Ottawa International Animation Festival highlights: Meet the filmmakers and more

Join animation aficionados at the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), North America’s leading animation film festival, taking place from September 16 to 20, 2015, at multiple venues across Ottawa, Canada.

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 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,” says Chris 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 Isaac King (Toronto), and Claude Cloutier, Theodore Ushev, Pierre Hébert, Nicolas Ménard, and Julien Grey (Montreal). 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 at www.animationfestival.ca until Friday, September 11, and 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.

For a complete list of scheduled talks and guest speakers, visit animationfestival.ca or download the official OIAF app for the latest updates and information.

CFI celebrates 80th birthday August 27 with free public celebration in Ottawa

The Canadian Film Institute (CFI), Canada’s oldest film institute and the second-oldest in the world, is turning 80 years old. To celebrate, the CFI is hosting a free public celebration at Jean Pigott Place, Ottawa City Hall, on Thursday, August 27, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

"This birthday party will be a way to celebrate our eight decades of service to Ottawa and Canadian film,” says Tom McSorley, Executive Director of the now octogenarian Canadian Film Institute. “As Canada's oldest non-profit, non-governmental cultural organization dedicated to cinema, we are proud to have been supported by receptive, generous, and sophisticated Ottawa cinema audiences. It’s a way of saying thank you to the city, our sponsors and embassy partners, and all who come to our events. It's also a moment to look ahead to, hopefully, another 80 years.”

McSorley has been a part of the CFI for over twenty years, and is a film critic with CBC’s Ottawa Morning and an Adjunct Professor of Film Studies at Carleton University.

Guests attending the CFI’s 80th Anniversary Celebration will be treated to an assortment of food and drink generously provided by local Embassies and organizations, and will have the opportunity to mingle with representatives from the Institute and its partner organizations, sponsors, friends, collaborators, and alumni. A special presentation of speeches and video of congratulations from prominent Canadian filmmakers will begin at 6:00 p.m. The CFI will also announce its upcoming programming season.

The CFI welcomes donations and fundraising support. Guests who wish to make a donation of $25 or more will be issued a charitable tax receipt. The event is free for all to attend, with refreshments offered by donation.

The Canadian Film Institute (CFI) was incorporated in 1935 as a federally-chartered, nongovernmental, non-profit cultural organization. More information about the organization and the 80th anniversary at Jean Pigott Place, Ottawa City Hall, can be found online at www.cfi-icf.ca.

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L'Institut canadien du film (ICF), le plus ancien institut de cinéma au Canada et le deuxième plus ancien au monde, a quatre-vingt ans. L'ICF marquera publiquement l'occasion par une fête à la Place Jean-Pigott de l'hôtel-de-ville d'Ottawa le jeudi 27 août prochain de 17 h 30 à 20 h.


« Cette fête d'anniversaire est une façon de célébrer nos huit décennies de service envers la ville d'Ottawa et le cinéma canadien, » dit Tom McSorley, directeur exécutif du désormais octogénaire Institut canadien du film. « À titre de plus ancien organisme culturel non gouvernemental sans but lucratif consacré au cinéma, nous sommes fiers d'avoir reçu l'appui des auditoires de cinéma réceptifs, généreux et raffinés d'Ottawa. C'est une façon de remercier la ville, nos commanditaires et nos partenaires des ambassades, ainsi que tous ceux qui viennent à nos événements. C'est aussi le moment d'envisager, du moins nous l'espérons, encore quatre-vingt ans d'activités pour l'Institut. »

McSorley fait partie de l'ICF depuis plus de vingt ans. Il est critique de cinéma à l'émission Ottawa Morning au réseau CBC et professeur adjoint d'études cinématographiques à l'Université Carleton.


Les invités à la fête du 80e anniversaire de l'ICF pourront profiter d'aliments et de boissons généreusement offerts par les ambassades et organismes locaux, et se mêler aux représentants de l'Institut et de ses organismes partenaires et commanditaires, de même qu'aux amis, collaborateurs et anciens de l'Institut. Une présentation spéciale de bons vœux et un vidéo de félicitations par d'éminents cinéastes canadiens débuteront à 18 h. L'ICF y annoncera aussi le programme de sa prochaine saison.


L'ICF est reconnaissant de tout don ou appui à des collectes de fonds. Un reçu d'impôt d’œuvre caritative sera émis aux invités souhaitant donner 25 $ ou plus. L'événement est gratuit pour tous, les rafraîchissements étant des dons.

L'Institut canadien du film (ICF) a été créé en 1935 en tant qu'organisme culturel non gouvernemental sans but lucratif à charte fédérale. On trouvera à www.cfi-icf.ca de plus amples renseignements sur l'ICF et sur la célébration de son 80e anniversaire Place Jean- Pigott à l'hôtel-de-ville d’Ottawa.