Linda Kash is getting Peterborough in the mood for Valentine’s Day by presenting a series of love-inspired short films to raise funds for a new student scholarship named in honour of a local boy who passed away tragically in the fall.
On Friday, February 6 at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough, Kash’s Proactive Academy of Performing Arts (PAPA, formerly the Peterborough Academy of Performing Arts) will be screening favourite short films from the Cabbagetown Short Film Festival.
The festival, founded by Kash’s sister Gina Dineen 35 years ago and named for the eclectic central Toronto neighbourhood where Dineen lives, is a juried showcase for some of the world’s best short films.
“It’s just incredible the amount of international films and local films that she has curated over the years,” says Kash. “I was thinking it would be wonderful to do a Valentine’s themed curated event in Peterborough so that she can give us some of the best relationship-oriented shorts from all over the place.”
Beginning at 7:30 p.m. and including a brief intermission, “PAPA Loves Shorts in Feb” will see up to 12 short films screened, with films ranging from under a minute long to under 20 minutes long.
“She has a wonderful eye for film,” says Kash of her sister, who she calls her “best friend.”
“The other interesting tidbit is she has worn the same sparkly dress (to the festival) for 35 years, which I just think is hilarious.”
The evening will include a 13-minute film noir written and directed by Kash herself, who also lent her voice for a song in the film. Though she is known for her comedy and improv, Kash was challenged in 2018 by cinematographer Colin Evans to write a “dark” short film.
Produced by Dineen with Evans as director of photography, Nine Letters stars Allegra Fulton as Katherine, Ari Cohen as Douglas, and Peterborough’s own Megan Murphy as Sharon.
“It was a real creative challenge for me to write something that was not necessarily funny, but had a macabre feeling,” says Kash. “It turned into Nine Letters and I’m really proud of it.”
While Kash is remaining tight-lipped about the rest of the evening’s film lineup, she says audiences can expect lots of comedies, some dramas, and even some animation.
Tickets to the festival are priced at $29 and a portion of proceeds will go towards the inaugural Sylvan Brill Scholarship Fund, whose recipients will be announced at the event. The fund will provide free tuition to one adult and one child enrolled at PAPA who show “exemplary character” and a keen interest in performance.
The scholarship is named in honour of an 11-year-old student who died tragically in Peterborough last October and who Kash says was “full of life.”
“He was just one of those kids that wasn’t afraid and really wanted to be there and was really good,” says Kash of Brill. “But he was also nice, and he was very nurturing with other students — all those characteristics that you really hope a student brings. I thought he’s a perfect example of a great student.”
“I think the best way to honour someone who can’t be here is to live loud and live well, and just don’t forget his name because he was a great kid,” she adds.
There will also be 50/50 draw sponsored by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church where the PAPA classes are held. The proceeds will go towards the Ramp-it-Up Fund in support of making the teaching space wheelchair accessible.
“We really do want to accommodate the community at large but it’s very hard to find a space to have long-term for a reasonable rate and I’m just so grateful to the church for being so generous to us,” Kash says. “You want people to feel like their learning space is their second home, and a ramp for making it (wheelchair) accessible would do that because everything else (about the church) is perfect.”
Just as the hope is for the scholarship to be offered annually, Kash also hopes the short film festival will become an annual event, featuring a new theme each year.
“February is a fabulous time to do it because everyone needs a reason to get together and everybody’s feeling a bit done with winter,” Kash says. “We want to fill the place, and we really do want to raise these funds for such a good cause.”
Assigned seating tickets for “PAPA Loves Shorts in Feb” are available for $29 at the Market Hall box office or online at markethall.org.
To learn more about PAPA, visit papayesand.com.
