Over 100 animated films including ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ to screen; ‘Crime: The Animated Series’ creator and director Sam Chou to receive the 2023 Kaj Pindal Award.
The Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI), a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating the animation arts and its local and international community, announced the official programming lineup for the 2023 TAAFI Film Festival. The six-day event kicks off with online programming February 13-15 before switching to in-person events February 16-18 at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.
TAAFI will present Sam Chou with the 2023 Kaj Pindal Award, given in honor of those who have made a significant impact in the world of animation. Chou co-created and directed the award-winning gritty animated documentary, Crime: The Animated Series, which premiered at both Sundance and TIFF, and which won Best Series for Adults at the Ottawa International Animation Festival in 2014.
The TAAFI Film Festival Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, February 18th at 5:45 PM at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. The Film Festival Awards jury includes director, storyboard artist and illustrator Leisl Adams; mixed-race writer and creator Celeste Koon; Mad Lab Productions co-owner Christopher Walsh; and animator and filmmaker Aaron Long.
This year’s TAAFI Film Festival will also feature over 100 animated films from creators around the world, such as Puss and Boots: The Last Wish from director Joel Crawford and co-director Januel Mercado; The Amazing Maurice by Toby Genkel; Unicorn Wars by Alberto Vázquez; Eyeballs in the Darkness by Albert Birney; and Unicorn Boy by Matt Kiel.
The full program includes:
Monday, February 13, 2023
- 8:30 PM ET - RIFT (Online screening)
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
- 8:30 PM ET - Eyeballs in the Darkness (Online screening)
Thursday, February 16, 2023
- 5:00 PM ET - VIP Cocktails on the Mezzanine
- 6:30 PM ET - Puss and Booths: The Last Wish with Director Januel Mercado & TAAFI Opening Ceremonies
- 9:45 PM ET - Cartoon Party + Gary and His Demons
Friday, February 17, 2023
- 10:15 AM ET - Guru Studio (Studio Spotlight 2: Online Only)
- 12:30 PM ET - From Social Media influence to EggCellent Animated Content (Studio Spotlight 3: Online Only)
- 2:30 PM ET - The Making of Sonic Prime (Studio Spotlight 4: Online Only)
- 3:45 PM ET - Oddball Shorts
- 6:30 PM ET - Unicorn Boy
- 9:00 PM ET - Dark Shorts
- 11:45 PM ET - Popcorn Time & Let's Go Wongos
Saturday, February 18, 2023
- 8:30 AM ET - Saturday Morning Kid Friendly Cartoons
- 11:20 AM ET - The Amazing Maurice
- 2:00 PM ET - College Shorts
- 4:45 PM ET - Uplifting Shorts & Closing Ceremony
- 7:35 PM ET - Red Iron Road (Retrospective)
- 11:00 PM ET - Unicorn Wars
According to festival organizers, attendees can look forward to experiencing weird, beautiful and awe-inspiring animation in the comfort of Hot Docs’ best seats or from their own homes. With both in-person and online options, TAAFI offers a unique opportunity to explore the animated arts and celebrate the creativity and talent of filmmakers.
For additional information and to purchase tickets, visit the TAAFI website at: taafi.com.
Whitney is a freelance writer focusing on VFX-driven fantasy film & TV as well as preschool animation.
