The 2005 Ottawa International Animation Festival announced the winners of the official competition during its closing ceremonies held this evening at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Following the award presentations, attendees enjoyed the Best of the Festival film screening that showcased the award winning films.
MERCURY FILMWORKS GRAND PRIZE FOR ANIMATED FEATURE THE DISTRICT! (NYOCKER!)/ Aron Gauder/ Hungary"for its visual innovation, energetic style, and fearless satire of contemporary culture and politics."
GRAND PRIZE FOR STUDENT ANIMATION CHESTNUTS ICELOLLY/ J J Villard/ U.S."A story with great contemporary relevance told with edgy rawness in stark and striking black and white."
GRAND PRIZE FOR COMMISSIONED ANIMATION DIE TOTEN HOSEN WALKAMPF/ Andreas Hykade/ Germany "A video clip which begins with childlike bold forms and ends in a tumult of psychedelic color. Beautiful choreography of color and shape with riotous set pieces and intimate touching moments."
NELVANA GRAND PRIZE FOR INDEPENDENT SHORT ANIMATION MILCH/I gor Kovalyov/ U.S."Oblique but perceptive storytelling, which through a myriad of closely observed details takes us into an atmospheric, touching, sad story of childhood."
SCHOOL COMPETITIONENSAD (France)'s showreel demonstrates the school's commitment to meaningful content combined with masterful film language-breathtaking visuals and a sophisticated use of sound.
Special Mention Supinfocom Valennes, France, "for artistic achievement in student computer animation." NEW MEDIA COMPETITIONAnimation Short Made for the InternetMOLE IN THE CITY/ Roque Ballesteros/ U.S."for its bold art direction, comic timing and entertaining story."
Special Mention MANEGE FREI/ Ljubisa Djukic/ Germany THREE FEATHERS AND A RAINWORM/ Igor Coric/ Serbia for their poignancy and artistic style.
Interactive AnimationAMERICAN PENGUIN PROJECT/ Minki Park/ U.S."for its unique concept, engaging visuals and ease of navigation."
INDEPENDENT SHORT FILMS COMPETITIONNarrative Short Work ICHTHYS/ Marek Skrobecki/ Poland"An apparently simple story in which tension is built through stillness and small details to a moment of pure horror. Extraordinary character animation of puppets which transcends the medium to unfold a gripping and mysterious allegory."
Experimental/Abstract Work _Grau/ Robert Seidel/ Germany"Its abstract images suggestive of the swelling and diminishing of complex semi-organic growth slowly builds drama which is driven forward by a powerful soundtrack."
Special Mention BOW-TIE DUTY FOR SQUARE HEADS/ Stephan-Flint Muller/ GermanyFor its anarchic mix of juvenile delinquency and comic genius and erratic humour which imbues the film with crazy energy.
First Professional WorkCITY PARADISE/ Gaelle Denis/ U.K."The surprising adventures of a foreigner in London told with whimsical charm."
STUDENT FILMS COMPETITIONElementary/Secondary FilmPIPER THE GOAT AND THE PEACE PIPE/ Lev Polyakov /U.S."The energy and bizarre humor of this high school student film suggests an original talent with great promise."
Undergraduate FilmFISH HEADS FUGUE AND OTHER TALES FOR TWILIGHT/ Lauren Indovina & Linsey Mayer-Beug/ U.S."Through the device of a magic theatre we are taken deep into a multi-layered world of the imagination. A film which is rich in texture and unfolds with sweeping camera movements."
Graduate FilmOVERTIME/ Oury Atlan, Thibault Berland & Damien Ferrie/ France"It seems as if a family of Kermit the Frogs pays tribute to the late Jim Henson in this touching film in which the quiet stillness of the story hides the dazzling brilliancy of the 3D computer animation."
Special MentionsDEATH BY HEART/ Malin Erixon/ Sweden"The apparent simplicity of the low key dialogue and animation takes us unawares deep into the psychology of the characters."MEETING ME/ Angela Steffen/ Germany"Charming and subtle animation and voice over which reveals the innermost thoughts of a young child."
COMMISSIONED FILMS COMPETITIONPromotional WorkCoinstar Shoe/ PES/ U.S."The freshness and the immediacy of the technique and a good script inventively realised makes a striking and memorable commercial."
Special MentionDelirium Films Opening Title/Nebojsa Rogic/Serbia"For its eerie surrealism and haunting soundtrack contributing to a dramatic and sophisticated title sequence."
Music VideoPhoenix Foundation HITCHCOCK/ Reuben Sutherland/ U.K."A ballet for cars which veers between brutal realism and elegant dance. An original and ironic take on green issues. "
Television Series for AdultsHARVEY BIRDMAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW Birdman of Guantanamole/ Richard Ferguson-Hull/ U.S."For its risque humor and over the top parody of the super hero cartoon."
KIDS COMPETITIONShort Film Made for ChildrenGOPHER BROKE/ Jeff Fowler/ U.S."We chose GOPHER BROKE because it made us all laugh and it is a film that we would want to watch again. The film can be enjoyed by anybody because there is no dialogue. We also liked the strong personality of the gopher. For example, the gopher was intelligent enough to dig a hole in the ground to make the vegetables fall out of the passing trucks, but he was also unlucky and never got to eat any of those vegetables."
Short Film Special Jury PrizeMOONGIRL/ Henry Selick/ U.S."MOONGIRL looked very cool and different. The style reminded us of JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. It was a serious yet interesting story that was told like a legend, and it made you think about things like where does the moon get its light from."
Television Series for ChildrenCODENAME: KIDS NEXT DOOR Operation A.R.C.H.I.V.E./ U.S."We liked the episode's funny idea that adults were created by kids. When you're very young, you think parents are a different species, or that adults were never children because they are so unfair, and this shows that in a cartoon."
CANADIAN FILM INSTITUTE AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN ANIMATIONAT THE QUINTE HOTEL/ Bruce Alcock"For its raw, real, funny beautiful ugliness"
NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA PUBLIC PRIZE (voted by the audience)SURLY SQUIRREL/ Peter Lepeniotis/ Canada
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. For further information, visit www.awn.com/ottawa or call (613) 232-8769.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
