An initiative of ASIFA-Canada
A compilation of 17 Canadian independent animated shorts
Release of the video
100% Independent
ASIFA-Canada is proud to announce the commercial release of 100% Independent, a video compilation of 17 Canadian independent animated shorts. 100% Independent is available in video stores throughout Canada for $19.95. It is also possible to order copies in Canada by fax (514) 496-1895, attention to Lucie Charbonneau, or by mail: l.charbonneau@onf.ca Postal fees of $3.50 will be charged.
The 100% Independent video is the follow-up to a series of screenings which ASIFA-Canada held two years ago in Montreal and Vancouver as a window for Canadian independent animation. Like short films in general, independent animation suffers from a lack of visibility. It was as a further effort to bring this art form out of the shadows that ASIFA-Canada undertook this video project, the first in Canada devoted to animators.
Covering some 20 years of Canadian independent animation, with an emphasis on the past decade, the video includes 17 shorts self-produced by their respective filmmakers, some with fairly limited means, others with the help of grants and scholarships or as part of a university program.
The project was helmed by ASIFA-Canada president Bernard Boulad in co-operation with animator and ASIFA-Canada board member Sofi Vaillant. After viewing close to a hundred productions, they finally decided on an original and varied selection reflecting the different animation trends and techniques practised in Quebec — which accounts for eight of the films — and the other provinces of Canada.
The films range from classic hand-drawn animation to more sophisticated techniques such as painting on glass, scratching on film stock, claymation, pixillation and computer animation, in a variety of genres, including absurd comedies, illustrated songs, abstract experimentation and surrealist explorations. All come together in a dynamic and entertaining compilation that admirably showcases the talent of our animated filmmakers.
Some of the directors — such as Michael Mills, who received an Oscar nomination and won the Golden Bear in Berlin for The History of the World in Three Minutes Flat, and Janet Perlman, who received a special mention at the renowned Zagreb Festival for My Favorite Things that I Love — are already well known. And others certainly deserve to be: Jakub Pistecky of Vancouver, this year's winner of the prestigious Ars Electronica Award in Vienna for Maly Milos, Daniel Wright of Regina, who was honoured in Chicago for Treadman, Pierre Sylvestre, whose L'Asile has picked up awards at a number of festivals, and Mike Pelland whose Shâh Mat was hailed as best student animated film.
The credits, with their McLaren touch, were done by Luc Otter, a veteran animator and co-author of Cocos, one of the films in the compilation. The original music was created by the acclaimed composer Judith Gruber-Stitzer, whose credits include the sound track for the celebrated When the Day Breaks. And the videojacket was illustrated by the Montreal most iconoclastic artist Valium.
Films and directors
The History Of The World In Three Minutes Flat - Michael Mills
Maly Milos - Jakub Pistecky
L'asile - Pierre Sylvestre
Oh Lord - Anouk Préfontaine
Vision Point - Stephen X. Arthur
Shâh Mat - Mike Pelland
Almonds And Wine - Arnie Lipsey
My Favorite Things That I Love - Janet Perlman
Amf's Tiresias - Ann Marie Fleming
Sea Song - Richard Reeves
Alfred's New Dog - Michael Clowater
Cosmic Seed - George Ungar
Cuts… A View Of Censorship - Peeter Sepp, Margus Jukkum
Treadman - Daniel Wright
Oink - Alain Dion
Oppo - Yasmin P. Karim
Les Cocos - Luc Otter, Dominique Boisver
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