WINNIPEG – Director Morgan Traa never imagined her first project would become a star on the international film scene.
“The plan from the beginning was let’s just jump in, you know, you got nothing to lose,” said Traa, 20.
Her short film Tuesday recently beat out submissions from 30 countries around the world at the Canada International Film Festival.
The film is about a widowed father who realizes he can’t take his life because he doesn’t want to leave his son alone.
“I wanted to just relate to things that I’ve been through, things I’ve seen, people I know,” said Traa. “That’s what I wanted to get across, is you’re not alone.”
The entire project was written, filmed and edited on a limited budget in Winnipeg.
Local actress Karen Tusa hopes the project is a step in the red carpet direction.
“Most of these actors that have made it this far, the reason why we’re celebrating them is because they’ve gone though lots of rejection and lots of auditions,” said Tusa.
Winnipeg is one of many Canadian cities looking to grow its film industry.
“Everybody gets tied thinking about Toronto or Vancouver but … Winnipeg and other places in Canada have been offering tax credits and things of that nature,” said Ben Williams of the Winnipeg Film Group.
“I hope that this makes people look at the whole scope of what is here in Winnipeg,” said Traa. “It’s not just me. It’s hundreds of people working really hard towards the same dream.”
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