The National Film Board of Canada will be in the spotlight at the 2004 Ottawa International Animation Festival (Sept. 22 26) with five NFB productions in competition, 12 films in the showcase programs, two master classes with Chris Landreth and Chris Hinton and a special stereoscopic film presentation. The festival will also hold a retrospective on co-honorary president and animation pioneer Co Hoedeman. As well, NFB filmmaker Diane Obomsawin will be on the international jury.
The tradition of innovation and creative excellence that began with Norman McLaren over 65 years ago is still thriving, said Jacques Bensimon, government film commissioner and NFB chairperson. This is reflected in the impressive talents of Co Hoedeman, Chris Hinton, Chris Landreth and our impressive line-up at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. Bensimon will moderate a panel discussion on co-production with China. As a proud partner, the NFB will sponsor the National Film Board of Canada award for Best First Film. In addition, the Film Board has produced three 45-second trailers, from filmmakers Théodore Ushev and Éric Barbeau, that will be screened throughout the festival. In the official competition for narrative film, the entries will be Landreths RYAN, Michèle Cournoyers ACCORDION/ACCORDÉON and Pjotr Sapegins THROUGH MY THICK GLASSES/À TRAVERS MES GROSSES LUNETTES. For the official competition for non-narrative film, the competing film is Craig Welchs WELCOME TO KENTUCKY with VERTICAL by Theodore Ushev competing in the new media section.
International Film Showcase will feature MAN WITHOUT A SHADOW/LHOMME SANS OMBRE, by Georges Schwizgebel. The Canadian Showcase will screen IMPRINTS/EMPREINTES by Jacques Drouin, ISLET/ÎLOT by Nicolas Brault, GATHERING STORM by experimental filmmaker David Rimmer, MOON MAN by Paul Morstad, SHOWA SHINZAN by Alison Reiko Loader and JENNYS DELI by Rachel Moore. Screening as part of the Kids Showcase will be Isabelle Favezs CIRCUIT MARINE and Sheldon Cohens I WANT A DOG. The International TV Showcase will highlight Janet Perlmans PENGUINS BEHIND BARS and New Faces of Canadian Animation will screen VERTICAL as well as Jo Meuris AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION.
The Stereoscopic Film Presentation will feature three animated films from the National Film Board, all using the revolutionary IMAX SANDDE animation software. Screened in full 3D will be FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN and JUNE by Munro Ferguson in addition to MOON MAN.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
