A still from Professor Gary Kibbins' award-winning film "Girl Sitting on a Blue Chair". The film won the grand prize at the Images Awards festival.  

Queen’s film and media studies professor Gary Kibbins was honoured recently at the 25th annual Images Festival in Toronto, winning the grand prize for his installation “Girl Sitting on Blue Chair.” The award, the Images Prize, is sponsored by Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan and recognizes the best Canadian media artwork in the festival.

Shot in a variety of locations, including Uganda and Rwanda, Mr. Kibbins’ film highlights the difficulties citizens face there, particularly challenges related to recent anti-gay legislation. Judges praised Mr. Kibbins’ “light, yet profound touch” and said his film “allows us another take on reality through poetry and humour.”

The short film takes the form of collage. “With this form of media, the relationship between the many elements is more important than the elements themselves,” Mr. Kibbins says. “The viewers should ask questions about why these things are together.” In addition to many scenes featuring the titular image – a young girl sitting on a blue chair in a carpentry workshop – the film uses text and voiceovers, as well as images of other children, gorillas, and ants.

“Girl Sitting on Blue Chair” is currently installed at Trinity Square Video, a not-for-profit artist and community organization in Toronto. Mr. Kibbins anticipates screenings in the Kingston area and at other festivals within the next year.

The Images Festival is the largest festival in North America for experimental and independent moving image culture and has showcased the work of many renowned Canadian and international artists.