(September 11, 2015 – Ottawa, ON) From September 16 to 20, fans of animation will have the chance to meet, greet and learn from some of the biggest names in animation, as the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), North America’s leading animation film festival, takes place at multiple venues across the city.
Among the highlights for 2015 is Meet-the-Filmmakers which gives OIAF ticket-holders a rare chance to meet some of animation`s greatest talents up-close. Moderated by OIAF Artistic Director Chris Robinson, audiences will be introduced to a variety of filmmakers whose short films are featured in one of seven (7) official short film competitions including the Shorts and Series For Kids competitions. Audiences are encouraged to ask questions and share comments or opinions about the films featured the night before.
“Meet-the-Filmmakers is a fun, informal event which lets animation fans get a behind-the-scenes look at some of their favourite films from the best animators in the world,” said Robinson. “It`s incredibly rare to get such high-profile animators together in one place to answer questions about their latest projects.”
Canadian filmmakers attending this year’s Meet-the-Filmmakers presentations include, from left to right in our photo, Claude Gauthier, Isaac King, Julien Grey and Pierre Hébert. Also attending is Theodore Ushev and Nicolas Ménard. International speakers include Ely Dagher (Beirut, Lebanon) and Patrick McHale (New Jersey, U.S.A) among others.
Meet-the-Filmmakers takes place Sept. 17-18 at Saint Brigid`s Centre for the Arts (310 St. Patrick Street), and from Sept. 19-20 at the Arts Court Theatre (2 Daly Avenue).
Several other presentations designed for audiences to learn more about their favourite companies, schools, and personalities make up OIAF programming this year.
Other 2015 Highlights:
The Animation Pimpcast With Chris Robinson:
Presented by Animation World Network on Thursday, September 17 through Sunday, September 20 at select times at St. Brigid’s Centre for the Arts, writer, programmer and OIAF Artistic Director Chris Robinson sits down for informal chats with four of animation’s top filmmakers, including Leah Shore, Kaspar Jancis, Michèle Cournoyer, and Bruce Bickford.
Michael Kurinsky: An Artists Growth at Sony Pictures Animation:
On Thursday, September 17 at 2:45 p.m. at Château Laurier, Michael Kurinsky shares insights and learnings from his experiences as visual development artist on Sony Pictures Animation’s first feature Open Season, art director on the Studio’s comedy hit, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and his current role as production designer on the upcoming Hotel Transylvania 2, in theaters nationwide September 25.
Toon Apprentice Day: On Friday, September 18, high school students interested in animation can watch animated films from around the world and attend presentations by some of Canada’s top animation schools. This free all-day event is held at the National Gallery of Canada (380 Sussex Drive).
TED-Ed: Where Education Meets Animation:
This educational presentation takes place on Friday, September 18 at 5:00 p.m. at the Arts Court Theatre. It includes a screening of selected work followed by a discussion of TED-Ed’s production process and some of the unique creative challenges faced when creating animation for educational purposes.
Indie VR: The Oculus Rift Experience:
On Saturday, September 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Arts Court Theatre, a panel of independent artists, including Framestore’s Nick Fox-Gieg, stop-motion filmmaker Brett Long, Toronto Animated Image Society President Madi Piller, and Passion Pictures Creative Director for Commercials Saschka Unseld, discuss how artists and storytellers work with virtual reality technology to create new experiences.
Masterclass: Bruce Bickford:
On Saturday, September 19, at 3:00 p.m. at the Arts Court Theatre, legendary storyteller, clay and line animator Bruce Bickford will give a tutorial on the various morphing techniques he has developed over his career.
Tickets are available for purchase online until today Friday, September 11. Afterward, tickets will be sold at the Box Office at the Arts Court Studio thereafter. Tickets start at $13 for the general public, or $9 for seniors, students, and members of the Canadian Film Institute. Festival passes are also available.
