On Sunday, May 7, 2000 the 31st annual ASIFA-East animation festival was held in New York City. The event packed the auditorium with animators and animation buffs. The overflow of the audience was sent to a second theater to watch a simulcast of the winning films. The event holds four categories for students, commercials, sponsored films and independent films. The big winners were Nickelodeon, taking home three awards in the sponsored category, and Acme Filmworks, which won three awards in the commercial category. A special award was given to Dick Rauh for his continued support of independent animation. Named in honor of the memory of animation historian Charles Samu, the Samu award was given to Skip Battaglia's SECOND NATURE and Nadia Roden's SERENADE. A Samu honorable mention also went to student film SAADIA: A MOROCCAN WOMAN IN THE RESISTENCE by Tarik Cherkaoui. Below is a complete list of the award winners.
Best in Show
FRANKLY CAROLINE by Frank Mouris.
Independent Film Category 1st Place: LIFE by Mo Willems.
2nd Place: CATCH OF THE DAY by John R. Dilworth.
3rd Place: IT WAS NOTHING AT ALL by Buzzco.
Excellence in Experimental Techniques: COMPOSITION IN BLUE AND GREEN by Kari Staven.
Excellence in Writing: BULBO CARTOONS by Xeth Feinberg.
Excellence in Animation: HORTONHOW by David B. Levy.
Excellence in Design: GLIMMER by John and Joyce Ryan.
Sponsored Film Category 1st Place: ZOEY'S ZOO by Nickelodeon Studios.
2nd Place: "Zoo Buddies/My Pet Elephant" episode of LITTLE BILL by Nickelodeon Studios.
3rd Place: SHEEP IN THE BIG CITY by Curious Pictures.
Excellence in Writing: SUPER BEYOND GRANDPA II TURBO by Lone Sausage Prod.
Excellence in Education: "What's That Sound?" episode of BLUE'S CLUES by Nickelodeon Studios.
Excellence in Design: MAXI by Magik/Maciek Albrecht.
Commercial Category 1st Place: "Member of the Club" by Paul Fierlinger.
2nd Place: "Sylvania's Mothball" by Blue Sky Studios.
3rd Place: "Charmin's Bear" by Acme Filmworks.
Excellence in Writing: (tie) "Web TV's Elves" by Acme Filmworks and "The Jeffersons Starship" by Shefelman-Daly Prod.
Excellence in Animation: "Checkers/Rallys Fuel Gage" by Acme Filmworks.
Excellence in Design: "Brahm's Lullaby" by The Ink Tank.
Student Category 1st Place: ATLAS GETS A DRINK by Michael Overbeck.
2nd Place: HELLO, DOLLY! by Mariko Hoshi.
3rd Place: SAADIA: A MOROCCAN WOMAN IN THE RESISTENCE by Tarik Cherkaoui.
1st Honorable Mention: MISTER SMILE by Fran Krause.
2nd Honorable Mention: EVIL I by Jason Donati.
An event profile complete with photos will be featured in the upcoming June issue of Animation World Magazine.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
