RBC and TIFF announce winners of the 2012 RBC Emerging Filmmakers Competition

TORONTO, Sept. 5, 2012 /CNW/ - RBC and the Toronto International Film Festival® today announced the winners of the 2012 RBC Emerging Filmmakers Competition. The films were reviewed by an esteemed panel of producers, directors and executives and the winning filmmakers have been awarded the following:

NATIONAL WINNER: $15,000
Jordan Canning - (St. John's, Newfoundland)
SECONDS - A man's life flashes before his eyes as he chokes to death on a piece of meat.

HONOURABLE MENTION: $10,000
Johnny Ma - (Toronto, Ontario)
DEC 32 - The world struggles with an unprecedented situation where time stops before the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.

FAN FAVOURITE: $5,000
Nimisha Mukerji - (Vancouver, British Columbia)
THE ARRIVAL HOUR - A newcomer arrives in Vancouver and searches for her destination through the night.

Each year, participants are provided a theme to guide their creative process and the theme for 2012 was "Time." The national winner and honourable mention were selected from 17 submissions narrowed to five finalists by the jury panel. Additionally, Canadians from coast to coast had the opportunity to participate by viewing the five finalist's films online and voting for the Fan Favourite Award.

"These talented filmmakers submitted thoughtful films with unique treatment of the theme," said Piers Handling, director and CEO, TIFF. "Talent Lab is an integral element of our TIFF Industry programming. The Emerging Filmmaker's Competition is a natural extension of that initiative. We are proud to partner with RBC because they share in our commitment to the growth and development of the next generation of talent."

"RBC is committed to supporting the development of talented filmmakers and industry professionals," said Jennifer Tory, RBC's regional president for Greater Toronto. "We're absolutely thrilled to award these well-deserved honours to this year's competitors and look forward to the continued success of our filmmakers."

The RBC Emerging Filmmakers Competition is part of Talent Lab, a four-day intensive program at the Toronto International Film Festival that offers artistic development opportunities to a select group of emerging Canadian and international filmmakers. Each filmmaker is provided with $500 cash to develop a one to five minute short film for the competition.

About RBC and the Arts

RBC sponsors a wide-range of grassroots and local initiatives that contribute to the cultural fabric of our communities. Proud to support events and passions that resonate with our clients and all Canadians, RBC provides opportunities for up-and-coming artists through programs like the RBC Canadian Painting Competition, and the RBC Emerging Filmmakers Competition, part of our commitment as the Official Bank and major sponsor of the world's top public film festival - the Toronto International Film Festival®.

About TIFF

TIFF is a charitable cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, major exhibitions, and learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution program Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $170 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels), The Daniels Corporation and RBC. For more information, visit tiff.net.

SOURCE: RBC