everyone! Included for 2012 are Celebrity Shorts, a collection of the star-studded films of the festival; Christmas in June; Date Night; Scene Not Herd, a showcase of theatrical music videos; Super 16 Anarkino, the best coming out of this student-run film school; The Night Shift, featuring all that is dark and scary; and a spotlight on short films from Switzerland. They also have the regular drama, sci-fi, animation, comedy programs, and a whole heap of world class premieres of the best short films from the past year.

This year also features a BIG Ideas Symposium, a four-day conference on the art and business of short filmmaking, including a master class with Jean-Marc Vallée (director of C.R.A.Z.Y. and Café de Flore).

The festival runs from June 5 to 10 at a variety of venues around the city – mainly at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema and Isabel Bader Theatre, but also in other locations – so make sure you check their website for all the details. Festival and day passes are available now and can be purchased online. For all the programming and schedule information, please visit the WSFF website.

On their way, they pick up a young hitchhiker named Prentice (Ryan Doucette) who is on his way home to visit his dying mother. Hijinks ensue, from their border-crossing to their strange visit to the young Prentice’s dysfunctional family. Unfortunately, we don’t get to see that much of what really makes up Stella and Dot’s relationship – the focus seems to be on the action, the road trip, Stella’s crazy antics. It’s really only in the presence of Prentice that we get more of a sense of Stella’s abrasive take-no-prisoners attitude and Dot’s quietly funny and supportive nature. He’s a perfect foil for the couple as they make their way through the gorgeous Nova Scotia landscape.

Adapted from Thom Fitzgerald’s successful theatrical play of the same name, Cloudburst, while slightly reminiscent of Thelma and Louise, has a different story to tell. The film’s strength is its matter of fact portrayal of a lesbian couple. It makes no crusades for same-sex marriage; it doesn’t have to. It just tells it like it is – the story of a couple with a 30-year relationship who have no legal rights to each other’s property or to any say in their care.

Cloudburst screens on Friday, May 25, 2012. Check the Inside Out website for details.

Structurally, Morgan is extremely straight-forward. Morgan, played by sweet-faced, Leo Minaya, used to be an award-winning athlete before his accident. His doting mother (Madalyn McKay) sees him as a burden; his best friend is a not-so-sassy, black girl (Darra Boyd); and he can’t seem to get his, uh, equipment to work. Basically, everything is set up so that by the time Morgan meets Dean (Jack Kesy) in a park one night, the audience is ready to let love overcome all of Morgan’s misfortune. There’s no other choice really.

My being a sucker for a pretty face and a naive champion of love conquering all, I fell for the journey these two boys took to find love, despite the corny dialogue and sometimes forced delivery. Some of the harder questions, like how they can be intimate with each other or how they both wish Morgan could still walk, are touched on in some of the film’s more engaging moments. The trouble is they find love way too soon, which leaves Akers with too much time to fill after the fact. Subsequently, Morgan amounts to a reasonably effective, somewhat endearing but mostly missed opportunity to celebrate how anyone can find love if they’re open to seeing it.

Starring Matthias Schoenaerts, who gained over 50 pounds of muscle to play Jacky Vanmarsenille, Bullhead follows Jacky and his family as they raise cattle on their farm, while taking part in the illegal animal growth-hormone trade. While Jacky and his family are injecting their cattle with illegal steroids, Jacky is simultaneously becoming more and more dependent on testosterone injections and steroids.

After a police officer investigating the trade of these hormones is murdered, police start to close in on Jacky’s family farm. While Bullhead initially feels like a gritty crime drama, it slowly allows viewers a glimpse into the really intriguing element of Bullhead: Jacky himself. After suffering a traumatic beating as a child, Jacky has suffered the after-effects for the remainder of his life. Distancing himself from society, he has simultaneously tracked down all of the people who participated in his abuse decades before, looking for revenge.

Despite all of Jacky’s best efforts, the walls eventually close in on him, as the police get closer to discovering his family business. The movie slowly becomes more menacing and claustrophobic, to the point where it is hard to notice how tense the atmosphere is until the movie is over. Bullhead is the kind of film that manages to envelop you, drawing the viewer into its world with force.

Bullhead is screening on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 9:30pm, check the Inside Out website for more details.

This film seems to owe a lot to the ’80s. It has the same feeling to it, the same kind of humour, and the same boy meets girl story. Many elements of the story follow the type of teen romantic comedy clichés that we all know, but the film actually avoids the ending that we’d all expect. It’s for all these reasons that Cupid’s Balls is such a fun film. There have always been teen sex comedies, but I can’t think of the last time there was one that wasn’t solely focused on showing nudity. Here’s a film that a parent would be comfortable letting their 13 or 14-year-old watch. It’s very sweet and has a lead character that actually has limitations.

So often, the lead character in a film like this will overcome huge odds to accomplish something. There’s nothing wrong with that, and the message it conveys is great, but it’s not exactly the most realistic. Here, Lucas decides to join the soccer team, and with some practice he does get a bit better, but he’s a long way off from scoring the winning goal. That’s probably going to be the first thing that runs through the viewers mind. We expect him to become the star player, something the film avoids. Instead, the focus is mainly on Lucas winning Susanne over, something he attempts to do by being himself. That’s the more important message that the film carries. By just being who he is, Lucas will achieve much more in his life.

A lot of the humour comes from watching Lucas fumble around. He’s 15, tall, and lanky. He seems to have very little control over his limbs, constantly falling over himself. Kåre Hedebrant does this perfectly, portraying confidence while still being completely awkward at the same time. It’s very different from his role in Let The Right One In, but there are still some quirks that have carried over from that previous character. The film isn’t strictly about Lucas though.

Playing Lucas’ friend Stian is Harald William Borg Weedon. He’s a bit overweight, and obsessed with girls, telling Lucas that over 15,000 girls will be attending the Norway Cup. His mission is to get a girlfriend, and he’ll be doing that by handing out business cards for his professional masseuse business. Stian dreams of being a coach, like his father, and we watch as the friends try and achieve their goals. The two of them together is frequently hilarious, and their friendship feels very genuine.

There are times where it seems the fun has been left out of movies for the 12 to 15-year-old age group. Cupid’s Balls brings all of that back. The film screens as part of the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 12:45 pm. Check their website for details.

This is an incredible documentary, and an amazing idea, that will help open up young minds to all the different forms of music available in the world. Watching the process that each person goes through to create just one song is intense, and not everyone starts out very happy about it. While Skrillex is given rock as his genre, allowing him to work with the remaining members of The Doors, a band he grew up listening to, Pretty Lights is given country, something he isn’t very fond of. His remark is that all he hears is the twang in the guitar, leaving him wondering how he’ll blend that with his own sound. DJ Premier is given classical, which leads him to a different approach to music entirely. Usually working with samples and just naturally piecing everything together, this will be the first time his music is actually put on paper so the orchestra can play it.

The remaining DJs are in more familiar territory. Mark Ronson is given jazz, a form of music that has always been a big part of his life. The Crystal Method get R&B, something that both members have listened to their entire lives. Just because they enjoy the style they’re given doesn’t mean things will run smoothly. All the DJs are excited, although it takes Pretty Lights a little bit longer than the others, and they quickly find other musicians to work with. It’s The Crystal Method and Pretty Lights that find the most trouble putting everything together. The Crystal Method decide to work with Martha Reeves, lead singer of Motown group Martha and the Vandellas, famous for songs like “Dancing in the Street”. They couldn’t be any more happy to work with someone they idolize, until the finally get into the studio. Reeves proves to be a challenge when it comes to recording vocals, constantly altering what The Crystal Method have come up with, leaving them wondering if they’ll finish in time.

It’s the behind-the-scenes moments like these that are so entertaining, even if you feel a bit bad for the artists involved. Almost all of the musicians involved are learning about each other and their styles, giving viewers the same opportunity. Not everyone will be familiar with the people involved, but by the end of the film we have a much more clear idea of the work from each musician. Only a small taste of each song is given throughout the film, saving the reveal for the final scene, and what is eventually created is incredible. The artists perfectly blend their own unique sound with the form of music they were given and it’s hard to pick a favorite. It really shows that music is music, in any form.

Here’s  hoping this documentary will be able to expand the musical taste of everyone who watches.

Re:Generation Music Project screens as part of the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 5:45 pm. Check their website for details.

Raising a daughter myself, I’ll have to admit that this film stirs up some fear in my mind. Even more surprising is the fact that this is based on real events, only showing just how possible this could be. We’ve all been there before, thinking that we’re the ones who know best while ignoring any advice our parents give us. It’s just a fact of life, one that becomes somewhat humorous when we become adults and look back on things. Directors Delphine Coulin and Muriel Coulin do a great job of capturing that exact attitude. None of the girls really think about the consequences that come after having kids. All they can do is dream of the great times they’ll have living together, making their own rules, and being together forever.

It’s not just the attitude of the teen girls that the directors capture so well, but the reasons why they think getting pregnant is a good idea. Through a series of silent scenes, we see each girl sitting in their room. They look lonely, bored, and sad. Once they begin thinking about being pregnant, you can see their mood change. Suddenly they’re staring dreamily into space, big smiles across their face. The thought of being with a group of friends, all on their own against the world, gives them a purpose. When they finally get pregnant, things are back to the way they started with a group of lonely and sad-looking girls, alone in their rooms. Separately, they realize that things aren’t going to work out, but together, the dream is kept alive by Camille.

It’s a very quiet story with a feeling of dread running through it. It’s possible that viewing the film from an adult perspective is what gives it that doomed feeling. There’s no possible way that things can work out properly. As adults, we understand that. Teenagers may start with a different opinion. I’m sure this film will do a lot to change that. Having children isn’t a bad idea, it’s the timing that has to be right. There’s a suggestion in the film that the girls may be doing this in response to the economic downturn the city they live in faces, but I think that’s way off the mark. The idea of having kids can do some strange things to a person. The initial thoughts are of the happiness you’ll experience. It’s when the reality starts to set in that happiness is the last thing anyone is thinking of. 17 Girls portrays that perfectly. From the loneliness of the teens, to the dreamy ambition of pregnancy, and finally, the reality of the entire situation. Delphine and Muriel Coulin make it easy to connect with the characters because so many of their problems have been our problems.

17 Girls screens as part of the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 12:00 pm. Check their website for details.

A world without outdoor advertising seems strange. A simple drive into Toronto on the highway will leave you dazzled by the amount of billboard ads. Some can be entertaining, others can almost be dangerous, but can we even slow the amount of billboards? It can be a delicate topic depending on who you ask. Many businesses survive on the money created by these ads, but it’s not the actual ads that are the focus here, it’s the sheer amount of them that seem to clutter our landscape. Nobody in the documentary is looking to stop advertising, instead, they want a more regulated approach to what we already have.

Some of the examples are outrageous. Each city has its own guidelines as to where a billboard can be placed, and every city seems to have an incredible number of law breakers putting the signs wherever they please. The real problem is that nothing is being done to stop it. A complaint may be filed, but it’s months before anything really happens, and by that time, the ad has already done its job. Toronto plays a part in the film, but it seems that our lovely city may be on the lesser side when it comes to this ‘visual pollution’.

Times Square is a perfect example of the kind of overload people are starting to fight against. The most shocking one seems to be Mumbai. There are some places where huge billboards are lined up, side by side, literally blocking any view of the horizon. Some people have begun to take direct action though. Jordan Seiler, a public space activist, covers illegal outdoor signs with paint, but faces harsh charges for doing it. Those responsible for the illegal ads that Jordan covers rarely face any charges, even though their action is just as wrong as Jordan’s is. Is there any way to stop it, or will our outdoor space be slowly filled up with the latest ads?

There’s always hope though, something we see as the film explores Sao Paulo, Brazil. All outdoor ads have been banned, leaving the skyline free from the distractions that plague so many other places. Advertising is something that many of us have learned to block out, but that doesn’t stop it, and it certainly doesn’t eliminate the need for it. I don’t think anybody would argue that advertising is important, but I think a discussion on the way that it’s used needs to be started. This is certainly one of the most interesting, informative, and entertaining documentary films that this reviewer has watched. No matter what side of the issue you may be on, This Space Available will still open your mind to a problem that people have struggled to overcome for years.

This Space Available screens as part of the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 2:15 pm. Check their website for details.

Directed by Matthew Lillard (Scream, The Descendants), Fat Kid Rules The World offers mostly realistic portrayals of the teenage leads. Troy won’t suddenly become captain of the football team and start dating the head cheerleader. What’s important is that Troy learns that he doesn’t have to be the captain of the football team to be a great person. The film really focuses on his growth from a kid who constantly feels sorry for himself, to a person who accepts himself, faults and all. Troy isn’t the only one who has to learn a lesson though. Marcus is addicted to prescription pills, something that threatens their friendship when Troy’s father (Billy Campbell) finds out. Troy also has a brother, Dayle (Dylan Arnold). Dayle may be the complete opposite of Troy, but since their mother passed away, both brothers have suffered.

Everybody manages to learn something without the film ever becoming sentimental or sappy. How could it when it’s full of loud punk music, something that appeals to my inner teen? I’m sure many of us had a band in our teen years, and many of those probably weren’t very good, much like Troy and Marcus. That’s the joy of punk music though, it may not be that good, but the only thing that matters is that you enjoy yourself. As Troy slowly learns the drums, he also learns how to come out of his shell. It doesn’t matter if he’s a good drummer, it’s the confidence that he gains from trying that changes the opinions of the people around him, even his ex-navy father.

Since the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival is aimed at young movie lovers between the ages of 14 and 18, Fat Kid Rules The World should be the perfect fit. It’s very funny and moving in a way that a teenager won’t be put off by. It touches on things that almost every teen can relate to without going over the top, and it’s full of great music. The film also manages to surprise in many ways. It never really ends up where you think it might, choosing instead to finish the story in a very realistic way.

Fat Kid Rules the World will have its Canadian Premiere at the inaugural edition of the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival on May 12, 2012 at 8:30 pm. Director Matthew Lillard and star Jacob Wysocki will be in attendance to introduce the film and for a post-screening Q&A. You can find more info and buy tickets at the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival website.

TSFF is a festival for youth, organized by youth. That’s not to say that industry professionals haven’t noticed and aren’t involved. The jury panel is made up of pros from across the broad spectrum of film. Jurors this year include CBC film critic Jesse Wente; actor, filmmaker, and youth outreach worker Martha Burns; and documentary filmmaker Ron Mann. While these judges have their work cut out for them with the Best of prizes, votes are taken for People’s Choice awards, too.

The festival takes place on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 7:00 pm at Toronto Underground Cinema (89 Spadina Ave). Tickets are $10 apiece, which you can purchase at the door (doors open at 6:00 pm) or online by clicking here.

For any other information please check out the TSFF website.