Continuing its support of new talent in Canadian animation, Teletoon today announced the winners of the 2007 TELETOON Animation Scholarship. Eleven young animators will receive prizes totalling over $70,000, with four awards given in three categories.
In each category first-prize recipients are awarded $10,000, second place receives $7,000 and $5,000 goes to the third-place finalist. New this year, three filmmakers were awarded the Voter's Choice Award carrying a cash prize of $1,500. Winning films are currently available to view on The Detour at teletoon.com.
Young animators from coast to coast are recognized in the Entrance Category, open to graduating high school students. The winners (in descending order) are Aven Fisher, King's View Academy, Halifax, for HERBERT, the sad yet charming story of a chameleon attending his first 3D movie; Chang Dai of Earl Haig High School, Toronto, for AIN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE; and Jordon Chow, Burnaby North Secondary, BC for THE ADVENTURES OF ROCKY ROCKET.
In the Continuing Education Category, open to students currently studying animation at a post-secondary level, the winners are Nathan Boey, Concordia University, for FAMILY PICTURE, an experimental short exploring the meaning of family using family photos; Jacqueline Koehler, Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, for THE LIFE AND DEATH OF WRIGGLY CHEW; and James Higuchi, Sheridan College, for his dark comedic story of two feuding grandmothers, BABUSHKI.
In the Most Promising Student Category for students graduating from a post-secondary animation program, the winners are Trevor Jimenez, a Sheridan College graduate, for the film noir-inspired KEY LIME PIE; Andrew Ford, Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, for STILLWATERS; and Brandon Scott, also from Sheridan College, for CRUEL FAUNA.
Finally, based on over 8,000 votes by cartoon fans who watched the 30 final films online at teletoon.com the Voter's Choice Awards went to AIN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE by Chang Dai, PICTURE DAY from Jeremy Canton of Sheridan College, and THE ELIXIR OF LIFE by Edward Beek, also of Sheridan College.
Since 1997, Teletoon has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships to 107 students across Canada. Developed with key members of the industry to highlight and encourage new talent, the TELETOON Animation Scholarship serves a vital role in the Canadian animation community with many past winners going on to forge successful animation careers.
