First-time filmmakers win at Markham Public Library’s film festival
A short film titled Photo claimed first place at Markham Public Library’s (MPL) inaugural Markham Village Film Festival on Sept. 1. Created by Linda and Max Lai, the film earned top honours from the judging panel and a $50 Amazon gift card.
Festival host and creator Alex Hugh showcased the top 10 films in front of a live audience, in which judges Karen Yang, Alex Ho, Xavier Arcamo, and Melissa Karimzadeh selected the winning film.
Films had to be up to 2 minutes long, either library-themed or filmed at a library, and free of any objectionable or copyrighted content. Each film was ranked out of five for editing, cinematography, creativity, storyline, and sound.
Thomas Yee won the Audience Makerspace Choice Award for his film Magic Card of Markham, in which audience members voted for their favourite film after watching all 10 at the event.
“You don’t always have the money and the budget to make something grand,” Karimzadeh said. “But creativity can go a long way, and executing a simple idea with some simple filmmaking skills, but making it appear more than that, is always a feat that I’m impressed by.”
Linda Lai said that Photo was her very first film. She added that location scouting, gathering props, and editing – such as using up to 20 Polaroids – took both time and money.
“It was much more challenging than I thought,” she said. “But then, it was very fun, and we were very happy that we won the championship.”
The top 10 films displayed at the festival were Photo, Magic Card of Markham, The Library Girl, Booky, Good Friends, Novel Discoveries, Quiet Please, Man’s Best Friend, A Book on Summer Vacation, and Where Mira Still Waits.
Hugh said that due to positive public reception, the film contest may return for next year.
“Stay tuned to our website,” he said. “I think July [2026] is probably the best time for submissions.”
MPL plans to upload all 10 films to its website in the coming week. Stay tuned by visiting markhampubliclibrary.ca.
Photo: Alex Hugh hosts the Markham Village Film Festival. (Story and photo submitted by David Yin)