Amidst the panels, workshops and screenings, attendees found time to board a bus for a group picnic and take a boat cruise (right).

SK: The OIAF puts together a very loaded package of retrospectives, workshops, panels, presentations and forums. Do you take advantage of these, and how important are they to your festival experience?

SW: The panels and workshops are the greatest surprise. I serve on panels every year. I can’t say no to them. They are the best way to discover more about myself as an artist, as well as other filmmakers.

Finally, I just had to ask …

SK: Did you get to any of the parties? Or were you so knocked out by the end of the day that you just crashed?

SW: I think I got to all the parties. The most interesting thing about them is that when the last gala screening is over for the night you want to rush to the party and debate it. I starved all day so I could get all these elements satisfied at the same time — chitchat, food and booze. The week goes by so fast, and there’s so much to do, by the end I’m totally fueled on animation.

So there you have it. This festival is a forum for all animation, including commercial, creative and unique work. For those in the trade, it offers a showcase of their best productions, and a rare opportunity to trial new directions, to shop cutting edge styles and voices. The OIAF is a forum for the independents, and a shopping spree for those in the industry. What more can you ask of a festival?

But don’t take my word for it. The mayhem begins again on Sept. 20, 2006. See you then.

Sharon Katz is an independent animator who lives and works in Ottawa. Her recently released animated short film, Slide, is now traveling more than she is.