F-O-R-M 2023 — HYBRID FESTIVAL: LIVE + DIGITAL NOVEMBER 4 — 18
42 Short Films from 10 Countries
15 World Premieres from 17 Youth + Emerging Commissioned Artists
Public Screens, Technology and Interaction Exhibition, FORMations, Workshops, Artist Talks + more
Trailer edit by danielle Mackenzie Long, Music by Mana saei
brand design by jingyi liu
F-O-R-M 2023 took place from November 4—18, we embarked on a journey that combining the best of both worlds in our second hybrid festival, co-presented with SFU Woodward's Cultural Programs.
The festival featured featured movement-based films from youth and emerging artists for an eighth year, celebrating of movement and the ever-evolving nature of film. This year’s festival included 42 short films from 10 countries, 15 world premieres from 17 youth + emerging commissioned artists. Films were shared in the cinema, on Instagram, and on Public Screens. We hosted our annual FORMations, exhibited ‘calling tidal’, a Technology and Interaction installation by our Artist in Residence - Jasmine Liaw, hosted Workshops, Artist Talks + more.
Commissioned Artists
Youth Category
Joanne Joo-Yeong Park - TELL THE TRUTH (BUT TELL IT SLANT)
In an attempt to move forward, to move on, Joanne internally dissects her memories, feelings, self, until there is nothing left. All to look back and see that she has not taken a single step from where she was. It may not be something that one can do alone.
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Joanne Park (they/he/she) is an emerging artist residing in Vancouver, currently attending the University of British Columbia. Their first film "Skinship" debuted with the Shooting Gallery in 2021. In their dance practice, Joanne trains in funk styles such as Popping and Waacking, as well as other branches of street dance like Krump. She has also trained with Modus Link for one season.
Photo by Nicole Yen
Satya Mari - LOST PARADISE
LOST PARADISE is at home and out of time. It explores the dynamics of three different maternal relationships through familiar, unusual, and sticky states.
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Satya Mari (she/her) is a good weird individual and emerging artist that’s excited/curious about experimental theatre and dance. They are based in so called “vancouver” on the unceded, ancestral, and occupied xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ lands where they will go into their 3rd year of training at Modus Operandi in September 2023. Latley Satya has been playing with character development, emotional availability, storytelling and object manipulation to translate personal experiences and the dynamics of diffrent relationships. One of her big loves is an afternoon nap with an unforgettable dream.
Raven Grenier - SPANOCHNONGA
SPANOCHNONGA is an analysis and approach to mental health diagnoses through an Indigenous lens. Specifically, with the artistic director's personal experience with schizophrenia and seeing and hearing supernatural beings (nochnonga), and understanding being accompanied by voices through the cultural relevancies of her Gitxsan roots. It is also a theoretical response to Alica Elliot's a Mind Spread Out On the Ground in the spoken words elements and soundscape. Through digital design, lighting and special effects, contemporary dance, and sound, experience one's physical body being taken over and transported to SPANOCHNONGA, a place where monsters used to go that were once nochnochs.
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Raven (she/her) is a fourth year First Nations Indigenous Studies student at UBC, Artistic and Administrative Assistant for the Dancers of Damelahamid and an emerging multidisciplinary artist. With a background in traditional Gitxsan dance, and pow wow she is a contemporary Indigenous dance artist, song composer, and visual artist in formline design.
Adam Smith + Colby McLean - RELINQ
RELINQ inverses the relationship between dance and music. Sounds created by dancers have been warped and moulded to produce a piece of music led by dancers, rather than a dance piece led by music. Through this mixture of movement and sound, RELINQ captures the unfiltered energy of the Session and offers it to the viewer without external interference.
Through the viewfinder of a camera, the audience is invited to experience the session as a dancer, a spectator, and a fly on the wall.
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Adam Smith (he/him) is a Calgary-born, interdisciplinary artist. He is a founding member of the Calgary-based All Styles Dance crew Blasé, and part of the art collective Show Us Your Tits Productions. He is currently enrolled in the Music & Sound program at SFU, and writes music under the pseudonym Godfreed.
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Ripcode (he/him) has been a developing professional dancer in Calgary for the past 5 years. Specializing in the style of Krump he has focused primarily on teaching, battling, and expanding the community and culture throughout Calgary and western Canada. He is one of the founding members of the Calgary-based All Styles crew Blasé and is a member of the largest Krump crew in western Canada Empirical Freedom. He is a teacher and a community leader who promotes diversity and inclusion within any dance community while also striving to educate those willing to learn and learn from anyone he can.
Emerging Category
Marisa Gold + Darryl Ahye - NOTHING CAN STAY
All things exist in a continuous cycle. Each end leading to a new beginning. Inhale leads to exhale, growth to disintegration, and death to life. We can slow things down, but NOTHING CAN STAY. Nature teaches that we must surrender everything in time to be alive once more. The rhythm is relentless, gentle and unstoppable.
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Marisa Gold (she/her) is an intuitive multidisciplinary dance artist with a passion for all things soulful. She has trained in a variety of Modern/Contemporary styles, with a BFA in dance (SFU), certificate of completion from The Ailey school Independent Study program (NYC), and The Graham school (NYC). She is an expressive dancer, poet, vocalist, choreographer, stylist, and actor whose work is embedded in self reflection, a deep love for humanity and reverence for our planet earth.
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Darryl Ahye is a collaborative filmmaker from Trinidad and Tobago, now based in Vancouver. Darryl holds degrees in Film and Video Production from both the Vancouver Film School and the International Academy of Design and Technology. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with various organizations and independent artists to refine his craft. Currently, Darryl is immersed in projects that reflect his passion for wellness, personal development, and creative expression.
Aerial Sunday-Cardinal - 4, 6, 2, 0,
A short film documentary that takes place on Whitefish Lake First Nation #128 and Saddle Lake Cree Nation. It offers an insight into and a reminder of Nehiyaw traditions and values as we near the prophetic end of times.
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Aerial (she/her) is a ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ (Nēhiyaw, Plains Cree) multidisciplinary artist from Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake First Nation #128 in Treaty 6 territory.
MINI COMMISSIONS
Ryan Iwanaka - HERTZ
My concept for the whole video was to dance to a frequency because they sound like music to me and move my body in a very authentic way that feels so free. I chose the frequency 528 which actually heals the body's cells on a physical level as well as reducing stress and anxiety, enhances mental clarity and focus, and balances chakra centers. The journey I had making this film was one full of hustle, anxiety, fear, and love.
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Ryan is an experienced street style dancer with over 10 years of training in performance, freestyle, and choreography techniques. After learning from the pioneers of this dance and moving forward with teaching and creating, I intend to pay respects to the creators of this dance by prioritizing the foundations & sharing my knowledge of freestyle with the next generation.
Jada Chang - SO FAMILIAR
SO FAMILIAR delves into the complex and resilient nature of female friendships whilst presenting the universal longing for connection.
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Jada Chang is a 17-year-old Vancouver-born dancer. Jada is an aspiring creative who hopes to grow as an artist and create meaningful movement with the ability to impact individuals through the Mini Commissions Program. Growing up in the competitive dance world, she is excited to explore a different approach to dance and movement as it’s captured on camera.
Era Bothe - A CURE TO BOREDOM
A Cure to Boredom follows three rambunctious boys on the hunt to find something fun to do. After experiencing a drought in entertainment, the boys quickly seek many interesting ways to quench their thirst for fun. Initially, the film seems lighthearted and wholesome. However, as options appear to quench the boys' thirst, they only ever get more dangerous.
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Hello! My name is Era Bothe and I’m a 16 year old filmmaker from Vancouver, BC. My biggest hobbies are; writing, drawing, watching hockey, playing in my school band and going on train rides. My personality type surprisingly is a INFP (most expect me to be an extrovert). My favourite directors are Wes Anderson, Wong Kar-wai, and Quentin Tarantino all whom I take my filmmaking style from. I am also a very big fan of the NHL and the Vancouver Canucks and will take any chance to talk hockey. Anyhow, I’m a very kind person and love to make connections.
Ash Szeto - ANDROMEDA
Andromeda is a song about being in a toxic relationship with no escape, finding ways to justify what is happening to you and putting the blame on yourself instead of the person doing you harm. Even when you've been pushed too far, you struggle to gain control over your situation.
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Hi! I'm Ash, I use any pronouns and I've been a creative for as long as I can remember. I especially enjoy metafiction. I love film because it portrays human experiences in a way everyone can connect to. I'm from Hong Kong and I started out making 'animations' on Google Slides, using any resources that I had—Now I'm here! I'm happy to dive deep into my passion for filmmaking, and my dream is to make something that impacts someone the same way my favourite works have done to me.
Bona Lee - PULSE
Throughout life, there is a constant pulse that dictates our movements, thoughts, and surroundings. Despite never really knowing why, we've always followed certain things such as waking up in the morning, eating lunch at noon, and going to sleep at night. In a way, we are placed into a universal routine despite our free will to not comply with it. PULSE showcases that every movement we make in our daily lives is a consequence of this structure applied onto us. Even in solitude, we are synced with the pulse because despite “moving away” from it, it is now within us.
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My name is Bona Lee (she/her) and I am currently a 17-year-old student living in Toronto.
I have a passion for all mediums of art, but particularly music, film, and photography. I spend my free time playing the piano, watching films, creating zines, and taking portraits of others.
I am often inspired by the people I surround myself with, and I look forward to bringing these inspirations and ideas to life through the 2023 Mini Commissions Program!
Tanisha Kumar - BALD GIRL
Living in an Indian Hindu family, my parents shaved my head as soon as I had my first full head of hair. This was done with the purpose of deflecting the evil eye or nazar. This summer, I shaved my head again. I became completely bald. I didn't do it with the purpose of taking the nazar or evil eye off myself. I did it with the reclamation of my own identity. This film is about the experiences of being a bald person to inform people about the differing reclamations of the experience.
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Hi! I'm Tanisha/Tanu Kumar. I go by she/her pronouns. I am an artist based in Toronto, focused on film, visual arts, and fashion. This summer, I am working on creating a film that takes part of my intersectional and evolving identity, using a movement-based medium. Feel free to follow me on Instagram @tunadoola23 Excited to join Mini Commissions for 2023!
Thivya Jeyapalan - AWAKEN
In 'Awaken,' nature's tranquil beauty intertwines with the complexities of human emotions. While exploring the depths of how PTSD may affect an individual, this short film transcends a single narrative, inviting viewers to interpret its profound message personally. Through various scenes in nature, 'Awaken' evokes a sense of renewal, reminding us that even amidst turmoil, moments of serenity and healing can be found. This visual expressive piece invites introspection, celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of our connection to the natural world. 'Awaken' is an ode to the untamed, both within and around us.
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Thivya Jeyapalan is the passionate founder of YouSpoken, a youth organization dedicated to empowering individuals to explore their inner triggers and traumas, facilitating healing through storytelling. With a deep love for writing and music, Thivya recognizes the power of intersecting these art forms to express personal narratives. Now, she eagerly ventures into the realm of film, embracing its potential to amplify voices and foster understanding. As a staunch advocate for mental health, Thivya's vision for YouSpoken extends globally, supporting youth worldwide who endure PTSD and related struggles, inspiring them to share their stories and embark on transformative journeys of recovery.
Larkin Miller - RUN
An exploration of the desire to run.
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Larkin Miller is an internationally-based aspiring screenwriter and filmmaker. They have a passion for theatre, the written word and long, rambling media analysis. Their previous works include 'A Highway Psychological', a stage play about guilt and escapism, as well as a few independent short films and music. In the future, they hope to write and produce a full-length screenplay based on their own personal experiences with the creative process.
ARTISTIC COMMITTEE
Technology and Interaction Artist In Residence
Jasmine Liaw
In 2023, we hosted our first Technology and Interaction installation ‘calling tidal’ by our Artist in Residence, Jasmine Liaw. “calling tidal” is a multi-sensory, interdisciplinary installation engaging with the movement of glaciers. As a responsive space, the work investigates a phenomenological approach to the memory of water, visualizing a future where water is memorable.
Informed by Queer Ecology and the ways inner nature worlds communicate their stress, Liaw utilizes interactive audio-visual technology to allow viewers to become a part of the space and meditate on their embodied relationships with the natural world. With web-found sound recordings of glaciers crashing worldwide, ‘calling tidal’ holds an aliveness with breath and quite literally cries, just like humans.
Photo by Alger Liang
Photo by Alger Liang
Festival Events
Festival Screenings
Click on any screening event below to explore the films that were shown.
Our Supporters
We are incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from funders, partners, sponsors, and individual donors—without them, F-O-R-M 2023 would not have been possible. F-O-R-M 2023 was supported by:
erψn temp3st is a multimedia artist and performer of settler descent. They are interested in the body as a builder of worlds and use digital technologies to render those worlds visible. Their exploration across multiple disciplines aims to redefine body-based practices in terms of technological, sonic, and sculptural intervention.
erψn’s work has been presented in theatres, galleries, and cinemas across Canada and internationally in India, Venezuela, and the United States. They are the recipient of multiple grants, awards, and residencies across Canada. erψn is one half of soft tooth||SFTTTH, an interdisciplinary sound collective that explores intimacy, resonance, and relationality. They were an artist in residence at Lorganisme (QC) and DUPLEX AiR (Portugal) in 2022 and at Tangente Danse (QC) in 2023. erψn will be presenting their interdisciplinary online performance Blushing Phantom in September 2023 as part of Interplay (BC).
Photo by Steph Patsula