Could "Glee" be influencing a new generation of filmmakers?

Will James Franco become Hollywood's next great director?

Torontonians will muse on these teasers as the curtain rises on the Canadian Film Centre's 16th Worldwide Short Film Festival (June 1 - 6).

Billed as North America's largest celebration of short film, this year's lineup from 34 countries "raises the bar by leaps and bounds," says festival programmer Eileen Arandiga.

From spotlights on Polish cinema to witty comedies, thrillers, women's shorts and award winners from around the world, WSFF's 281 entries suit every age and taste.

There are odd-ball gems like Vance Malone's 8-minute American short, "The Poodle Trainer," one of Arandiga's favourites.

It follows Irina Markova, a woman who has dedicated her life to training poodles for her circus act.

"It's amazing," says Arandiga. "These dogs communicate here as though they were human."

There are homegrown, opening night treats like Cordell Barker's animated short "Runaway" and "Tungijuq," a haunting meditation on the seal hunt from Canadian directors Paul Raphael and Félix Lajeunesse.

From hot demon sex in "Jardin Dead End" to holding people's pets for ransom in "Lord," the eclecticism here is impressive.

So, too, is the star power fuelling the festival's celebrity shorts.

Robertin Pattison like you've never seen him

Before he was "Twilight's" vampire hottie, Robert Pattinson shot "The Summer House." The period piece from UK director Daisy Gil shows another side to the young Hollywood idol.

Vincent D'Onofrio ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent") and Toronto actress Liane Balaban experience the worst moving day ever in Joachim Back's short, "The New Tenants."

Kristen Wiig ("Knocked Up," "MacGruber") delivers a fine dramatic performance in "One Night Only," Chadd Harbold's uneasy study of modern relationships.

Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Forest Whitaker also voice the wild adventures in "Higglety Pigglety Pop! Or There Must Be More To Life."

The delightful entry from Canadian directors Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski is based on Maurice Sendak's book.

But the best celebrity short comes from American actor James Franco ("Pineapple Express," "Spider-Man").

Franco, 32, directs the thriller "Herbert White." The film about a quiet family man working at a logging company is included in the Official Selection 9: Bad Habits.

"It's spooky, intense and very well-written," says Arandiga. "If this is any indication Franco is going to be a wonderful feature film director one day."

Finally, the musical returns in the festival program "When All is Said and Sung."

From chirpy docs to crazy shorts like "Dental Breakdown" (where dental students lament the lives they could have had), these musicals reflect "Glee's" extraordinary influence on pop culture.

Whether these shorts, or any others, makes next year's Oscar cut remains to be seen.

The Worldwide Short Film Festival is accredited by the Academy of Motional Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). The Academy is best-known for its annual Oscar telecast, and this is a chance to see shorts that might be eligible for awards.

"It's too early to tell what will happen in 2011," says Arandiga. "Right now it has been a tour de force year for us," she says.

"What we are seeing is more meaningful subject matter from these directors, more humour, artistry and more social relevance across the board. These shorts mirror the times in exceptional ways."