David The Reporter.... At OIAF 2015!!!!!!! Saturday, September 19, 2015!

Hello everybody,
My name is David Cuevas and here was my fourth day at OIAF 2015! Enjoy!

In the Morning, I headed to Saint Brigid's for the Animation Career Fair! The Fair was actually really big, and I managed to interview 75% of the company's/studios/University's that were there! Here we go! :)

The First Company that I interviewed was Frame Store, a Visual Effects company that made the visuals for films like Gravity and The Dark Knight!

Up Next is Guru Studios, who created some awesome show recently such as Justin Time!

Up next is 9 Story, the famous studio that created iconic shows such as Wild Krats and Numb Chucks!

Up next is the famous Portfolio Entertainment, the studio that made the awesome new Cat in The Hat series and the new show coming out very soon, Freak Town!

Next up is Copernicus Studios, a studio based in Halifax, with Awesome shows such as Teen Titans GO!

Last But Not Least, I interviewed Mercury Film Works, the Studio that's making Atomic Puppet, Wander over Yonder, and Jake and The Neverland Pirates!

After these awesome interviews, I went to see behind the scenes of Sanjay's Super Team, Pixar's newest Short, which is releasing with the Good Dinosaur! All what I can say right now is that it's one of the most colorful, creative, and memorable Pixar short to date!

After this amazing presentation, I met the director of the Short, Sanjay Patel! Sanjay is a very nice guy and he was very nice to me! Here is my exclusive interview with Sanjay, in which he talks about the inspiration and making off the film!



After Sanjay's brilliant presentation, I went to see the Making off Over The Garden Wall, with the creator Pat McHale! I'm a HUGE fan of Over the Garden Wall, and I've already seen the whole show over 3 times! It was an honor to be at this event! After the awesome presentation, there was an awesome poster signing and there, I managed to get an Interview with Patrick McHale!

After the interview, I actually also got to interview Steve Wolfard, who is a famous story board artist who works at Cartoon Network, and has worked on several Famous shows such as Adventure Time!

https://www.animationfestival.ca/index.php?option=com_oiaf&task=showevent&i=1255#1255

Before I left to have a small break, I interviewed the Director of Kaleidoscope from Canadian Student Competition, Catherine Dubeau!

After a small break, I headed to the Awards Ceremony! Before the ceremony started, I actually interview Tom McSorley, who works at the CFI! It was a true honor to meet him!

As for the awards ceremony, It WAS AWESOME! This years jury was fantastic in my opinion, and all the films that they choose were excellent! Also, I'm so happy that World Of Tomorrow won the DHX Prize for Best Public Prize! Here is a bunch off photos that I took of the Awards Ceremony in motion!

 

 

And Now, For the Whole List of Winners!

Grand Prize for Best Independent Short Animation
Small People With Hats | 2014 | Sarina Nihei | UK | 6:51 | Graduation Animation
“[Small People With Hats] is a brilliantly written absurd script with a compelling visual picture and sound that successfully interprets a political reality of our time.” – Competition Short Jury statement.
Grand Prize for Best Animated Feature
Over The Garden Wall | 2014 | Patrick McHale | USA, South Korea | 110:41 | Animated Feature
“The Grand Prize goes to the film that expressed the awe and wonder we felt as kids with a mix of amazement and magic, while realizing that scary things might not be as scary as they seem. For its unbridled romp through the joy and darkness of growing up, the award goes to Patrick McHale’s Over The Garden Wall.” – Competition Feature Jury statement.
Honourable mention to La Montagne Magique (The Magic Mountain) by Anca Damian.
Cartoon Network Prize for Best Narrative Short Animation
Isand (The Master) | 2015 | Riho Unt | Estonia | 18:00 | Narrative Short Animation
Prize for Best Experimental/Abstract Animation
The Five Minute Museum | 2015 | Paul Bush | Switzerland, UK | 6:20 | Experimental/Abstract
Prize for Best Undergraduate Animation
Violet | 2015 | Ryan Ines | USA | 5:56 | Undergraduate Animation
Walt Disney Animation Prize for Best Graduation Animation
Loop Ring Chop Drink | 2014 | Nicolas Ménard | UK | 9:45 | Graduation Animation
Prize for Best Commissioned Animation
Jazz Orgie | 2015 | Irina Rubina | Germany | 0:53 | Commissioned Animation
Prize for Best Short Film Made For Children
Compte les moutons (Counting Sheep) | 2015 | Frits Standaert | France, Belgium | 7:00
Prize for Best Animated Series Made for Children
Bird and Bear | 2014 | Dan and Jason | USA | 4:31
CRAFT AWARDS
Award for Best Script
World of Tomorrow | 2015 | Don Hertzfeldt | USA | 16:30 | Narrative Short Animation
Award for Best Design
Loop Ring Chop Drink | 2014 | Nicolas Ménard | UK | 9:45 | Graduation Animation
Award for Best Animation Technique
Alateadvuse maja (House of Unconsciousness) | 2015 | Priit Tender | Estonia | 10:41 | Narrative Short Animation
Award for Best Sound
Small People With Hats | 2014 | Sarina Nihei | UK | 6:51 | Graduation Animation
DHX Public Prize
World of Tomorrow | 2015 | Don Hertzfeldt | USA | 16:30 | Narrative Short Animation
Canadian Film Institute Award for Best Canadian Animation
Mynarski chute mortelle (Mynarski Death Plummet) | 2014 | Matthew Rankin | Canada | 7:46 | Narrative Short Animation
Honourable mention to Sonámbulo by Theodore Ushev and Focus by Alex Boya.
VIA Rail Prize for Best Canadian Student Animation
Fears | 2015 | Nata Metlukh | Vancouver Film School | 2:08
Honourable mention to Religatio by Jaime Giraldo, Vancouver Film School

 

Wait Wait Wait! I'm still not done!



After the Awards Ceremony, I got to interview Nata Metlukh (The Winner of best Canadian Student Animation for Her Film Fears) and Honorable Mention for the Same Category, Jaime Giraldo!

 

After those two awesome interviews, I interviewed a Very Awesome Animator, Pillar Toons! Here's my interview with Pillar!

After I interviewed Pillar, I got to interview Cal Arts Professor and the director of Animation Talent Development at Walt Disney Television, Brooke Keesling!

Last but not least, I interviewed Saschka Unseld, one of the jury members of this years OIAF, and if you remember, The Director of The Blue Umbrella (Which came out if Monster's University in 2013)!

WOW! It was truly an Awesome Day!
See you in my next post!

David The Reporter.... At OIAF 2015!!! Friday, September 18, 2015!

Hello Everybody,

My name is David Cuevas and here was my third day at OIAF 2015!

The First thing that I did was go to Toon Appreciation Day! Before Canadian Student Competition happened, I went and interviewed all the schools!

The First one college/university that I interviewed was Algonquin College from Ottawa! I met with two very young students from Algonquin who's names are Amanda and Shawn!

The Second School that I interviewed was Concordia University from Montreal! The University it self is very cool and I recommend checking out the stop motion festival hosted by Professor Erik Goulet!

 

Last but not least, I interviewed Sheridan College from Toronto! Sheridan is a very awesome art school and famous people like Dean Deblois (Director of How to Train Your Dragon 2) studied there! I would like to give a shout out to Mario Positano, who's a very nice guy and teacher at Sheridan!

After the interview's with all the university's/college, I went to see Canadian Student Competition!
Some of my favorites from that screening are BluBlök, Happy Loneliness, Kaleidoscope, Fears, Night of the Cordyceps, Kuekuatsheu, Michi, Religatio, Mother, and The Casebook of Nips & Porkington!!!
https://www.animationfestival.ca/index.php?option=com_oiaf&task=showevent&i=1217#1217








After this Awesome Event, I went to Internation Student Showcase! Some of my favorites from that Screening were The Moustache, Wire Cutters, Flaws, Blindy, Heavy as A Hill, Waiting For The BOOM!, The Yellow Ball, Flirting or Coquetry, and Pombo Loves You!






https://www.animationfestival.ca/index.php?option=com_oiaf&task=showevent&i=1218#1218

After the two Awesome Screenings, I went to see Karel Zeman Film Adventurer, which is an interesting documentary about Karel Zeman and his visual effects that he used on his films! In my opinion, I just found the Doc okay, BUT it was very informative!

After the long morning and afternoon at the National Gallery, I went to the Bytowne to see Karel Zeman's Invention for Destruction! A very interesting but slow film with great visuals and a fantastic commentary on society!

The last screening that I went to was to see Over The Garden Wall on the Big Screen! This event was sold out and it was actually the 4th time that I watched the whole entire series! The experience was awesome and I will never forget the memories!


Well that was a fun day!
See you in my next post!

David the Reporter... At OIAF 2015!!!!!!!!!!!! Thursday, September 17, 2015

Hello Evreybody,
My name is David Cuevas and here was my second day at OIAF 2015!

The First thing that I did, was at 9:30 AM, I went to Saint Bridges to see Meet The Filmmakers of Short Film Competition 1! The Discussion was very interesting and amusing to listen and watch at! After that, I managed to interview 2 Directors from the Competition! The first one is Ryan Ines, The Director of Violet (who later on won the OIAF award for Best Undergraduate Animation)!

 

 

The Second Interview that I did was to the director of Sonámbulo, Theodore Ushev, who in 2013 got shortlisted for an Academy Award for his Film, Gloria Victoria!

 

After that, I headed to see the Horror Comedy, Possessed! If you don't mind Clay Gore and you really like Dark Comedy's, then see it! After the screening, I was really lucky to meet the director of the film, Sam Orti! Here's my interview with him!



 

 

https://www.animationfestival.ca/index.php?option=com_oiaf&task=showevent&i=1216#1216

After Possessed, I went to Short Film Competition 5, which in my opinion was the BEST short film screening of OIAF 2015! All of the short films in competition I liked or loved! Here is a list of my top 4 shorts from the Screening! World of Tommorow, Amelia and Duarte, Planeta de Queso, and Wrigley Live Safe!






https://www.animationfestival.ca/index.php?option=com_oiaf&task=showevent&i=1210#1210


After this Amazing Screening, I went to see Michael Kurinsky, An Artists Growth at Sony Pictures Animation! The presentation from Michael was Brilliant and I though it was fantastic!

https://www.animationfestival.ca/index.php?option=com_oiaf&task=showevent&i=1235#1235

After the Michael Kurinsky Talk, I went too Pitch This!, where I was on of the kid pitchers! I had so much fun and I would like to say thanks to Azarin for making me part of this awesome event!

After the pitch this event was over, I went to Arts Court to try out the Oculus Rift, and it was AWESOME!!!!!!! The game felt so realistic with the movement and the visual graphics were amazing!

After that, the last thing that I did, was to go to Feature Competition 3 for Adama, and it was a tour de force! The film was amazing and I highly recommend it to anyone!


https://www.animationfestival.ca/index.php?option=com_oiaf&task=showevent&i=1213#1213

And that was my day at Thursday at the OIAF! Thanks for reading!

See you in my next post!

David the Reporter... At OIAF 2015!!!! Wednesday September 16!

Wednesday at the OIAF!

Hello everybody,
My name is David Cuevas, and here was my first day at OIAF 2015! :)

In the Morning, I went to Meet the Networks at TAC! I managed to talk to all the networks and they were very nice! The first one that I talked too was Aaron Simpson, who works at Walt Disney Television in VP- Development. Here is my interview with Aaron!

The next person that I talked to was Linda Simensky, who is the Vice President of PBS kids! Sadly, my microphone backfired on Linda's interview and so it did not work! But, she is very nice and it was an honor to meet her and talk to her! Don't forget to check out Nature Cat, a new show released by PBS kids which comes out this November!

After Linda, I met Athena Georgaklis, who works at Teletoon as the Director of Content! Here is my interview with Athena!

Last but Not Least, I met with Angela Lin, who is the head of Youtube kids! Sadly, the same thing that happened to Linda happened to Angela, so the interview failed! But, I really recommend checking out the new app called YouTube Kids, which I believe is available in the States right now!! It's the perfect app for kids to watch YouTube on!

 

After Meet the Networks, I went to 2 really interesting discussions! The first one was called "Content Development: Process Value of Across Platforms", which was a really interesting! The second discussion after that was "2D VS 3D, Is it the big decision?", which was a very intellectual talk based on the point of view of animators! After that, the last thing that I saw at TAC, was to go to the One On One talk with Rob Sorcher Panel. The panel with Rob Sorcher was really brilliant and I learnt a lot about Cartoon Network! Here is my interview with Rob Sorcher!

 

 

After that, I talked to 2 ladies from Costa Rica, talking about Costa Rican Animation! There name are Lora and Irene! Here is my interview with them! :)

After that, I headed to the 7 PM screening of the Magic Mountain! The film was good in general and I learnt a lot from it! Here is my mini vlog review on the film!

 

https://www.animationfestival.ca/index.php?option=com_oiaf&task=showevent&i=1215#1215

After The Magic Mountain, I headed to Short Film Competition 1, which in general was a nice screening! Some of my favorite shorts we're: Ernie Biscuit, Violet, Mynarski Death Plummet, Sonámbulo, Myself Smoke, The Stop "Good Food For All", Strome Carmen, and The Five Minute Museum!

Thanks for Reading, See you in my next Post!

Meet you at the OIAF 2015!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello everybody,
Starting tomorrow, I will be at the Ottawa International Animation Festival! I will be hosting some TAC events when I'm there and I'm going to try to be at the gala's! Also, on this blog, I will be doing a LIVE blogger feed from OIAF 2015! The label is "David Live at OIAF 2015"! I will be posting videos and photos instantly for the 5 days! Hope to see you there! BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Hunting for a Fargo related tresure at the bytowne!

Hello fellow readers,

Today, at the ByTowne cinema, I saw a independent film called "Kumiko the Tresure Hunter". The story is surrounded by the urban legend that a Japanese woman attempted to go to Fargo, and tries to find the place that they buried the suit case in the film 'Fargo' and dies trying. That urban legend, is basically the whole film exception in real life, the Japanese woman went there to commit suicide. The film is well shot, and has a great Electronic/old Japanese music score to it. The actress, Rinko Kikuchi plays most likely the second best performance of her life (which the first is from a movie called Babel, which she got nominated for an academy award for) and the direction is right on point by David Zellner. This is more of a dark comedy, and I'm happy to say that it worked well as a dark comedy. The story may be a little predictable, and the story a little simple, but that does not stop for it to be a dark, funny, weird, art house film! Also, the poster marketing for this movie was AMAZING!

See you in my next post!

Trailer for Kumiko the Tresure Hunter