Chalk City
Gustavo Dias & Thomas Farstad
See it On Campus: Level 1
The Grad Screening (May 16th, 2026) takes place in the Reliance Theatre, located on the first floor, at the far west end of the building.
Visitor InfoECU Award Recipient
Gustavo Dias - Winner, The President's Media Awards for Excellence Media Sound Arts
Chalk City, 7 min Short Film – Genre: Slice of Life
Trailer
Synopsis
Before going their separate ways, two childhood friends reminisce on an old chalk drawing while wondering whether what they built together will fade with time or remain a part of them forever.
Artist’s Statement
Chalk City is a story about growing up and slowly leaving behind things that once felt permanent. The film explores nostalgia and memory through chalk drawings, something fragile and temporary, yet capable of lasting far longer than expected. Co-directing this film through different cultural backgrounds and childhood experiences pushed us to find a more universal approach to memory and growing up. Set in the late 90s to early 2000s, the film creates a small sense of distance, like looking back at something just out of reach. We hope it invites viewers to reflect on the quiet moments that continue to shape us.
Credits
Director, Gustavo Dias
Director, Thomas Farstad
Director of Photography, Thomas Farstad
1st Assistant Director, Valerie Ni Shun Chen
Cast (Maya), Mariefe Castillo-Catabay
Cast (Jules), Taizo Shigematsu
Camera Operator, Son Vu
Art Department & Crafty, Andre Farstad
Editor & Sound Designer, Gustavo Dias
Colourist, Son Vu
Animator, Mariefe Castillo-Catabay
Animator, Jaiden Su
Production Sound Mixer, Samantha Lum
Location Manager, Fernanda Dias
Editor & Colourist, Thomas Farstad
Colourist, Valerie Ni Shun Chen
Animator, Gerald Florita
Music Composer, Samantha Lum
Special Thanks
Harry Killas
Allison Hrabluik
Rafi Spivak
Matt Stephanson
Emily Carr University
Vancouver School Board
General Gordon Elementary
Fernando Vieira
Mika Banafsheh
Sao Khue
Directors
Gustavo Dias
Gustavo is a Brazilian-born Canadian writer, director, and sound designer based in Vancouver, BC. He is currently completing his studies at Emily Carr University, where he discovered his passion for filmmaking. While he continues to develop his voice as a writer and director, his primary focus is sound design, where he explores how audio can shape emotion and enhance storytelling. He has collaborated on multiple student films and is currently working on the sound design of several graduation projects. Gustavo aims to create reflective, emotionally grounded films that connect with audiences on a personal level.
OPEN TO OPPORTUNITIES!
Thomas Farstad
Thomas is a Vancouver-based filmmaker of Norwegian and Swiss background. He is currently completing his studies at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. His work focuses on grounded, character-driven stories that explore themes of grief, identity, and isolation. He is interested in blending realism with subtle psychological and horror elements, and has a strong interest in camera work and visual storytelling. He is also drawn to documentary filmmaking, particularly in how film can function as a form of education. After graduating, he plans to continue developing narrative films.
OPEN TO OPPORTUNITIES!
Release Granted
