The U.K.s most prestigious animation festival, Animated Encounters, handed out its awards on April 23, 2005, at a packed ceremony at Bristols Watershed, hosted by Bristol radio, GWRs popular breakfast show presenters Bush and Troy.
Picking up the Audience Award for the most popular film at the festival was Norwegian director Pjotr Sapegins THROUGH MY THICK GLASSES. Sapegin was in Bristol to receive his award in person, which was an unusual trophy specially designed by Bristol prop and model-makers Cod Steaks.
THROUGH MY THICK GLASSES central characters are an old man and his granddaughter who refuses to wear her cap unless she is told a story. So her grandfather tells his personal story of World War II as he grows from a boy to a young man determined to join the Norwegian resistance and defeat the German occupation.
The Audience Award winning film goes forward as a finalist for the prestigious Cartoon dOr, presented annually by Cartoon with the support of the MEDIA program.
The OLC/Rights Entertainment International Newcomer Award was unanimously given to OVERTIME, directed by French filmmakers Oury Atlan of Partizan, Thibault Berian and Damien Ferrie. The CG animated black-and-white film was a tribute to the late Jim Henson, which portrays a dead puppeteer being serenaded by an army of Kermit-like frogs.
The jury (made up of Helen Brunsdonfrom Aardman Animations, filmmaker Michio Harada, Jon Doyle from Cosgrove Hall and Elephant Prods. md Sarah Muller) chose OVERTIME for: its pitch perfect balance of stunning music, visual story and faultless production values. It is not only a truly moving tribute to MUPPET SHOW creator Jim Henson and a celebration of animation, but is also sophisticated and gratifying. It successfully achieves a heart-warming contribution to all age groups, young and old.
The jury also gave special notice to LOETZINN by Erin Bradbury and Chris Gooch, and FLATLIFE by Jonas Geimaert.
The Cosgrove Hall Films Childrens Jury Award voted for by a jury of young people aged 11-18 from Bath, Bristol and Clevedon was awarded to Blur Studios IN THE ROUGH, directed by Paul Taylor. In the film, a caveman is evicted from his cozy cave by his irate missus only to find that a bachelors life in the wild isnt all its cracked up to be.
The 5th Bristol International Animation Film Festival took place from April 21-24, 2005. For more information, visit www.animated-encounters.org.uk.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
