The Ottawa International Student Animation Festival (SAFO) announced the grand prize winners in this year's
competition on Sunday, October 24, 1999. The festival stated that, "This
year's winners show the high quality of work coming out of schools, both
locally, nationally, and internationally."


The winners in the various competitions are as follows as reported by the
festival:


Grand Prix: Best Film In Competition -- GRACE, Lorelei Pepi, USA


Grand Prix: Best School In Competition -- Royal College of Art, England


Directors Prize -- BERMUDA, Ulo Pikkov, Estonia


First Prize: High School/Secondary Level -- JAVA NOIR, Raf Anzouin, USA


First Prize: Undergraduate/First Year Films -- MISTER SMILE, Fran Krause, USA


Nelvana Award For Best Graduate Film -- PASSPORT, Siri Melchior, England


Cartoon Network Award For Best First Film -- MONSTER, Alexey Antonov, Russia


Teletoon Award For Best Film By A Child -- Mari Lwyd, The Children Of Plas
Newydd School, Maesteg, Wales


The films that won in specialized categories at SAFO '99 are:


ASIFA-Canada Award For Best Canadian Film -- LITTLE MILOS, Jakub Pistecky


Alias|Wavefront Award For Best Computer Film -- THE LITTLEST ROBO, Richard
Kenworthy, England


Chromacolour Award For Best Use Of Colour -- AT THE DROP OF A HAT, Hotessa
Laurence, England


Special Jury Citation For Best Use Of Sound -- BERMUDA, Ulo Pikkov, Estonia


Special Jury Citation For Best Film Design -- THE DOUBLE INVENTION IN A
MINOR, Vladimir Kral, Slovakia


Special Jury Citation For Best Non-Narrative -- EDGEWAYS, Sandra Gibson, USA


SAFO is a leading force in recognizing the talent of emerging animators.
The festival ran successfully at the National Archives of Canada in Ottawa
from October 21-24, 1999. Ottawa 2000 will run from September 19-24, 2000
in Ottawa, Canada. For further festival information or general inquiries,
please call the Ottawa International Animation Festival at (613) 232-8769.