TELETOON announced an expanded partnership with the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) in support of the TELETOON Canadian Student Animation Scholarship. The program gives finalists and winners exposure with a screening of their films during the festival. TELETOON has been associated with the OIAF as a festival partner since the networks inception, in 1997.
Partnering with OIAF was the next natural step for the scholarship program,says Len Cochrane, TELETOONs president. The festivals diverse programming, and the platform it offers to artists of all backgrounds, mirrors what the scholarship stands for: encouraging emerging talent, promoting original ideas and showcasing the best work from home. This years candidates have an extraordinary opportunity, thanks to OIAF, to be brought to the worlds attention.
We are delighted to add to this years OIAF program, another vehicle for students work to be applauded, confirms Kelly Neall, OIAFs md. We are committed to providing a venue for students and up-and-coming animators to display their work and teaming up with TELETOON provides the possibility of reaching a wider pool of talent. Since OIAF is the only Canadian animation festival and the TELETOON Canadian Student Animation Scholarship is the only one of its kind in the country, this partnership was a natural fit.
In previous years, schools were responsible for the selection and submission of portfolios, up to a maximum of 15 candidates per program. Recognizing that there was a potential of reaching out to a greater number of skilled artists, this years Scholarship is sending out a call to all Canadian students pursuing a degree in animation, and inviting them to submit their animated films directly to the OIAF for selection.
The 2006 Scholarship will once again offer $30,000 to nine students in three different levels of study:* Entrance Scholarship for high school students applying to an animation program* Continuing Education Scholarship for students pursuing their animation studies * Most Promising Student Scholarship for students graduating from an animation Program
To support the launch of the Scholarship Awards, the program will be promoted through online media (Google, AWN, MSN), on-air promotions created in-house. In addition, all information regarding the Scholarship will be found on TELETOONs Detour websites www.thedetour.ca or www.ledetour.ca. The entry process will be online and will be housed on the OIAFs website at www.awn.com/ottawa.
TELETOON launched the first and only national scholarship award for animation in 1997 as part of the organizations commitment to fostering Canadian talent and contributing to the industry. Since its inception, TELETOON has awarded more than $230,000 to 87 students across Canada. Many of these students have gone on to careers within the animation industry.
TELETOON (www.teletoon.com) is Canadas first and only 24-hour-a-day animation station, and is intended for both children and adults. With English and French language services, the network offers viewers classic cartoons and new animation from Canada and around the world. Founded in 1997, TELETOON is owned by Canadas Astral Media Inc. (40%), Corus Ent. Inc. (40%), and Cookie Jar Ent. Inc. (20%).
The Ottawa International Animation Festival is the largest festival of its kind in North America and one of the most respected animation festivals in the world. Bringing art and industry together, the festival attracts production executives, artists, students and animation fans from across Canada and around the world. The 2006 OIAF will be held from Sept. 20-24, 2006; it will mark the 30th anniversary of the Ottawa International Animation Festival and its second run as an annual festival
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
