ASIFA-East has announced the recipients of their 34th annual Animation Festival. Unlike other festivals, all entries are screened and are voted on by the members who attend the screenings. ASIFA-east is the Eastern U.S. chapter of ASIFA international, which was founded in 1960 by a group of animators to increase the visibility of animated films worldwide. Awards were handed out at 6:00 pm May 4, 2003 at the Tishman Auditorium, 66 West 12th Street in Manhattan, New York. The Samu award, named in honor of the memory of animation historian Charles Samu, was given to Irra Verbitsky for his FLASHBACKS FROM MY PAST: "STARRY NIGHT."
ASIFA-East president David B. Levy offers this personal recollection of the event:"There are always surprises on judging night. Who could forget the ever-popular film, COLOR BARS & TONE or the perennial, NOT CUED UP. My personal favorite was NO SIGNAL. Oh, the memories. That's the proof that we don't prescreen the tapes. We're all seeing the films for the first time, unless of course, it's your film. A memorable judging moment occurred for me when my film SNOW BUSINESS (1998) was screened. I was sitting in front of Toni Peters, unbeknownst to him. Just before my film ran, I heard him exclaim, "Oh, I hope this is good.... he's such a nice boy!" I for one, relish the treat of having the instant response from a critical audience. A critical audience must be won over. Despite who you are or who you're not, your film must speak for you. That's democratic.... and that's the thrill. It's so electric that you sometimes hear the audience burst into spontaneous discussion of the film they just saw. Often times you'll hear, "that wasn't animation" or "give me back my popcorn!" I always say, settle it on the ballots. Until then, save me the aisle seats."
Complete List of Winners:
1ST HONORABLE MENTION -- STUDENTRABBIT 17 BECOMES RESTLESS by Mike L. Mayfield
3RD PLACE -- STUDENTARK CITY by Christi Bertelsen
2ND PLACE -- STUDENTLITTLE MOON MONSTER by Cynthea Mazur
1ST PLACE -- STUDENTDREAMSCAPES by Sean McBride
COMMERCIALS -- EXCELLENCE IN DESIGNSAMURAI JACK by Curious PicturesBIGMOUTH US UNWIRED: "WOMAN" by Acme Filmworks
COMMERCIALS -- EXCELLENCE IN ANIMATION & HUMORPIONEER CAR STEREO "HEADBANGERS" by Mike Overbeck (BBDO West)
3RD PLACE -- COMMERCIALSCHARMIN: "COMFY BED" by Joanna Quinn - Director (Acme Filmworks)
2ND PLACE -- COMMERCIALSPLEASE BABY PLEASE by Jennifer Oxley
1ST PLACE -- COMMERCIALSCHARMIN: "BLINDFOLD" by Joanna Quinn - Director (Acme Filmworks)
SPONSORED FILMS -- EXCELLENCE IN WRITING/HUMORRELIGETABLES by Wachtenheim/Marianetti Animation, in assoc. w/ Hornet Inc.MIDTERM ELECTIONS by Eric Drysdale & David Javebaum - Writers, JJ Sedelmaier - Director (JJ Sedelmaier Productions)
SPONSORED FILMS -- EXCELLENCE IN DESIGNCONDOM SKILLS BUILDING by Jeremiah Dickey & Emily Hubley - Designers (GMK Animation)
SPONSORED FILMS -- EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATIONBLUE'S CLUES: "100TH EPISODE CELEBRATION" by Nickelodeon/Blue's Clues
3RD PLACE -- SPONSORED FILMSLINNY THE GUINEA PIG: "OCEAN" "SPACE" by Jennifer Oxley (Little Airplane Productions)
2ND PLACE -- SPONSORED FILMSTURN, TURN by Maciek Albrecht (Magik Studios)
1ST PLACE -- SPONSORED FILMSX PRESIDENTS: "SEARCH" by David Wachtenheim & Robert Marianetti (Wachtenheim/Marianetti Animation)
INDEPENDENT FILMS -- EXCELLENCE IN WRITING/HUMORTHE BOX FACTORY by Fran Krause
INDEPENDENT FILMS -- EXCELLENCE IN DESIGNTHE MAN WITH THE SMALLEST PENIS IN EXISTENCE by Aaron Augenblick - Designer (Augenblick Studios/Transfatty Inc.)
INDEPENDENT FILMS -- EXCELLENCE IN SOUNDTRACKTHE STONE OF FOLLY by David Buchbinder - Composer, Jesse Rosensweet, (National Film Board of Canada)
INDEPENDENT FILMS -- EXCELLENCE IN ANIMATIONSTILTWALKERS by Sjaak Meilink (National Film Board of Canada)
INDEPENDENT FILMS -- EXCELLENCE IN EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUESCURRENT EVENTS by David Ehrlich
3RD PLACE -- INDEPENDENT FILMSDELIVERY by Patrick Smith (Blend Films)
2ND PLACE -- INDEPENDENT FILMSROOF SEX by PES
1ST PLACE -- INDEPENDENT FILMSSIEVIETE (WOMAN) by Signe Baumane (Rija Films)
SAMU AWARD HONORABLE MENTIONIMAGINE by Maciek Albrecht (Magik Studios)
SAMU AWARD HONORABLE MENTIONSTILTWALKERS by Sjaak Meilink (National Film Board of Canada)
SAMU AWARDFLASHBACKS FROM MY PAST: "STARRY NIGHT" by Irra Verbitsky
PRESIDENT'S AWARDINTERNATIONAL FILM SEMINARS (THE FLAHERTY)
2002 BEST IN SHOWBATHTIME IN CLERKENWELL by Alex Budovsky
2002 BEST IN SHOWTONGUES AND TAXIS by Michael Overbeck
