Suite 101 Goes to OIAF

Posted by Dominic von Riedemann Aug 11, 2008

This year, I will be covering the 2008 Ottawa International Animation Festival for Suite 101. I got my press pass from the good folks at the OIAF (thanks, Jerrett), and I will be heading up to Ottawa from September 17 - 21st to check out what's hip, hot and happening in the world of animation.

This yearly event features a tribute to Richard Williams, the animation director for the 1988 hit movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit? The flick will be screened, and I'll try to get an interview with Williams, who also wrote The Animator's Survival Guide series of books and DVDs.

In addition, there will be screenings of several upcoming flicks, including Ari Folman's Waltz With Bashir and Bill Plympton's Idiots & Angels. Acclaimed children's animator Michael Sporn gets a retrospective, as does experimental filmmaker Skip Battaglia.

Other features include a showcase of anime, hosted by several animation producers, directors and distributors including Koji Yamamura and Taku Furukawa. According to the official website, this event marks the 80th anniversary of Canada-Japan diplomatic relations, and is the Canadian half of a cultural exchange between Canada – represented by the National Film Board of Canada, CTVglobemedia's Bravo!FACT (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent) – and Japan.

There's also Brainwashed! Cartoons That Influence Your Mind, a compilation of propaganda animation, plus Blue Toons: A Night of Naughty Animation, programmed by Lee Demarbre. Hey, animation ain't all kids' stuff, folks!

Needless to say, I'm pretty jazzed about introducing you to all the animated mayhem that'll be going down in Ottawa this year, and keep an eye on this space for future developments. You can find out more by clicking on www.animationfestival.ca