top of page

ON THE FENCE

WRITER & DIRECTOR   

Stories of childhood, home, and identity intertwine as five figures recall their experiences of cultural disconnect as immigrants against a projector.

" A thought-provoking look at the meaning of home and identity."
- Kevin Connor NFFTY 2022 Programmer

"This beautifully crafted film about identity captured by its five crew members all from various cultural backgrounds, transports us on a journey into the film’s core message: What is culture? As each storyteller sits in the foreground, profiled and shadowed to share deeply personal experiences of immigrant life, acclimation and loss, starkly juxtaposed home video images of their playful childhood's gleam in the background. This open and compelling film will return viewers to their own precious memories of culture with pride. Whether celebrating one’s heritage, home or country, we are reminded never to forget where we come from, for risk of sacrificing who we are along the way."

 - Lanettte Ware-Bushfield, WIFT Showcase 2021 Juror

"Simplicity is key to a great short and Paula Ner Dormiendo’s On The Fence has that quality in spades. It shows projections of home movies in the background and in front of that projection are shadows of young adults that those children have turned into. This juxtaposition of images are equally haunting because these young adults are 1.5 generation immigrants. And these immigrants, like myself, have specific yet complex feelings about their identities. The best of the festival’s shorts, especially when it reveals the relationship between crew and subjects." 
- Paolo Kagaoan, In the Seats

AWARDS & SCREENINGS

​

  • CineFam Film Festival

    • ​Best Short Film 2021 
       

  • Canadian Film Festival

    • ​Best Producing Award 2021

    • Streamed on Amazon Prime Superchannel 2021
       

  • Canada Shorts Canadian & International Short Film Festival  - Award of Distinction 2021
     

  • Oakville Festival of Film and Art (OFFA)

    • ​Best Student Film 2021

    • Audience Choice Award 2021
       

  • National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY)

    • ​Opening Night Screening 2022

    • Best Student Film Nominee 2022

    • Programmer's Pick 2022
       

  • Mosaic Internation South Asian Film Festival (MISAFF)

    • Best Canadian Short 2021
       

  • Reelworld Film Festival

    • ​Best Writer & Director Nominee 2021

    • ​​Best Producer Nominee 2021
       

  • Sheridan College

    • ​Best Non-Fiction Film Award 2021

    • ​Vladimir Kabelik Excellence in  Documentary Filmmaking Award 2021

    • Sheridan College's Official 2021 Selection into the Student Academy Awards & CILECT
       

  • Durham Region International Film Festival

    • Best Student Film​ 2021
       

  • Barrie Film Festival

    • Third Place ​Open Category Winner 2021

​​​

  • UrbanArts Toronto - Official Selection 2023
     

  • Reelworld Building Resilient Communities Through Film Event 2023 - Official Screenings in...

    • Oshawa

    • Waterloo

    • Oakville

    • Guelph
      ​

  • Brampton Canadian National Film Day Screening - Official Selection 2023
     

  • Robert McLaughlin Gallery - Private Screening 2022
     

  • Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival  - Private Screening 2022
     

  • Do You See Us? Sheridan College International Day of Tolerance - Screening 2022
     

  • The Art Gallery of Mississauga | City Hall Border Crossings Concert - Screening 2021
     

  • WIFT Showcase - Official Selection 2021
     

  • CBC Gem Toronto Reel Shorts - Official Broadcast 2021
     

  • Vancouver International Women in Film Festival - Official Selection 2021
     

  • Yellowknife International Film Festival - Official Selection  2021
     

  • Cultural Lens Film Festival - Official Selection 2021
     

  • Milton Film Festival - Official Selection 2021
     

  • LIFT Off Global Network Sessions - Official Selection 2021
     

  • Diwa Filipino Film Showcase of Seattle -  Official Selection 2021
     

  • Gen Zed Film Festival - Official Selection 2021

bottom of page