Testimonials

Read recent testimonials from past filmmakers who have had their work showcased at the festival:

I always thought that once a film is finished (or abandoned, as someone said once…), it no longer belongs to the filmmakers – it belongs to the audience. This festival is the perfect illustration of that. I very much appreciate the fact that your audience took the time to watch MEDIATION in the first place, and then chose to stay after the screening to discuss it. As a writer-director, I couldn’t ask for more – if there is an audience that cares enough to talk about a film I wrote and directed, then I’ve done my job.
– Francisco Lorite (Mediation Short Film)

It was very cool. The audience was amazing. It was exactly the kind of reactions we were expecting when we were making the film. Thank you again !
– Jean-Baptiste Aziere (MERKUR, Short Film)

I was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to see real people react to the film. All the feedback I have had so far has often been either critical or negative (in the case of many professors at my school) or effusive (because I have been present in person at many of the projections). The WILDsound audience could speak freely and honestly and so their impressions were a joy to see. I was also over the moon to see that many in the audience seemed to have grasped and engaged with the main story arc but also with some of the sub-themes of the film. I took a risk by making a film that is somewhat open-ended and one which depends more on visual and musical communication rather than verbal communication. I am delighted to see that, for some in the audience, this paid off.
– Director Don Duncan (A SIGN)

For me it was really great to get response from the audience. I have worked hard to finish the project. And i loved the way the audience is trying to find their answer of meaning that is captured in the film. I want to Thank you for showcasing my film. The audience feedback video was awesome.
– Jan-Willem de Kraaij, Short Film (LA COMMEDIA)

I thought that the feedback video was one of the best gifts this short film could bring me. Everything the audience said was so precise, every emotion… They captured the essence of the film! I never thought it could go so far. It really inspired me to keep on working.
– Director Laura Garcia (ALEX)

The feedback was great. Most of the people liked it, so I am glad you screened it at your festival.
– Martin Rosete, Short Film (VOICE OVER)

It was such an amazing experience, the cast and crew love the feedback video and I’m spreading the word for your festival to as many people as I can. It’s such an amazing idea. Your statement of “the audience LOVED our film” is also very touching.
– Scott Lyus (Short Film, Silently Within Your Shadow)

I was very moved and excited by watching the feedback video. It’s so amazing to see how people react.
– Erich Steiner, (Short Film, In the Still of the Night)

It made me so happy to watch the feedback of my film. I wish I could have been there. I love people who are open minded and ready to see with their heart. And I love cinema. As most of the people there love movies too.
– Director Laura Lehmus (Alienation)

First, i must say I m very excited that my film had the opportunity to be seen by this audience. Interesting observations by a very intelligent audience.
– Emy Tzavra-Bulloch, Short Film (MINOTAUR)

I loved hearing all the different interpretations from the different audience members. Everyone comes to a screening with different backgrounds and history, and that all informs the way in which they receive and perceive a film; it was fascinating to me, and I thought everyone had very valuable things to say.
– Filmmaker Sarah Deakins (Greece)

The festival experience was great. I never have a chance to record audience comments, so I’m very happy that people from Toronto gave me such single-hearted comments.
– Yangtong Zhu (MY MILK CUP COW, Short Film)

It was amazing to see the audience interact with the film. As a short filmmaker you rarely get the opportunity to get that much of detailed feedback from an audience. The general statement “It looks beautiful, but what the hell is going on” didn’t come as that much of a surprise as it is similar to reactions we received from other audiences 🙂 However, I myself enjoy films (or any piece of art for that matter) where there is lots of room for personal interpretation. So it is not that much about the intention of the writer or director, but more about what the audience makes of it for themselves. So in that sense I very much enjoyed the different interpretations and speculations concerning the story.
– Daniel Reimer, (Short Film, Bell Tower Enigma)

It was absolutely great and exciting (seeing the FEEDBACK Video on my film). Thank you and the audience a lot. I also watched feedbacks of other works that screened. I need to admit that the audience in Toronto is much more film literate, and has a greater sense than most audiences that I have ever seen. The comments and reactions to the film was really nice. Although it was screened in many festivals and events in various countries, that video is the only real feedback that I got from an audience except in my country and except from people working for festivals. It was great too see that the film is still meaningful, fun to watch and has a real reflection in different countries.
– Kagan Kerimoglu (The Wheel of Time, Short Film)