Picking A Winner

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video capturing 17 days around Indonesia, with people feeding monkeys and exploring breathtaking vistas must be worth at least $5,000 – right?

Well according to Canadians it is.

After 12 days and thousands of votes, Canada has officially crowned Benoit LaLande (age 19) of Burlington as this year’s travelcuts FilmFest winner, receiving $5,000 in travel to explore the world through his eyes.

The award was announced at the second annual FilmFest screening in Toronto recently which showcased LaLande’s video “Sama Sama” which offers some stunning images of his travels across Indonesia, complete with aerial views of the incredible landscapes, underwater shots of the clear blue water, a sneak peek to the country’s vibrant culture and of course his time experiencing it all with his friends.

The FilmFest also premiered three videos shot and edited by last year’s finalists.

Elise Chan, Valentyn Syenin and 2015 winner Mark Harrison, were all in attendance to share their travel adventures since last year’s festival.

The FilmFest also featured the latest in virtual reality travel technology and a Q&A with special guest, ten-time national champion boxer Mandy Bujold, who shared her recent travels and experiences fresh from the Rio Olympics.

Luisa Pannozzi, marketing director of the Merit Travel Group, which is the parent company of travelcuts, observed: “Travelling is a rite of passage, especially for young travellers looking to explore the world.

The aim of the FilmFest is to inspire adventure-seeking Canadians to travel by seeing some the possibilities that await them around the globe through the eyes of fellow travellers.”

Go to http://www.travelcuts.com/filmfest for more.