Yellowknife filmmaker off to Cannes festival

A film by Yellowknife's Andrew Silke will be one of 25 shorts screened by Telefilm Canada at the Cannes Film Festival in France this month.

Silke, 25, has just two films under his belt. His 18-minute short Ameliafilmed in Yellowknife's Old Town this past winter is the story of a mother struggling with post-partum depression who discovers her daughter is harming her newborn.

"It's huge and for the most part I just want to network and meet other Canadian producers," he said. "While it is an international festival, my best chances are getting to know the people close to me."

While Amelia isn't up for any awards, it will be screened to producers on demand and will be shown to audiences twice. It is part of the program Canada: Not Short on Talent, in the Perspectives Canada lineup.

The NWT Film Commissioner said heis excited to see an artist from this territory attend the festival as an ambassador.

"I'm sure he'll play that role very well for the North," said Kevin Todd. "It's just another mention and there's nothing like free advertising and the best way is to advertise with a real achievement."

Silke will travel solo to the festival mid-May, with NWT Film Commission swag in his bag.

"If I can get past Brad Pitt's bodyguards, Ill see if I can hand him a hat," he said.