Yesterday I caught a train to Bradford at 8:44am, and got off the train back into York at 12:09am. The majority (other than a bit of chatting and wandering and going out for a rather fine curry) of the intervening time was spent in one of two cinemas at the National Media Museum!
Started out with the screening of the films nominated in the 'best films for kids' category. The one that won, Tiger by Janis Cimermanis, was indeed fabulous. Beautifully modelled and very engaging. But I actually preferred Marvin
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=16759704&server=vimeo.com&fullscreen=1&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=01AAEA which was a bit bonkers, brilliantly made, funny, and emotionally engaging. The audience jury (group of young people who have been working on a film project with the museum) preferred The Itch of the Golden Nit
http://www.tatemovie.co.uk/studio/#/clips_player which was good, but probably my least favourite of the available options.
Then I watched Arrietty,
http://www.arriettymovie.co.uk/ as recommended by by animator friend. Good recommendation too - I thoroughly enjoyed it. And it was a bargainacious 2 quid!
Then I watched the screening of the nominations for the Films by Young Animators award, followed by the award being given out. They were all rather splendid, which makes it doubly gratifying that the film that my mate worked on with a school in Hull won!
http://www.youtube.com/v/Jwj0h6vqQZk&rel=1And I got to meet the teacher who went to Ecuador which was the trigger for the story, and show her round (still clutching her award!) the animation gallery in the museum and look for work on display there by various animation gurus such as Barry Purves and Joanna Quinn who had sought her out to congratulate her on the film. Which was nice.
Then I wandered around Bradford for a while and accidentally bought some shoes having failed to organise a ticket for the apparently brilliant presentation about layout that I didn't go to before meeting up with my animator friend and going out for a curry with him and his friends.
Then, several hours after I expected to be going home, I went to the awards ceremony having accidentally scored a freebie comp ticket and watched excerpts from all the nominations as well as the full version on the winner.
http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/BradfordAnimationFestival/AwardWinners2011.aspxI particularly like the winner of best commercial
http://www.girleffect.org/videoThe 'best professional film' made me think of you guys - chickens and zombie apocalypse. Very funny, brilliant characterisation.
http://www.youtube.com/v/xmNdoeU5lq0&rel=1The Student Films looked alarmingly good and i absolutely loved the winner, 366 Tage
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=24329270&server=vimeo.com&fullscreen=1&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=01AAEAGrand prix was a stunner.
http://www.nullarborshortfilm.com/I really must be more organised next year and get to see more of the festival - and I heartily recommend it!