Bold Productions, a small film production company of Senator Joyce Fairbairn students, started by Calvin Kirkby (Director/Editor/Writer), and featuring the acting talents of Zachary Hallett, Jax Larson, Samuel Cosman and Cody Kirkby, are making waves in the National Film Festival circuit. Last year, the students heard about an opportunity to submit a film to Cinema Jeunesse, the Canadian Youth Film Festival based out of Quebec. They submitted a short film called, Time Malfunction, and placed second in their category (which is based on the age and grades of the participants).
With that placing under their belts, Bold Productions was inspired to do more. The team participated in the Calgary 48-hour film challenge, where students were given certain information at 6 p.m. on a Friday and needed to have everything completed and submitted by 6 p.m. that Sunday. This competition featured amateur and professional film makers and actors across Alberta, and Bold Productions was clearly the youngest. In the end, the team was applauded for its creativity and drive.
The student then submitted the film, The Apocalypse, to Cinema Jeunesse (with Cody Kirkby also submitting a stop motion film called The Kraken), for this year's festival. Both won first place in their group.
They won a combined $450 in prize money, which is already being invested in future productions and equipment, plus a celebration, of course.
The SJF students are looking forward to continuing to find other opportunities to for additional project, according to SJF film teacher, Keith Miller, who added Kirkby is examining the possibility of delving into promotions, if any small businesses have need of a creative advertisement or promotional piece.
"I could not be more proud of the effort that these students have put into making something truly their own and taking the risks to put it out there for others to experience," said Miller.
To watch the AJF watch the films, click on the following link: https://en.cinemajeunesse.ca/copy-of-programmation-2023
A group of students from Senator Joyce Fairbairn Middle School took home first place in the Canadian Youth Film Festival.
