Uncle Antlers festival updates!

Some happy festival updates:

Very pleased to announce that Uncle Antlers will be screening at the International Children's film festival Filem'On in Brussels October 30 - November 6, the Festival Internazionale del Cinema d'Arte in Italy October 5 - 8, the Fimucinema Festival Internacional de Música de Cine de Tenerife (Fimucité) festival in Spain September 23 - October 1 (this festival has its focus on the music scores of films - Sarah Davignon & Andrew Patten of The Most Loyal did an amazing job on the music for Uncle Antlers and I am thrilled that the festival will put an emphasis on their lovely work), as well as the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, October 28 - November 6.

Uncle Antlers also screened at the Facade Video Festival in Russia this past week, the Autumn Shorts Film Festival in Kentucky for which it received the nomination of Best In Show, and the Trenton International Film Festival back in June.

'Uncle Antlers' at Photophobia!

Hey folks! Uncle Antlers will be screening at this year's Photophobia Contemporary Moving Image Festival in Hamilton, June 4th and 23rd, in partnership with the Art Gallery of Hamilton and Hamilton Artists Inc. I'll be in attendance at the first screening - you can check out more info on their facebook page here.

First Fest!

I'm pleased to announce Uncle Antlers has been accepted into its first film festival - the University of Toronto Film Festival at Hart House! It will be taking place on March 28th, more deets here: http://harthouse.ca/events/u-of-t-film-festival/. I plan to be in attendance, so if you're in the area come on out!

  It rained today.

  I mailed another film festival entry (and so it begins! Yesterday's was Japan, today Slovakia). Thankfully DVD screeners are less prevalent than they used to be - a lot of fests just ask for a vimeo link.

Still, there's a certain sense of satisfaction and accomplishment in walking to the post office and mailing something.

Montreal Stop-Motion Film Fest 2014

I had the pleasure of attending the MSMFF (otherwise known as) last weekend; a real delight. I've attended in the past and must say I'm quite fond of this festival; small, friendly, full of enthusiasm and inspiration, a stellar line-up of speaking guests, and in a scenic city with old-world charm. Some pretty solid films in the line-up again this year, and the highlight of the event was Georgina Hayn's presentation on puppet fabrication of The Boxtrolls, courtesy of Laika. The level of detail involved in each character and their respective costumes is absolutely stunning, and afterwards a very enthused audience was invited for a close-up look and touch of the puppets on display as well as to ask Georgina further questions.

Georgina Hayns presenting The Boxtrolls puppets

photo frenzy

Time spent outside of the festival included making a trip to Simon's (department store of much acclaim), wandering around the old section of the city, walking to and from home-base, and checking out the Insectarium at the Royal Botanical Gardens:

I caught a ride with this guy to the old part of town

Charlevoix pedestrian bridge

Insectarium at the Royal Botanical Gardens - amazing!

The Chinese Garden at The Royal Botanical Gardens

film fest!

I'm pleased to announce my films The Scarf and Great Tante Aaf have been selected to play in the University of Toronto film festival
at Hart House next Monday, April 1st (no joke). Reception begins at 7, screening at 8, and I shall be in attendance. And if that's not enough incentive, word on the street has it there's also free food.

a sketchbook doodle from the weekly sketch night at Saving Gigi's

aaaand a sector of the Toronto stop-mo animation community at the first-ever Burlington Animation Festival - yours truly, Evan, and Mike (thanks, BAF!)

Film Course & Fest

I had the pleasure of seeing The Scarf included in a University of Toronto film course coinciding with TIFF last night. Many of the questions and observations from its participants and facilitators were ones I hadn't heard before, hadn't even consciously been aware of during the creation process. They're a keen group.

You think you know a work because you created it, but it reveals more than what you knew when it was made. I've read this in Madaleine L'engle's work before but until recently had never experienced it.

The Scarf has also had a surprisingly long tail. It's been two years since completion, it's done a run on the festival circuitry and still seems to be finding new places to go. I'm very grateful for this.

In other news, Words That Feed The will be having its premiere screening at the Burlington Animation Festival on September 29th. Last I heard there are still a few tickets left, so snatch those up while you can! It looks like a good film line-up, and I (as well as a number of the other film-makers) will be in attendance.

The Railway Steam Gallop

The Railway Steam Gallop just finished playing at the Hiroshima International Animation Film Festival in Japan this week. I had the absolute pleasure of working on this film with Kaj Pindal (Sheridan professor, NFB veteran, and a very funny man) as principle animator under his direction and tutelage, shortly after graduating. It was an incredible experience learning and working alongside him, and tremendously fun as well - Kaj always has a good story or pun hiding in that smile of his.

I don't think I ever properly promoted the work-in-progress or the final piece, so below are a few making-of pictures (courtesy of Owen Colborne, photography technologist who came in to snap a few shots):

Editing stages & director approval

A final shot

Kaj fiddling with an engine. On the back wall are the storyboards, highlighted shots having been completed.

Hard at work

Below is a little snippet of some of the folks behind-the-scenes in the early stages of prep work; painting bystanders, setting up shots, testing equipment (via Chris Walsh, producer).
KajPindalTrainFilm_Day1 from Chris Walsh on Vimeo.

And the final film:
The Railway Steam Gallop from Carla Veldman on Vimeo.

Updates & Slight Sketch Dumps

The episode of the CBC Short Film Face-Off featuring The Scarf and related interviews, audience feedback played this past Saturday night, and you can catch the episode here!

I'm also pleased to announce that another film I've had the pleasure working on, Kaj Pindal's The Railway Steam Gallop, has been selected to play in the Hiroshima International Animation Film Festival!! I'll share more about that soon.

In the meantime, some observational sketches:

 Cow, horse, and who-knows-what-else. Very cool.

 A most excellent lake. Likewise, very cool. (Ba-dum-chuh!)

  

The rodeo. Very macho. Lots of gratuitously unbuttoned shirts and macho swaggers.

Some folks observed at said rodeo.

                                  

 And Shadow the Dog, who hates singing and also does not like being watched while he eats. Sweet old chap.

CBC Short Film Face-Off!

The CBC Short Film Face-Off Competition starts up tomorrow night! You can catch the films on CBC television or online and cast your vote June 30th! (My film will be playing that night).

I'm off to Hali(fax) tomorrow! Off to land of sea! p.s. More posts soon to come.

Th'Scarf - more screenings!

Good news, mes amis! The Scarf has made it into a few more screenings, and a book!

First up, it will be playing on May 8th at the Pencils, Pixels & Puppets showcase, a Sheridan 'best of the last 5 years' at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Second, it will be in competition at the CBC's Short Film Face-Off program happening in May (televised in June, by the looks of it). So I'll be in Hali-fax for a few days where things are happening, hoorah!

And Third, The Scarf has made it into a book compilation of The Art of Short Films, which is a pretty brilliant idea for an art book and something I'm thrilled it's a part of.

And also: a random sketch for your enjoyment.

More Film Fests!

HEY!
I'm pleased to announce that The Scarf will be screening in three film festivals in the upcoming months: the Post Alley Film Festival in Seattle, the Flatpack Festival in Birmingham, and the River Run International Film Festival in North Carolina. Yeah!!

The Scarf boards (and a new fest!)

I realized not long ago that I never did put these up. Adding tone recently for portfolio purposes and the film's acceptance into the Montreal International Black Film Festival makes for a timely post. Enjoy!

Annecy!

The promised Annecy post, in pictures from my travel sketchbook!


Airport & other random observances while generally in transit. Annecy: it was great simply being there. The entire lower portion of the city was swarming with animators, animation-lovers, and the audiences went all out during the screenings. Met all sorts of incredibly interesting and highly talented animation folk- Mark Sperber, Paul Briggs, Max & Ru of Tiny Inventions, and Samantha Leriche-Gionet to name a few, as well as other student film-makers from the world over. Also took in crazy amounts of animated films. Very inspiring.


View of the older part of the city and mountain range from the vantage point of an old castle partway up the hill.


Food staple of the week!


Geraniums


Train pulling out of Annecy, on the way to London St Pancras.


A pigeon in Regent Park, with birdberry stains. I spent a few days up in London after Annecy, visited MacKinnon & Saunders in Manchester and had a lovely time there - extraordinarily talented artists, and on top of that, extremely kind.


Received an excellent suggestion from Peter Saunders regarding local sight-seeing; Chetham's Library, the oldest public library in the English-speaking world!


Made my way over to Holland following England - saw a lunar eclipse in Zeeland, walked to Germany and had a really gezellig time visiting relatives, learning family history and hometowns of my grandparents.


Waiting for my plane at Schipol to return to Canada, travellers moving in herds.

All in all, a really superb trip. For anyone who's entertained the idea of attending Annecy, GO!

And some pictographs, for your viewing delight:


La Grande Salle


The older part of the city is nestled along the lakeside and canals run through it; it's absolutely enchanting.


View from La Plage.

Off to Annecy! (& other adventures on cobble-stoned shores)

I'm leaving today for the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in Annecy, France where my thesis film will be playing in the graduate screenings. (Needless to say, 'tis all very exciting!)

Le Annecy Count-Down (34 Days!)

Well, first day-o'-May and just a little over a month before I leave for Annecy!! Crazy-excited!!! I look forward to being floored by phenomenal films and meeting awesome animation artists, as well as drinking in some European culture in general - it's been too long, too long indeed. There's a hop-over to Holland in the works, and a possible excursion to England as well. I'll be sure to pack my sketchbook!

All alliteration aside, I'm really looking forward to this adventure. It's been an interesting year since graduation and I'm terribly curious to find out what's next. In my own efforts, I've got another (short, short) film in the works, and have recently made the move to Toronto.

Also, this is Myrtle. Do say hello.

The Scarf at Naked Frames

HEY! I forgot to mention this earlier, but The Scarf will be playing as part of the Naked Frames' lineup this Thursday, April 7th, 9pm at the Revue cinema in Toronto. I'll be in attendance, hope to see you there!