files/pictures/picture-35.jpgThe Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) has announced the films that have been invited to compete in this year's event. Out of 1,883 entries the festival received from 64 countries, only 109 were chosen for Official Competition. An additional 46 films will be shown in out-of-competition Showcase screenings. The 16th edition of the now-annual OIAF runs from September 21-25 in Ottawa, Ontario.
"I'm absolutely stunned by the response to the OIAF's decision to go annual," exclaimed Chris Robinson, OIAF artistic director. "Part of our reason for going annual this year was to lower the number of Festival submissions. I certainly didn't expect that we'd come close to breaking last year's record of 1967. We're delighted that so many filmmakers recognize Ottawa as an important venue for animation."
This year's short film competition features new films including:
* Henry Selick's (JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH) latest, MOONGIRL (making its world premiere in Ottawa)
* John Canemaker's powerful and moving ode to his father, THE MOON AND THE SON
* two-time OIAF Grand Prize winner (BIRD IN THE WINDOW), Igor Kovalyov is back with MILCH
* Annecy winner THE MYSTERIOUS GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORATIONS AND JASPER MORELLO, is an ambitious silhouette-inspired adventure film by Australian Anthony Lucas;
* FALLEN ART and ICHTHYS, two astonishing new works from Poland;
* JONA/TOMBERRY, a sizzling graphic novel adaptation by Rosto of the Netherlands.
Prizes will be awarded to category winners and a Grand Prize will be awarded to the winner of each competition (Short Film, Feature Film, Student, and Commissioned). The festival will have two international juries; Jerry Beck (U.S.), Gail Noonan (Canada) and Michal Struss (Slovakia) will oversee the Feature Animation, New Media and School Competitions. Paul Bush (U.K.), Michèle Cournoyer (Canada) and Prudence Fenton (U.S.) will judge the Independent, Commissioned and Student Competitions.
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 2005 OIAF will be held Sept. 21-25 in Ottawa. For further information regarding the festival, visit
www.awn.com/ottawa or call (613) 232-8769.
