The 2000 edition of the Ottawa International Animation Festival has come to a close with the announcement of this years winners. The winners were chosen by an international jury, comprised of acclaimed Canadian animator Suzanne Gervais, former ASIFA-Hollywood general manager and critic, animator and teacher Wendy Jackson Hall, Wild Brain co-Founder and creative director John Hayes, renowned Estonian animator Priit Pärn, and the head of the Shanghai Animation Studio in China Jin Guo Ping. This years top honors went to Andreas Hykades groundbreaking animated film RING OF FIRE. (While Priit Pärn shared an inside joke of admiration with Igor Kovalyov publicly stating Kovalyovs FLYING NANSEN should have won; just as Kovalyov stated in his 1996 acceptance speech that Parns 1895 should have won.) The international jury awarded this film the grand prize for "its a daring exploration of suffering, redemption and love." RING OF FIRE follows two young cowboys who spend their days in the cool shade of a rock, but at night they make their way to the bazaar of sexual desire. Below is a complete list of winners.
Grand Prize: RING OF FIRE by Andreas Hykade
Grand Prize Commissioned Film: DRAWN FROM LIFE series by Paul Fierlinger
Grand Prize Best Internet Film: ROMANOV Episode 8 Shadow Split by Chris Lanier
Frédérick Back Award For Best Canadian Film: WHEN THE DAY BREAKS by Wendy Tilby & Amanda Forbis
ASIFA-Canada Public Prize: FATHER & DAUGHTER by Michael Dudok de Wit
Independent Film: FATHER & DAUGHTER by Michael Dudok de Wit
Crater Software Award For Best Graduate Film: SUBIDA by Kunyi Chen
Film For Children: YOUR CHOICE by Koji Yamamura
First Professional Film: THE PERIWIG MAKER by Steffen Schaeffler
Educational Productions: UNDERSTANDING THE LAW: THE WORM by Diane Obomsawin
Programme ID: WORKSHOP by Jeff Sias
Commercial: "Rallys G-Force" by Peter Chung
Music Video: POWs "Live The Life You Love" by Kris Lefcoe & Harvey Glazer
Television Special: HOOVES OF FIRE by Richard Goleszowski
Television Series: THE PJS "The Preachers Life" by Marv Newland
Zack Schwartz Award For Best Story: ARMASTUSE VOIMALIKKUSEST (ON THE POSSIBILITY OF LOVE) by Janno Poldma
Chromacolour Award For Best Use Of Colour: FUGUE by Georges Schwizgebel
Best Design: CRIME & PUNISHMENT by Piotr Dumala
Best Use Of Music/Sound: TUNING THE INSTRUMENTS by Jerzy Kucia
Cartoon Network Award for Best Animation: FLYING NANSEN by Igor Kovalyov
Special Jury Prize: LE CHAPEAU by Michele Cournoyer
Object Animation Award: GILBERT & SULLIVAN THE VERY MODELS by Barry Purves
Computer Animation Award: FISHING by David Gainey
Best Animation Employing Unusual Technique: ANGRY KID by Darren Walsh
Gordon Bruce Award For Humor: AU BOUT DU MONDE (AT THE ENDS OF THE EARTH) by Konstantin Bronzit
Mike Gribble Peel Of Laughter Award: THREE MISSES by Paul Driessen
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
