Yorkton Film Festival

{{short description|Film festival}} {{Use Canadian English|date=July 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox film festival | name = Yorkton Film Festival {{nobold|}} | image = Yorkton Film Festival 2013 Branding.png | image_size = 250px | caption = Yorkton Film Festival Logo | opening = | closing = | location = Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada | founded = -1947 as Yorkton International Film Festival −1981 renamed as Yorkton International Short Film and Video Festival −1983 renamed as Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival | awardsreceived = | awards = | films = Short films | directors = | producers = | writers = | starring = | host = Yorkton International Film Festival Society | number = | date = Held annually in May | language = | website = {{URL|https://www.yorktonfilm.com/}} }}

'''Yorkton Film Festival''' ('''YFF''') is an annual film festival held in late May in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.

In 1947, the Yorkton Film Council (YFC) was founded<ref name="SaskMag-63" />{{rp|6}} and in 1950 the first international documentary film festival officially opened in western Canada<ref name="SaskMag-63">{{cite journal |last1=Morrel |first1=Kathy |title=The little engine that could: Nettie Kryski and the Yorton Film Festival |journal=Saskatchewan History Magazine |date=Fall 2011 |volume=63 |issue=2 |pages=6–12 |url=https://file.ac/bVVZ6WWFP10/SKHistory_Vol63_No2.pdf |access-date=27 September 2019 |ref=SaskMag-63 |archive-date=27 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927204438/https://file.ac/bVVZ6WWFP10/SKHistory_Vol63_No2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{rp|6}} on 11 October.<ref name="Leader-Post-1950(2)">{{cite web |title=Film festival for Yorkton |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34522539/film_festival_for_yorkton_the_leader/ |publisher=Regina Leader-Post |access-date=20 August 2019 |ref=Leader-Post-1950(2) |page=2 |date=1 June 1950}}</ref><ref name="LeaderPost-1954(1)">{{cite web |title=Documentary film festival turns spotlight on Yorkton |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34492273/documentary_film_festival_turns/ |publisher=Regina Leader-Post |access-date=2 August 2019 |ref=LeaderPost-1954(1) |date=21 October 1954}}</ref> The festival originally was named Yorkton International Documentary Film Festival<ref name="CanadianEncyclopedia" /> and latter become known as Yorkton International Film Festival.<ref name="SaskMag-63" />{{rp|6}}

In 1969, the Yorkton Film Council disbanded and the Yorkton International Film Festival Society was formed. The film festival went through several name changes and currently operates as Yorkton Film Festival.<ref name="CanadianEncyclopedia">{{cite encyclopedia|author=Andre Paquet; Wyndham Wise|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/film-festivals|title=Film Festivals|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|date=17 October 2014|access-date=6 September 2019}}</ref> It is known as the longest running film festival held in North America.<ref name="CanadianEncyclopedia"/><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34888323/marr_tonaya_film_fest_is_just_part_of/|title=Film fest is just part of what makes Yorkton unique|last=Marr|first=Tonaya|date=24 May 2012|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|page=62|access-date=3 September 2019|ref=Leader-Post-2012}}</ref><ref name="Leader-Post-1971">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35175877/film_festival_29_aug_1971_the/|title=Film festival|date=29 August 1971|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|page=34|access-date=2 September 2019|ref=Leader-Post-1971}}</ref>

The festival is open to Canadian productions, or international productions directed by Canadians, and focuses on films that are under 60 minutes in length.<ref name="Leader-Post-1983">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35603758/festivals_name_changed_again_28_jan/|title=Festival's name changed again|date=28 January 1983|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|page=8|access-date=4 September 2019 |ref=Leader-Post-1983}}</ref> It is a qualifying festival for the Canadian Screen Awards.

The Yorkton Film Festival includes awards in 29 categories: 18 main categories, 6 accompanying categories, 3 craft categories and 2 special categories as of 2019. In 2020 the festival will include a new category for Mental Health, sponsored by the Mental Health Drop-in Centre for three years. The festival will be the first in Canada to Include an award for this category.<ref name="Yorkton-This-Week-Wilger-2019">{{cite news |last1=Wilger |first1=Devin |title=Yorkton Film Festival to feature new award |url=https://www.yorktonthisweek.com/news/local-news/yorkton-film-festival-to-feature-new-award-1.23985889 |access-date=12 November 2019 |publisher=Yorkton This Week |date=23 October 2019 |ref=Yorkton-This-Week-Wilger-2019 |location=Yorkton, Canada}}</ref>

== Background ==

=== National Film Board of Canada === During World War II, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) instituted a program for Canadians during the war through the projection of NFB films across Canada.<ref name="SaskMag-63" />{{rp|6}}<ref name="65YRS">{{cite web|url=http://yorktonfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/65YearsBook.pdf|title=65 Years of Film|publisher=Yorkton Film Festival|access-date=31 July 2019|archive-date=28 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728221739/http://yorktonfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/65YearsBook.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|2}} Under the leadership of John Grierson,<ref name="StarPhoenix-Richarson-">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34783240/richardson_b_t_canadas_propaganda/|title=Canada's Propaganda Films|last1=Richardson|first1=B. T.|date=8 June 1942|publisher=Saskatoon Star Phoenix|page=9|access-date=11 August 2019|ref=StarPhoenix-Richarson-1942}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34783703/richardson_b_t_john_griersons/|title=John Grierson's Films|last=Richardson|first=B. T.|date=3 February 1947|publisher=Saskatoon Star Phoenix|page=9|access-date=11 August 2019|ref=StarPhoenix-Richardson-1947}}</ref> the NFB films<ref name="OttawaCitizen-McLean-1949">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34783909/mclean_john_national_film_board_to/|title=National Film Board To Observe Birthday|last1=McLean|first1=John|date=16 April 1949|publisher=Ottawa Citizen|page=13|access-date=11 August 2019|ref=OttawaCitizen-McLean-1949}}</ref> produced and distributed nationally and internationally during this time were focused on a range of cultural, technical and educational themes;<ref name="OttawaCitizen-Woodsworth-1946">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34782883/woodsworth_charles_filming_the/|title=Filming The Canadian Scene|last1=Woodsworth|first1=Charles J.|date=15 November 1946|publisher=Ottawa Citizen|access-date=11 August 2019|ref=OttawaCitizen-Woodsworth-1946}}</ref> including the war series,"Canada Carries On" and "The World in Action."<ref name="TheProvince-1942">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/499640942/?terms=canadian%2Bfilms%2Bmaking%2Bhistory|title=Canadian Films Making History|date=31 October 1942|publisher=The Province|page=44|access-date=9 September 2019|ref=TheProvince-1942}}</ref>

After the war ended, the NFB was faced with a series of budget cuts, which led to the development of film councils across Canada. Under this new system, the NFB would provide the films, and bare the operational costs, to those cities that formed film councils, secured their own projector and organized their own screenings. In 1947, the Yorkton Film Council was established to participate in this program.<ref name="SaskMag-63" />{{rp|6}}<ref name="65YRS" />{{rp|3}}

=== James (Jim) Lysyshyn === In 1947, Jim Lysyshyn,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vancouversun.com/Yorkton+Film+Festival+founder+James+Lysyshyn/8278376/story.html|title=Yorkton Film Festival founder James Lysyshyn|last=Courtesy of YFF Archives|date=22 April 2013|publisher=Vancouver Sun|access-date=5 August 2019|ref=VancouverSun-2013|archive-date=5 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805175937/http://www.vancouversun.com/Yorkton%2BFilm%2BFestival%2Bfounder%2BJames%2BLysyshyn/8278376/story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> a National Film Board field officer, was developing the idea of creating a documentary film festival in Yorkton.<ref name="Shaw-1">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34415837/international_film_festival_means_fame/|title=International film festival means fame for Yorkton|last1=Shaw|first1=Ruth|date=9 October 1962|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|page=2|access-date=31 July 2019|ref=Shaw-1}}</ref><ref name="CanadianGeographic-1">{{cite web |last1=Rosano |first1=Michela |title=10 surprising facts about Canadians in cinema |url=https://www.canadiangeographic.ca/article/10-surprising-facts-about-canadians-cinema |publisher=Canadian Geographic |access-date=2 August 2019 |ref=CanadianGeographic-1 |date=20 April 2016}}</ref> Having heard that the Edinburgh Festival of the Arts was planning to add film sections to their festival, Lysyshyn believed that the Yorkton Film Council was in the position to take similar action.<ref name="65YRS"/>{{rp|10}} He was successful in convincing the council members of the merits of this project<ref name="65YRS" />{{rp|10}} and first international film festival was scheduled for 1950.<ref name="Shaw-1" />

=== Antoinette (Nettie) Kryski === Nettie Kryski's work with the Yorkton Film Council began in 1947 during a meeting held by the NFB representative and various organizations to discuss the creation of a film council in Yorkton.<ref name="SaskMag-63" />{{rp|7}} As the film council's secretary, she wrote letters to various countries requesting films entries<ref name="StarPhoenix-1978">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34678157/yorkton_film_festival_began_as/|title=Yorkton Film Festival began as community event|date=28 June 1978|publisher=Saskatoon Star Phoenix|page=10|access-date=11 August 2019|ref=StarPhoenix-1978}}</ref> which resulted in 40 films being submitted<ref name="SaskMag-63" />{{rp|10}} to the first festival held in 1950. In 1979 she was awarded the Golden Sheaf for her hard work and dedication to the Yorkton Film Festival.<ref name="SaskMag-63" />{{rp|10/12}} * In 2012, Nettie Kryski's hard work was acknowledged at the festival's 65th anniversary celebration.<ref name="SaskMag-63" />{{rp|12}}

== History ==

===Chronology ===

* In 1947, the Yorkton Film Council (YFC) was founded.<ref name="SaskMag-63" />{{rp|6}} * In 1950, the first international film festival was held in Western Canada.<ref name=":0" /> The Yorkton International Documentary Film Festival<ref name="CanadianEncyclopedia" /> officially opened on 11 October in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. The event ran for two-days, 11 and 12 October.<ref name="LeaderPost-1950(3)" /> Yorkton hosted a film workshop in conjunction with the festival, which was attended by 13 film councils and 30 film committees.<ref name="Leader-Post-1950(2)" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34831509/west_to_have_film_festival_12_jun_1950/|title=West To Have Film Festival|date=12 June 1950|publisher=Vancouver News-Herald|page=14|access-date=12 August 2019|ref=VancouverNewsHerald-1950}}</ref> James Lysyshyn described the festival's purpose: ''"to extend public interest in films; to place documentary films on a higher level; and to give the public a better knowledge of film usage."''<ref name="Leader-Post-1950(2)" /> There were film entries from Switzerland, United States, National Film Board of Canada, Crawley Films of Canada, Sweden, India, Norway, United Kingdom, Denmark, Brazil, New Zealand, Netherlands, Canadian Forestry Association,<ref name="LeaderPost-1950(3)">{{cite web |title=Foreign films for festival |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34497832/foreign_films_for_festival/ |publisher=Regina Leader-Post |access-date=21 August 2019 |ref=LeaderPost-1950(3) |page=2 |date=12 October 1950}}</ref> and France.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35422371/festival_planned_3_april_1952_the/|title=Festival planned|date=3 April 1952|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|page=2|access-date=29 August 2019|ref=Leader-Post-1952}}</ref> Prior to the film festival in Yorkton, festivals had been held internationally in London, Edinburgh, Brussels, Paris, Locarno and Venice.<ref name="LeaderPost-1954(1)" /> * In 1952, the second international film festival was held in Yorkton<ref name="LeaderPost-1952">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34892120/yorkton_film_festival_awards_announced/|title=Yorkton Film Festival Awards Announced|date=23 October 1952|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|access-date=20 August 2019|ref=LeaderPost-1952}}</ref> on 16 and 17 October.<ref name=":1" /> Entries were accepted in the following categories: agriculture, sociological, general, non-theatrical and cultural (i.e. music and art).<ref name=":2" /> Forty-seven films were entered in the festival from multiple countries.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35432425/47_films_compete_at_festival_17/|title=47 films compete at festival|date=17 October 1952|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|access-date=30 August 2019|ref=Leader-Post-1952(4)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35220170/canadian_films_promotion_international/|title=Canadian Films Promotion International Relations|date=20 October 1952|publisher=Saskatoon Star Phoenix|page=11|access-date=20 August 2019|ref=Star-Phoenix-1952}}</ref> Exhibitors included the National Film Board of Canada, Crawley Films Limited, France, Sweden, India, Norway, United Kingdom, J. Arthur Rank Film distributors, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, Encyclopædia Britannica of U.S.A., Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Fred G. Bard of Regina, P.G.A. Films Limited.<ref name=":3" /> The amateur exhibitors were Ralph Steuck of Abernethy, H. Ferman of Yorkton and J. Hoehn of Regina.<ref name=":3" /> An extra day was added to accommodate their screening schedule, making the festival a three-day event.<ref name=":3" /> The guest speaker at the festival's dinner was W. S. Jobbins from the National Film Board.<ref name=":3" /> * In 1953, the Yorkton Film Council joined the Federation of Film Councils of Northern Saskatchewan, formed under the auspices of the National Film Board of Canada.<ref name="SaskMag-63" />{{rp|7}} * In 1954, the third international film festival was held in Yorkton on 20, 21 October and 23.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35439073/international_film_festival_starts/|title=International Film Festival Starts Showings at Yorkton|date=22 October 1954|publisher=Saskatoon Star Phoenix|page=24|access-date=30 August 2019|ref=Star-Phoenix-1954(5)}}</ref> The three-day event,<ref name="LeaderPost-1954">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34492273/documentary_film_festival_turns/|title=Documentary film festival turns spotlight on Yorkton|date=21 October 1954|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|access-date=21 August 2019|ref=LeaderPost-1954}}</ref> received strong support from community members. The exhibitors included the National Film Board of Canada, Crawley Films Limited, Sweden, India, United Kingdom, J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors of Canada, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Netherlands, Germany and Imperial Oil by Christopher Capman.<ref name="LeaderPost-1954(1)" /> J. Soehn of Regina was the only amateur exhibitor.<ref name="LeaderPost-1954(1)" /> Mrs. A. L. Caldwell, board of governors of the National Film Board of Canada was a guest speaker at the festival's dinner.<ref name="LeaderPost-1954(1)" /> Mayor, C. G. Langrill congratulated the film council for their efforts and for training over 250 projectionists.<ref name="LeaderPost-1954(1)" /> * In 1956, the fourth international film festival was held in Yorkton<ref name="Leader-Post-1956" /> was held on 22, 23 October and 24.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35428334/yorkton_to_hold_film_festival_17_april/|title=Yorkton to Hold Film Festival|date=17 April 1956|publisher=Saskatoon Star Phoenix|page=22|access-date=30 August 2019|ref=Star-Phoenix-1956(2)}}</ref> The festival received entries from 616 exhibitor that represented 14 countries.<ref name="Leader-Post-1956" /> There were 52 films shown from 12 countries.<ref name="Leader-Post-1956">{{cite web |title=14 countries enter fourth film festival |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34551380/14_countries_enter_fourth_film/ |publisher=Regina Leader-Post |access-date=4 August 2019 |ref=Leader-Post-1956 |page=2 |date=16 October 1956}}</ref> The countries competing were Sweden, India, United Kingdom, Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand, United States, Germany, Ireland, France, South Africa, Australia, Russia and Canada.<ref name="Leader-Post-1956" /> Productions were entered for the first time by Russia and Ireland.<ref name="Leader-Post-1956" /><ref name="Star-Phoenix-1958">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34550796/film_entries_pour_in_for_yorkton/|title=Film Entries Pour in For Yorkton Festival|date=12 September 1958|publisher=Saskatoon Star Phoenix|page=2|access-date=4 August 2019|ref=Star-Phoenix-1958}}</ref> First Prize was awarded to the Canadian NFB film ''The Shepherd'', 2nd Prize was awarded to Russia's ''On the Shores of Lake Issik-Kul'', and 3rd Prize was awarded to Britain's ''Heart of England''.<ref name="Star-Phoenix-1956">{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34554578/canadian_film_judged_best/|title=Canadian Film Judged Best|date=27 October 1956|publisher=Saskatoon Star Phoenix|page=25|access-date=4 August 2019|ref=Star-Phoenix-1956}}</ref> * In 1957, the Yorkton Film Council received a special award from the Association of Motion Picture Producers and Laboratories of Canada, ''"in recognition of this outstanding International Film Festival."''<ref name="Leader-Post-1971"/> The citation on the Certificate of Merit read: ''"The Yorkton Film Council in its International Film festival offers for public viewing a selection of films of high quality from many countries and recognizes and encourages high stand of film production. The special Award is given to the Yorkton Film Council in recognition of its outstanding International Film festival which demonstrates the contribution of the film council movement in Canada."''<ref name="SaskMag-63" />{{rp|10/11}} * In 1957, a fire led to changes in the way the film council operated. Avalon Studios, the film depot and equipment supplier, was one of several businesses affected by the fire and film council lost almost everything.<ref name="StarPhoenix-1957(2)">{{cite web |title=Films Lost in Blaze at Yorkton |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35860728/films_lost_in_blaze_at_yorkton_6_feb/ |publisher=Saskatoon StarPhoenix |access-date=11 September 2019 |ref=StarPhoenix-1957(2) |pages=10 |date=6 February 1957}}</ref> The council appealed to the local community for donations and help, which flowed quickly and helped the council recover.<ref name="65YRS"/>{{rp|19}} The Yorkton Public Library took over the responsibilities of Avalon Studios, and became the new film depot, which further allowed the film council to focus on running the festival.<ref name="65YRS"/>{{rp|20}} * In 1958, the fifth international film festival was held in Yorkton on 20, 21 October, and 22nd.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35439445/yorkton_set_for_film_festival_29/|title=Yorkton Set For Film Festival|date=29 September 1958|publisher=Saskatoon Star Phoenix|page=12|access-date=30 August 2019|ref=Star-Phoenix-1958(2)}}</ref><ref name="Shaw-1" /> Exhibitors in the festival were Sweden, India, United Kingdom, Denmark, Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand, Germany, China, Cinematographers Association, Israel, Norway, Finland, South Africa, Australia, Russia, Dynamic Films (U.S.A.), University of Southern California, National Film Board of Canada, Crawley Films Ltd., Shell Oil of Canada Ltd. and Imperial Oil Co. Ltd.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35484484/17_foreign_nations_show_films_as_fifth/|title=17 foreign nations show films as fifth Yorkton festival opens|date=21 October 1958|publisher=Leader-Post-1956(5)|page=2|access-date=1 September 2019}}</ref> Adjudicators were Gordon Campbell, Regina – director of adult education division, department of education; Gordon Hawkins, Toronto – associate director of Canadian Association for Adult Education; and Mrs. Lawrence Cherry, Regina – with the Saskatchewan government motion picture division.<ref name=":4" /> The National Film Board's ''City of Gold'' won first choice, Israel's ''Israel-An Adventure'' won second choice, and ''Himalayan Tapestry'', produced by Burma-Shell and entered by Shell Oil Co. won third choice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35439626/1000_attend_tuesday_film_festival/|title=1,000 attend Tuesday film festival showing|date=22 October 1958|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|access-date=30 August 2019|ref=Leader-Post-1958(2)}}</ref> * 1958 marked the 75th anniversary of the city of Yorkton.<ref name="Shaw-1" /> * In 1958, the Golden Sheaf was awarded for 'Best Film' in all categories for the first time to the Czech film, ''Inspiration''.<ref name="Shaw-1" /> * In the 1960s, the advent of television reduced the popularity of the festival so much so that the council decided to delay 1966's festival until 1967 in order to provide more time to promote it.<ref name="65YRS"/>{{rp|20}} *In 1969, the tenth international film festival was held in Yorkton.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35175321/big_film_fest_in_small_sask_town_13/|title=Big film fest in small Sask. town|date=13 September 1969|publisher=The Gazette|page=75|access-date=23 August 2019|ref=Gazette-1969}}</ref> *In 1969, the festival faced dire straits as the YFC disbanded and all but gave up on continuing the festival. Nettie Kryski, treasurer of the film council for over 20 years, refused to let the festival die sought out Yorkton Mayor Allan Bailey, and his wife Colleen, to aid in keeping the festival going.<ref name="65YRS" />{{rp|21}}The festival found a new partner in the Saskatchewan Arts Board, and the festival organizers reached out to local businesses and community organizations to sponsor the event.<ref name="65YRS" />{{rp|21}} The festival created a new board of directors who worked to ensure the festival's continued survival. This was spearheaded by a succession of volunteers and board members who oversaw and introduced changes that put the festival on secure footing, those people were: Colleen Bailey, Laurence Pearson, Elwyn Vermette, and Brian Woodward.<ref name="65YRS" />{{rp|21}} * In 1971, when the Venice Film Festival claimed to receive the first ever international film submission from the People's Republic of China the Yorkton organizers were quick to reach out to offer the international community to offer a correction that the Yorkton festival had hosted eight films from China for the 1958 festival and three other films in 1962 and 1964.<ref name="CalgaryHerald-1971">{{cite web |title=Venice had first Chinese films this year but Yorkton had some in 1962 and in 1964 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34892264/venice_had_first_chinese_films_this/ |work=Calgary Herald |date=13 October 1971 |page=29 |access-date=11 September 2019 |ref=CalgaryHerald-1971}}</ref> *In the 1979 festival, Barry Morse, star of TV series ''The Fugitive'', presented the newly redesigned Best of Festival Golden Sheaf to multiple recipients. This was first, and only, time in festival history in which multiple films were considered Best of Festival.<ref name="Leader-Post-1979(1)">{{cite web |title=Morse says entries superb |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34891019/morse_says_entries_superb_19_nov_1979/ |publisher=The Leader-Post |access-date=11 September 2019 |ref=Leader-Post-1979(1) |page=24 |date=19 November 1979}}</ref> * In 1983 the festival changed its name to Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival. Previous to this it had been known as Yorkton International Short Film and Video Festival and prior to 1981 it had been known as Yorkton International Film Festival.<ref name="Leader-Post-1983" /> * In 2013, on 4 November Ruth Shaw died at the age of 95. She was the last surviving original founder of the Yorkton Film Council in 1947. The festival established the Ruth Shaw (Best of Saskatchewan) award to recognize the best film made in the province on her 90th birthday.<ref name="Leader-Post-2013(2)">{{cite web |title=Shaw, Ruth |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34844902/shaw_ruth_9_november_2013_the/ |publisher=The Leader-Post |access-date=10 September 2019 |ref=Leader-Post-2013(2) |page=42 |date=9 November 2013}}</ref>

== Awards ==

===Certificates of Merit === Up to 1954,<ref name="LeaderPost-1952" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35220170/canadian_films_promotion_international/|title=Canadian Films Promotion International Relations|date=20 October 1952|publisher=Saskatoon Star Phoenix|page=11|access-date=29 August 2019|ref=Star-Phoenix-1952}}</ref><ref name="LeaderPost-1954" /> the audience participated in judging the films through ballot casting: rating films as excellent, good or fair.<ref name="LeaderPost-1954(1)" /> The winners were issued Certificates of Merit.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35433211/entries_from_16_nations_received_24/|title=Entries from 16 nations received|date=24 September 1952|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|page=2|access-date=30 August 2019|ref=Leader-Post-1952(4)}}</ref> In 1956, the audience approval was still registered by ballots; however, for the first time the films were adjudicated and rated by film experts and professionals.<ref name="Leader-Post-1956" /> The first adjudicators were Professor. A J. Wrick, supervisor of adult education division at University of Saskatchewan; Gordon Campbel, director of adult education division at the department of education in Regina; and Frank Morriss, drama and film editor of the Winnipeg Free Press.<ref name="Leader-Post-1956" />

===Golden Sheaf Awards=== After the 1956 film festival, Frank Morris recommended to the council that the film festival adopt a grand prize.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://cinemacanada.athabascau.ca/index.php/cinema/article/download/794/865|title=14th Yorkton international Film Festival|last=Humphries|first=Don|date=September 1977|publisher=Cinema Canada|page=54|format=pdf|via=EBSCO|access-date=7 September 2019|ref=AthabascaU-1977|archive-date=2 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802064101/http://cinemacanada.athabascau.ca/index.php/cinema/article/download/794/865|url-status=dead}}</ref> The award was designed to be representative of the community and was named the Golden Sheaf Award.<ref name=":4" /> The Winnipeg Brass company cast the original design.<ref name=":6" /> In 1958 the festival awarded the Golden Sheaf, for the first time, for 'best film of all classes'<ref name="Star-Phoenix-1958" /> to the Czech film ''Inspiration''.<ref name="Shaw-1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35497995/trophy_presented_29_oct_1958_the/|title=Trophy Presented|date=29 October 1958|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|page=2|access-date=1 September 2019|ref=Leader-Post-1958(6)}}</ref>

The Golden Sheaf Award, for 'best film in all categories', was awarded in 1960 to the NFB film ''Universe''.<ref name="AthabascaU-1978">{{Cite journal|url=http://cinemacanada.athabascau.ca/index.php/cinema/article/view/4573/4603|title=14th The oldest, continuing North American fest|last=Burton|first=Nik|date=December 1977 – January 1978|journal=Cinema Canada|pages=32–33|format=pdf|via=EBSCO|access-date=9 September 2019|ref=AthabascaU-1978|archive-date=1 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001010321/http://cinemacanada.athabascau.ca/index.php/cinema/article/view/4573/4603|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the 1960s, the festival moved away from the heavy and expensive brass award and moved towards an engraved metal plaque and then to an acrylic standalone trophy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yorktonfilm.com/golden-sheaf-awards/|title=The Golden Sheaf Awards|publisher=Yorkton Film Festival|access-date=5 August 2019|ref=YFF-GoldenSheaf}}</ref>

In the 1970s, Saskatchewan Government Insurance sponsored a new design for the Golden Sheaf Award.<ref name=":6" /> The winning design, by Jerry Didur<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35679995/design_award_made_26_sep_1977_the/|title=Design award made|date=26 September 1977|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|page=41|access-date=6 September 2019|ref=Leader-Post-1977}}</ref> proved to be too complex and costly to mass-produce.<ref name="65YRS" />{{rp|33}} As a result, the board asked Yorkton artist Jim Trinder to re-design a new Golden Sheaf Award that is still used to this day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35678156/film_entries_pouring_in_for_yorkton/|title=Film entries pouring in for Yorkton Festival|date=7 September 1979|publisher=Regina Leader-Post|page=13|access-date=6 September 2019|ref=Leader-Post-1979}}</ref>

In 1993 at the 31st film festival, referred to at this time as the Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival, Terry Steyn's ''Something to Cry About'' won five awards. This film went on to be nominated in 1995 for four Gemini Awards.<ref name="EBSCO-1995">{{cite journal |title=Screen |journal=Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada |date=Summer 1995 |volume=29 |issue=3 |page=44 |url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=9508041943&site=ehost-live |access-date=18 September 2019 |ref=EBSCO-1995 |publisher=EBSCO |issn=1185-3433}}</ref>

In 1996, the Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival, hosted a four-day event and honoured the best in 13 categories with the Golden Sheaf Awards. ''Utshimassits: Place of the Boss'' a documentary directed by John Walker (NFB) and produced by Mike Mahoney won 'Best of the Festival' Award. At the next festival, 'The Fifty Years Celebration', an additional four categories for international entries will be added.<ref name="EBSCO-1996">{{cite journal |last1=Caton |first1=Jacolyn |title=Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival |journal=Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada |date=Fall 1996 |volume=30 |issue=3 |page=43 |url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=9701175565&site=ehost-live |access-date=18 September 2019 |ref=EBSCO-1996 |publisher=EBSCO |issn=1185-3433}}</ref>

In 2002, the documentary ''Nuliajuk: Mother of the Sea Beasts'' won the Golden Sheaf 'multicultural' award at the Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival.<ref name="EBSCOhost-2002">{{cite journal |title=Nuliajuk wins multicultural award |journal=Inuit Art Quarterly |date=Fall 2002 |volume=17 |issue=3 |page=60 |url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asu&AN=33384513&site=ehost-live |access-date=18 September 2019 |ref=EBSCOhost-2002 |issn=0831-6708}}</ref>

In 2013 the Golden Sheaf Awards were awarded in nineteen Main categories, three Craft awards, the Ruth Shaw (Best of Saskatchewan), Indigenous and Emerging Filmmaker Awards as well as the Founder's Award, awarded to a production depicting historical Canadian characters or events.<ref name="GoldenSheaf-2013">{{cite web |title=Canada's Golden Sheaf Award Winners 2013 |url=http://yorktonfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2013-Nominees_and_Winners.pdf |publisher=Yorkton Film Festival |access-date=11 September 2019 |ref=GoldenSheaf-2013 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806172240/http://yorktonfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2013-Nominees_and_Winners.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2019, ''"Finding Big Country"'', ''"El Toro"'', ''"Beauty"'', ''"Tomorrow"'' and ''"Fast Horse"'' all were award winners. Awards were handed out in 29 categories at the Yorkton Film Festival Golden Sheaf Awards Gala, including the 'Ruth Shaw (Best of Saskatchewan)' was awarded ''"Bridging Borders – Season 2"'' and 'Best of Festival', 'Indigenous' and 'Multicultural (under 30 minutes)' were awarded to "Fast Horse."<ref name="GX94-2019">{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Ryan |title=Packed House at 2019 Yorkton Film Festival's Golden Sheaf Awards Gala at Gallagher Centre |url=https://www.gx94radio.com/2019/05/27/packed-house-at-2019-yorkton-film-festivals-golden-sheaf-awards-gala-at-gallagher-centre/ |publisher=GX94 Radio |access-date=30 September 2019 |ref=GX94-2019 |date=27 May 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>

===Golden Sheaf Awards gala=== In the 1980 festival, the first Golden Sheaf Awards gala was introduced as part of another initiative by the Board of Directors to increase community participation in the festival. The gala included a traditional Ukrainian supper, celebrating Yorkton's Ukrainian heritage, the Golden Sheaf Awards presentation, a clip from winning films, and a dance to serve as a finale to the fun filled evening.<ref name="65YRS" />{{rp|35}} The gala has become a staple of the festival, and has been hosted by personalities like Shelia Coles,<ref name="65YRS" />{{rp|36}} Jeff Douglas,<ref name=":5" /> and Costa Maragos.<ref name="NSI-2">{{cite web |title=A rookie at Yorkton Film Fest |url=https://www.nsi-canada.ca/2013/06/a-rookie-at-yorkton-film-fest/ |publisher=National Screen Institute |access-date=10 September 2019 |ref=NSI-2 |date=6 June 2013}}</ref>

=== Golden Sheaf Award categories ===

==== Special awards ==== {{columns-list|colwidth=30em| * Best of Festival * Kathleen Shannon Award * The Founders' Award

==== Main categories ==== * Animation * Children's/Youth Productions * Comedy * Community Television Productions * Digital Media * Documentary Arts/Culture * Documentary History & Biography * Documentary POV (Point of View) * Documentary Science/Nature/Technology * Documentary Series * Documentary Social/Political * Drama * Experimental * Lifestyle * Performing Arts & Entertainment * Short Subject * Student Productions

==== Accompanying categories ==== * Emerging Filmmaker Award * Indigenous Award * Multicultural * Ruth Shaw (Best of Saskatchewan)

==== Craft awards ==== * Director * Research }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.goldensheafawards.com Festival website]

Category:Yorkton Film Festival Category:Film festivals in Saskatchewan Category:Short film festivals in Canada Category:1947 establishments in Saskatchewan Category:Film festivals established in 1947