Second edition of New York City showcase event to feature new experimental and narrative animation along with expert panels on the state of the industry.
The European National Institutes of Culture (EUNIC) – New York City Cluster is set to present the second edition of Animated Spirits: European Animated Short Film Festival this spring. The festival brings some of the most exciting, recent animation from Europe to New York City. Artists from 12 European Union countries “illustrate” the spirit of experimentation at the Austrian Cultural Forum New York (11 Est 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022) and at the Hungarian Consulate General (227 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022) on May 4 & 5, 2016.
Each night gurus of contemporary animation -- Jeffrey Scher (USA), Holger Lang (AT) and Alexander Stewart (USA) -- will discuss the state of European animation. Panels will cover with differences between experimental and artistic approaches in the field of animation on both sides of the Atlantic and with the industry itself, including the possibilities for European filmmakers in the United Stated as independent and applied artists.
Emphasizing the new, the exciting and the unconventional, while finding the space to reflect on the continuing potential of the traditional techniques as well, Animated Spirits gives a carefully curated program, picking from the cream of European animation to bring to the NYC audiences. Two selections will be screened each night: EXPERANIMA, featuring highlights of the most inventive animated films, which seek to discover the boundaries of animation and live action, narrative strategies and the visual language of animation and ANIMASTORY which offers mesmerizing fictional stories with unique visuals.
Initiated and organized by Balassi Institute and the Hungarian Cultural Center, New York in partnership with the Austrian Cultural Forum, NY with the participation of nine European national institutes of culture: Arte Institute Portugal; Arts Council Malta; Bonobo Studio Croatia; Consulate General of Estonia in New York; Consulate General of Slovakia in New York; Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Czech Center New York; Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Washington; Flanders House New York; and the Polish Cultural Institute New York.
The event is curated by animation historian Anna Ida Orosz, who is a lecturer at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design and co-founder and curator of Primanima Short Film Festival, Budapest. Both screenings are free and open to the public.
DATES AND VENUES
Wednesday, May 4, 2016 | 7.30pm Austrian Cultural Forum, NY
11 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10022
EXPERANIMA 1/ANIMASTORY 1 – ANIMATED SPIRITS! (92’)
Followed by a panel discussion and Q&A with Jeffrey Scher (USA), New York-based filmmaker and animator; lecturer at the School of Visual Arts and adjunct instructor at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts; opinionator at the New York Times and Holger Lang (AT), Assistant Professor and Research Faculty, Webster Vienna Private University and Adjunct Professor, Webster University St. Louis
Reservations for the May 4 screening can be made here. The first screening will be followed by a reception and networking event at the Austrian Cultural Forum NY.
Thursday, May5, 2016 | 7.30pm Hungarian Consulate General | Bartók Hall 227East52nd Street, New York NY 10022
EXPERANIMA 2/ANIMASTORY 2 – ANIMATED SPIRITS! (95’)
Followed by a discussion and Q&A with with Holger Lang (AT), Assistant Professor and Research Faculty, Webster Vienna Private University and Adjunct Professor, Webster University St.Louis and Alexander Stewart (USA), filmmaker and co-director of the Eyeworks Festival of Experimental Animation in Chicago.
Reservations for the May 5 screening can be made here.
Source: Hungarian Cultural Center
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
