Image Arts Film student debuts short film at the Vancouver International Film Festival

Image Arts Film student Beth Warrian recently had the opportunity to view the premiere of her short film, Adore, at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). Originally created for her group thesis project, the independent short film has seen considerable success, even getting selected as one of the winners of the Norman Jewison Award for Best Film at the annual IMA awards.

Before she was at VIFF, Warrian spent her days as a sous chef at a lively vegan restaurant in downtown Toronto. How she ended up back on the path of pursuing her passion, is all part of the story.

With the independent film scene steadily growing throughout her childhood and the fact that she didn’t see herself reflected in the film industry, Warrian developed a lifelong passion for film. After graduating from high school, she entered the Image Arts Film program before taking a break during her third year. Currently, she’s finishing that same degree, but not before taking a 12-year hiatus to work as a sous chef at a vegan restaurant in downtown Toronto.

While her experience as a sous chef played an integral role in her professional career, for Warrian, it was just a matter of time before her passion for film came roaring back. As Warrian puts it, if there’s something that you’re meant to be doing, it’ll find its way back to you.

“It’s cliche, but if you love something, set it free and see if it comes back to you. It became more and more apparent that there was nothing else I wanted to do, so I went back to the IMA program, and it felt as if no time had passed,” she said.

The art and craft of storytelling

The film Adore is as captivating as it is inspirational and resulted from a truly collaborative effort between faculty, peers and the rest of Warrian's team. Touching on themes of identity, belonging and familial bonds, Adore tells a poignant intergenerational story about many of the issues members of the LGTBQ+ community face. Chaos, alienation and acceptance are key motifs in the film, and a story rich with religious symbolism is used to paint a picture of the lives of the characters on the screen.

Like any good project, Warrian underpinned how vital collaboration was in creating the film. "I met Sofia, my producer, in the IMA program, and it was like one of those fairytale moments when you meet someone and want to work with them for the rest of your life,” stated Warrian.  “Being able to collaborate with such a talented team allowed me to see the story from a different lens and think about the art from their point of view.”

From script to the Vancouver International Film Festival

Adore was initially created for Warrian's group thesis project in the IMA program and was showcased at the annual IMA student-run film festival in April. The film was later selected at the IMA Awards in November for the Norman Jewison Award for Best Film. After screening the project to her faculty, peers and friends, Warrian and the rest of her team submitted the film to dozens of film festivals across the globe. There were still some last-minute edits, so the group submitted the film as a work in progress. Hopes were high that their submission would get accepted at the esteemed Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), so when Warrian received the good news at a remote cottage, she made it her mission to contact her producer, Sofia.

"I tried reaching out to my producer, Sofia, when I heard the news. She was actually on a beach in Peru without her phone, so I had to go on a spy mission and track her down to tell her the good news," said Warrian. 

Warrian and her producer were in a state of belief when they first heard the news. But that disbelief soon became the motivation they needed to finish the film. With the entire team's help and a grant from the ReFocus fund from Toronto's major LGBTQ+ film festival InsideOut, Adore was finalized just in time for them all to view the premier screening in person at VIFF.

Seeing the hard work of Warrian and her team culminate at one of the largest film festivals in Canada was a life-changing experience for everyone involved.  “I'd say the best parts were being able to connect with other established and emerging filmmakers from all over the country, and the inspiration provided by having the chance to view such diverse, eclectic programming.” remarked Warrian. “Simply seeing such a vast range of films together in one place really expanded our view on what filmmaking (and the short film format in particular) could be.”

“I had to lean on many people, but the project benefited from listening to these different perspectives. The format of the IMA program also strengthened my capacity for collaboration and faith in myself as an artist,” stated Warrian. 

She’ll also be the first to admit that there were many challenges throughout the process. Without the help of those around her, the film wouldn’t have been possible.

“It’s important to tell your story with integrity and connect with people that will elevate you. We wanted to create a film with a powerful message, which took a lot of perseverance,” she said. “For every successful submission we received, we had at least five rejections that people didn’t see. It’s not a linear path, and I think it’s really important for people to understand that.”

The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University 

The Creative School is a dynamic faculty at Toronto Metropolitan University making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Comprised of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.