FLIP Animation Festival 2010

WELCOME Welcome to the 7th FLIP Animation Festival “All of this has happened before, and it will all happen again” So said Peter Pan, but this year we have a few new things to shout about: our Young Shorts screening, made and judged by young people (thanks to Sync Studios for donating lovely prizes), and our ‘from the archive’ slot, which this year focuses on Channel 4 and features some classic British Animation from the 1980s and 90s.

Our exhibition and ‘other events’ programme is looking busy, with screenings of Oliver Postgate’s films, including The Clangers, Ivor the Engine and Bagpuss, and Secret Cinema; 8mm projections of animated ‘classics’ in Light House’s Media Library.

We have more short films to show this year - we had so many fantastic submissions we had to extend the festival slightly, so the first official event is on 3 November at The Jekyll and Hyde in Birmingham featuring a selection of mainly US shorts.

If you are after workshops, we have plenty of them: Writing Animated Comedy, Introduction to Animation, Building a Game with XNA; Film Nation Shorts and family drop in workshops at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

We also have the festival regulars: the showreel reviews, studio spotlights, as well as the Personal View slot, which this year is filled by Clare Kitson, who has brought an intriguing and eclectic programme to this year’s festival.

A not to be missed programme of animation on your door step!

Peter McLuskie, Festival Director

FLIP is organised by Light House Media Centre. It is part funded by UK Film Council (Lottery) through Screen WM; Light House & Wolverhampton City Council.

FLIP Team: Director: Peter McLuskie; Marketing: Lindsay Wiggin; Educational Events: Kathryn Kliszat; Graphic Design: Rob Hildreth & Lindsay Wiggin; Assistant: Nick Packer; FLIP Ident: Richard van der Zee; Web Development: Stephenie Jennings; Technical: Jon Turner, Tim Baker & Jas Kapur Thanks to: Helen Oliver; Kate Andrews; Francis Nielson; Mick Foley; The Brothers McLeod; Chris Randall; Dave Allen; Thomas Hartley; Dave Taylor; Max Simpson; Clare Kitson; Andy Gent; Saint John Walker; Carla Prada; Ren Walton; Elena Cassidy-Smith; John Bates; Ashish S.K; Carl Hawkins; KinoKulture Many thanks to the selection panels and jury. The judges for the Student Competition: Chris Randall from Second Home Productions, The Brothers McLeod, and Birmingham based, The Charactershop. The judges for the Open Shorts competition: Andy Gent, Clare Kitson, Stuart Messinger, Adam Guy & Marc Bosward. The judges for Young Shorts: Eva Szwarc, Pandora Hall and Nathan Wilkes.

10am - 4pm Cost: £45 +VAT

This is an introductory one day workshop exploring key animation skills including timing, movement and modeling enabling a better understanding of styles and techniques. Suitable for all abilities. Minimum age: 14

Writing an Animated Comedy 10am - 4pm Cost £25 + VAT

In this special workshop, participants will look at comedy writing for animation. By the end of the day you will have produced some short scripts and sketches for animation. The workshop will be run by Myles McLeod, the writing half of the award winning animation duo, the Brothers McLeod, who have produced funny animation for the likes of CBBC, BBC Comedy, MTV, Channel 4 and Aardman Animations.

Introduction to Building a Game with XNA

Big Screen Gaming on Halo: Reach

This half day workshop, run in conjunction with Wolverhampton University, is a great opportunity to get introduced to the X-Box XNA game platform which allows users to begin developing their own games with the free downloadable tools from Microsoft.

This is an opportunity to bring your game playing experience to the big screen through the X-BOX 360. Based in Light House’s 240 seater cinema, there will be plenty of room for spectators to watch participants battle against each other on X Box’s new hit, Halo: Reach.

Supported by STech & The Institute of Gaming & Animation, University of Wolverhampton.

The event will be competition based so participants should register between 7 - 7.30pm.

Jackboots on Whitehall (12A)

Animating the West Midlands

12 - 4pm Cost: £5 + VAT

7 - 11pm Cost: £3

5.50pm

First-time helmer Edward McHenry heads up this UK war spoof using stop-motion action figures, with voices provided by a top-notch British cast.

See page 07 for more info.

ANIMATING THE WEST MIDLANDS / CUSTARD

Introduction to Animation

7 - 10pm Free event Venue: TEE, Millennium Point, Birmingham This evening, FLIP and AFWM are celebrating animation from the West Midlands, featuring a selection of work submitted to FLIP 10, including the sublime ‘Custard’ by Peter Millard, the revisionist mockumentary, ‘Denim’ from Yamination Studios, and food based animation from Anne Guest. We’ll also be featuring Birmingham based animation studio Second Home Productions, who will be presenting their innovative ‘Viral Kitchen’ project. Followed by drinks and networking in the iBar. Thanks to Birmingham City University for supporting this event. To reserve a place email: info@light-house.co.uk

9.45 - 11am

This year FLIP received an abundance of films from around the world, many of which have received awards and citations at other festivals and competitions.

This programme will focus on UK animation, featuring a number of award winning animators and animations, including the beautiful stop motion of The Astronomers Sun; Bottom of the River, winner of numerous Music Video awards, and Moon Bird, from the BAFTA nominated Brothers McLeod.

Industry Panel: Showreel Reviews

BAFTA Presents: Media Molecule

11.15am - 1pm

2 - 4pm

This session will focus on breaking into and progressing though the industry and the importance of the showreel.

What makes a perfect showreel and what are different sectors looking for? How can you get your showreel seen? FLIP has invited 6 brave animators to present their showreel to a panel of experts representing various sectors, including games, character animation, advertising, 2d and 3d animation. The panel will offer constructive advice on how to get a foothold in the industry. The presentations will be in front of an audience, so everyone benefits from the expertise offered by the panel.

Famed for their home-made visual style and enthusiasm for user-generated creativity, Media Molecule is the still-fairly-small Guildford games studio behind the original LittleBigPlanet and LittleBigPlanet 2 on PlayStation3.

Media Molecule’s Michelle Ducker will look at how the company combines the diverse skills of animators, artists and programmers to create this acclaimed BAFTA-winning series, with live demos and Q&A opportunities about the wide range of careers available in the ever-evolving games industry.

UK SHORTS / BOTTOM OF THE RIVER

UK SHORTS / KENDO NAGASAKI

Participants are: Saint John Walker, Skillset; Greg McLeod, Brothers McLeod; Carla Prada, Rare Games; Mick Foley, Sumo Dojo Productions.

After training as an animator, Michelle worked as a casting associate in the film industry before joining Media Molecule for the first LittleBigPlanet game, and has been managing a team of 30 developers working on LittleBigPlanet 2.

UK SHORTS / HEROES OF THE UAE

UK Shorts

FRIDAY This session will be chaired by BAFTA’s Video Games Events Producer Dave Green, who previously edited Channel 4’s online games website and has covered technology and games for The Guardian, Wired Magazine and BBC radio.

BAFTA’s public events and online resources bring you closer to the creative talent behind your favourite games, films and TV shows.

Find out more: www.bafta.org/newsletter www.facebook.com/bafta twitter.com/bafta

Drinks and networking

Despicable Me (U)

4pm

4.30pm / 7pm

Join us for drinks and networking courtesy of Rekorderlig Cider.

Make some new contacts, renew old ones and chat about animation and gaming.

European Shorts 5 - 6.15pm

A programme of stunning short films from across Europe, including Big Bang Big Boom, from Italian ‘graffiti’ animator, Blu; the multi-award winning URS from Germany as well as selections from France and Finland.

In a quiet suburban neighbourhood sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbours, hidden beneath is a secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. Armed with his arsenal of freeze rays and battle-ready vehicles, Gru vanquishes all who stand in his way. That is until he encounters three little orphaned girls who see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world’s greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge in Margo, Edith and Agnes.

EUROPEAN SHORTS / KIELITIETTYNI

EUROPEAN SHORTS / URS

MEDIA MOLECULE

See page 07 for more info on feature film screenings during FLIP.

SATURDAY Film Nation: Shorts Animation Workshop for 14-16 year olds

This year the festival invited submissions from young animators and this programme features a selection of the best films up for competition. The jury was made up of young people who selected winning films in various categories. Winners will be announced following the screening, when filmmakers will be presented with prizes and certificates.

We are grateful to Sync Studios for sponsoring this competition.

International Shorts 9.45 - 11am

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS / THE GREEN WILLOW

This programme features films from across the globe, including, Swings and Milkshakes from Brazil, the award winning Benigni from Finland, The Green Willow from Taiwan, as well as a selection of UK films.

Personal View: Clare Kitson

11.15am - 1.15pm

10am - 6pm Free event

If you’re interested in animation, this workshop, brought to you

by First Light, gives you the opportunity to work with industry professionals on an animated film themed around the Olympic and Paralympic Games. All films will then be entered into a competition and winning films will be shown in front of the crowds in venues during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London.

Run in partnership with Panasonic, Film Nation: Shorts, will introduce young people to filmmaking and support them in developing their talent. For more info visit filmnation.org.uk

In this session we have invited Clare Kitson to curate a programme of her favourite films.

Clare was the commissioning editor for Animation at Channel 4 between 1989 - 99 and is the author of ‘Yuri Norstein and Tale of Tales: An Animator’s Journey’ and ‘British Animation: The Channel 4 Factor’.

The introduced screening will include a number of familiar classics, including Chuck Jones, on top form with Duck Amuck, the Oscar winning Tango from legendary Polish animator Zbigniew Rybczynski and the multi-award winning, A Year Along the Abandoned Road, which follows a year in the life of a Norwegian community using innovative visual effects.

Places must be booked in advance through Light House Box Office on 01902 716055.

PERSONAL VIEW/ TANGO

9.30 - 10.30am Cost: £2

INTERNATIONAL SHORTS / BENIGNI

Young Shorts

Little Krishna: The Legendary Warrior

11am - 3pm Free event Venue: Wolverhampton Art Gallery

Andy Gent: Talk & Clips 2.15 - 4pm

1 - 2.30pm Cost: £2

Continuing the festival’s programme of workshops, Wolverhampton Art Gallery is hosting a back to basics animation workshop for young people and families.

This is an opportunity to have a go at animation and get involved in a range of animation techniques, from flip books to 3-D stop motion animation.

All abilities welcome.

FLIP presents the British premiere of the Indian produced animated family film chronicling the remarkable stories of the legendary prankster, Krishna.

Little Krishna is the darling of Vrindavan, the land of peace and tranquillity, which is threatened by the malice of evil king Kamsa.

A prophecy had threatened Kamsa that his evil reign is over, and a saviour will descend on earth to make Kamsa meet his worst adversity in life, which is his death. The only objective of Kamsa’s life therefore, was to find his angel of death.

LITTLE KRISHNA

TRADITIONAL ANIMATION

Action, adventure, music, heroic valor, selfless deeds, emotional trysts; all packaged as compelling family entertainment, bringing the Krishna stories to life for a new generation.

We are delighted to welcome model maker and stop motion animator Andy Gent to this year’s festival. Andy will be here to talk about his work and will illustrate his presentation with film clips and puppets. Andy has worked on a broad range of projects, including music videos for the likes of Paulo Nutini.

More recently he was Head of Puppets on Fantastic Mr Fox and has previous worked at Liaka - the US studio behind Coraline - Warner Bros and Passion Pictures.

He is currently involved in the Tim Burton production, Frankenweenie, and will be bringing along an exhibition of his puppet work from his films, including Fantastic Mr Fox and The Corpse Bride.

ANDY GENT / FANTASTIC MR FOX

Animation Day

SATURDAY Despicable Me (U)

The Channel 4 Factor

2.45pm / 6pm / 8.30pm

4.30 - 6pm

In a quiet suburban neighbourhood sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbours, hidden beneath is a secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. Armed with his arsenal of freeze rays and battle-ready vehicles, Gru vanquishes all who stand in his way. That is until he encounters three little orphaned girls who see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world’s greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge in Margo, Edith and Agnes.

This programme presents a selection of classic Channel 4 animations from the period 1989 - 2004.

Introduced by Clare Kitson, former Commissioning Editor at Channel 4, the programme includes work from award winning directors; Joanna Quinn, Erica Russell, Barry Purves, Ruth Lingford and GaĂŤlle Denis.

Student Screening & Announcement of Competition Winners 7 - 8.30pm

This screening will showcase the best films from a number of regional universities, including Staffordshire University, the University of Wolverhampton, Derby University and Birmingham City University. This is a great opportunity to check out some of the upcoming talent from around the region.

An awards ceremony will follow the screening when we will be announcing the winners of the Open Shorts and Student Competition.

THE CHANNEL 4 FACTOR / FEET OF SONG

DESPICABLE ME

OPEN SHORTS / JAZZED

The student competition has been kindly sponsored by Toon Boom, Aesthetica Magazine and Stop Motion Pro.

See page 07 for more info on feature film screenings during FLIP.

Little Krishna: The Legendary Warrior Sat 6 Nov: 1 - 2.30pm Cost: £2

FLIP presents the British premiere of the Indian produced animated family film chronicling the remarkable stories of the legendary prankster, Krishna.

Jackboots on Whitehall

Despicable Me

Fri 5 Nov: 4.30pm / 7pm

Thu 4 Nov: 5.50pm First-time helmer Edward McHenry heads up this UK war spoof using stop-motion action figures, with voices provided by a top-notch British cast headed by Ewan McGregor and Rosamund Pike. Jackboots on Whitehall explores what would happen if the Battle of Britain had been won by the Germans. Timothy Spall provides the voice of Winston Churchill while Adolf Hitler is realized by Alan Cumming with the rest of the cast rounded out by Tom Wilkinson and Richard O’Brien.

Dir. Edward & Rory McHenry Cert 12A, 1hr37, UK, 2010

In a quiet suburban neighbourhood sits a black house with a dead lawn. Hidden beneath is a secret hideout where we discover Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), surrounded by a small army of minions and planning the biggest heist in the history of the world.

That is until he encounters three little orphaned girls who see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world’s greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge in Margo, Edith and Agnes.

Dir. Pierre Coffin Cert U, 1hr35, USA, 2010

DESPICABLE ME

LITTLE KRISHNA

Cert U, 85mins

Sat 6 Nov: 2.45pm / 6pm / 8.30pm

JACKBOOTS ON WHITEHALL

During FLIP there will be a host of animated feature film screenings also showing as part of Light House’s regular cinema programme which you can dip into.

RE-animate

Until Sat 27 Nov Admission free Venue: Wolverhampton Art Gallery These experimental animation films have been selected in conjunction with FLIP. The films embody a sense of movement and explore non-narrative structures and objects. The films were originally chosen as part of a biennial Open exhibition held at Oriel Davies Gallery, Newtown, Wales.

Bagpuss & Friends Screening

Secret Cinema: Animation

Fri 5 & Sat 6 Nov, 10am - 7pm Admission free Venue: Light House Library

Sat 30 Oct 11am / 2pm Admission free Venue: Wolverhampton Art Gallery This is a special screening of films by Britain’s most famous children’s TV filmmaker, Oliver Postgate, featuring full length episodes including The Clangers, Ivor the Engine and Bagpuss.

Get cosy in the gallery’s temporary cinema room, with sofas cushions and cakes, and rekindle your childhood.

The films will also be shown in the Education Atrium between Sat 23 Oct - Sat 6 Nov. More info: www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk

BAGPUSS & FRIENDS

RE-ANIMATE

More info: www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk

John Bates is a creator of momentary cinemas and film projects in unusual places.

For FLIP he has put together a selection of 8mm films and cartoons, including Son of Kong, Dastardly and Mutley, Varan the Unbelievable and Tom and Jerry, and will be projecting them in Light House’s Library.

Animation Models & Characters

Sat 6 Nov, 10am - 5pm Admission free Venue: Light House An exhibition of models and characters by model maker Andy Gent, including the Fantastic Mr Fox and The Corpse Bride.

SECRET CINEMA

During FLIP there will be a number of exciting exhibitions and related events held both at Light House and other venues around the region...

& ELSEWHERE Animated Shorts

Len Lye: The Body Electric

Family Saturday

This special programme, put together by FLIP, features some unlikely animation from America, including the Matt Groening produced Heart, a surrealist take on the meaning of life; Pinched, an urban love story from Hollywood animation specialists, Titmouse; and the Cow who wanted to be a Hamburger, from multiple award winning director Bill Plympton.

To celebrate the opening of their new exhibition Ikon Gallery presents an evening talk centred around the life and works of legendary film maker Len Lye. Tyler Cann, Curator of the Len Lye collection at Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, New Zealand, is in conversation with Ikon Director Jonathan Watkins, discussing various elements of Lye’s work from kinetic sculptures to animation, and the impact these works had on the world of art, moving image and film.

Open to all ages (adults very welcome), this afternoon presents the opportunity to make a collaborative stop frame animation in response to Ikon’s exhibition, Len Lye The Body Electric. This fun, creative afternoon aims to engage, challenge and inspire. No need to book, just drop-in. Please note that children should be accompanied by an adult at all times.

ANIMATED SHORTS / THE COW WHO WANTED TO BE A HAMBURGER

More info: www.thejekyllandhyde.co.uk

Sat 4 Dec, 12 - 3pm Admission free Venue: Ikon Gallery, Birmingham

More info: www.ikon-gallery.co.uk

Half price tickets are available for FLIP Festival ticket holders.

More info: www.ikon-gallery.co.uk

FAMILY SATURDAY

This screening precedes the main Juniper Cinema programme.

Wed 24 Nov, 6 - 7pm Cost: £3 Venue: Ikon Gallery, Birmingham

LEN LYE: THE BODY ELECRTIC

Wed 3 Nov, 7.30 - 8.15pm Admission free Venue: The Jekyll & Hyde, Birmingham

DIARY SESSION

TIME

PARTICIPATING VENUE

10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 12 - 4pm 5.50pm

7 - 11pm 7 - 10pm

TEE

THURSDAY 4 NOVEMBER / Introduction to Animation Writing an Animated Comedy Introduction to Building a Game with XNA Jackboots on Whitehall (12A) Big Screen Gaming on Halo: Reach Animating the West Midlands

FRIDAY 5 NOVEMBER / UK Shorts Industry Panel: Showreel Reviews BAFTA Presents: Media Molecule Drinks and networking European Shorts Despicable Me (U)

9.45 - 11am 11.15am - 1pm 2 - 4pm 4pm 5 - 6.15pm 4.30pm / 7pm

SATURDAY 6 NOVEMBER / Young Shorts International Shorts Film Nation: Shorts Animation Workshop Personal views: Clare Kitson Animation Day Little Krishna: The Legendary Warrior (U) Andy Gent: Talk & Clips Despicable Me (U) The Channel 4 Factor Student Screening & Announcement of Competition Winners

9.30 - 10.30am 9.45 - 11am 10am - 6pm 11.15am - 1.15pm 11am - 3pm 1 - 2.30pm 2.15 - 4pm 2.45pm / 6pm / 8.30pm 4.30 - 6pm 7 - 8.30pm

EXHIBITIONS / ELSEWHERE

DATE / TIME

PARTICIPATING VENUE

RE-animate Bagpuss & Friends Screening Animated Shorts Secret Cinema: Animation Animation Models & Characters Len Lye: The Body Electric Family Saturday

Until Sat 27 Nov Sat 30 Oct, 11am / 2pm Wed 3 Nov, 7.30 - 8.15pm Fri 5 & Sat 6 Nov, 10am - 7pm Sat 6 Nov, 10am - 5pm Wed 24 Nov, 6 - 7pm Sat 4 Dec, 12 - 3pm

WAG WAG J&H

KEY: TEE - Birmingham City University: Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment / WAG - Wolverhampton Art Gallery / J & H - The Jekyll & Hyde, Birmingham / IKON - Ikon Gallery, Birmingham.

All other events take place at Light House Media Centre, Wolverhampton.

WAG

IKON IKON

HOW TO FIND US /

PARTICIPATING VENUES /

TICKET PRICES /

Light House is situated within The Chubb Buildings in Wolverhampton city centre just 2 minutes walk from the rail and bus stations and 5 minutes walk from the Metro station.

Free car parking is available adjacent to the building at weekends and Mon to Fri after 5pm.

The Jekyll & Hyde 28 Steelhouse Lane Birmingham B4 6BJ

Single sessions: £5.50 / £4.20 conc (unless otherwise stated)

Light House Media Centre The Chubb Buildings Fryer Street Wolverhampton WV1 1HT Box Office: 01902 716055 www.light-house.co.uk www.flipfestival.co.uk

TEE Birmingham City University: Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment Millennium Point Curzon Street Birmingham B4 7XG Wolverhampton Art Gallery Lichfield Street Wolverhampton West Midlands WV1 1DU Ikon Gallery 1 Oozells Square Brindleyplace Birmingham B1 2HS

MAP /

Day tickets for the full Fri or Sat programme: £16 / £14 conc Full weekend pass (Fri & Sat): £26 / £22 conc Tickets can be purchased online at www.flipfestival.co.uk or through the Box Office on 01902 716055.

Single session tickets can only be purchased on the day of the event, subject to availability (except for the workshops on 4 & 6 November which must be purchased in advance).

Day and weekend passes do not include entry to workshops.

Group booking discounts available for groups of 10+ people.

Some screenings may contain material which is not suitable for younger audiences. Contact the Box Office for more information.