news

The UTS: Sydney International Animation Festival entertains, engages and educates in 2011

23 September 2011 Animation NSW

In a unique blend of engagement and entertainment, the University of Technology, Sydney is presenting the UTS: Sydney International Animation Festival as a public festival which aims to educate.

Running for its third year as a complete weekend festival, the 2011 UTS: Sydney International Animation Festival was developed around the concept of ‘educate, engage, entertain’.

While UTS: SIAF is screening some of the best animated films from around the world, this year it is also running workshops which engage the local animation industry. Both a combination of education and engaging with industry are the showreel masterclass and portfolio session on Monday 26 September.

“Those keen to get into the industry can learn from it how to make an all important showreel. Then they will have the opportunity to ‘speed date’ with representatives from studios such as Animal Logic and Flying Bark. We believe that this approach of educating, entertaining and engaging enable us to really show that UTS is the intellectual home of animation in Sydney.

“We’re doing more than being a venue for a film festival. We’re opening up our expertise and links to the animation industry to those with a keen interest in animation – whether they are UTS students or not,” said Chris Bowman, course director of the Master of Animation.

A key education aspect is the Teen Jury on Saturday 24 September. Approximately 50 high school students from around Sydney will participate in animation workshops, hear from industry guests and select the ‘teen choice’ award from some of the films screening in the festival.

Here are at least seven reasons to attend this year:

Animation making explored by award-winning Australian filmmaker Jonathan Nix showing his exquisite film The Missing Key, and Australian composer and sound designer Peter Miller, who worked for two years as Sound Designer and co-Supervising Sound Editor on the animated epic Rango

Find out how to get into the animation industry at the show reel workshops and a portfolio, led by reps from Animal Logic, Dr D, Sixty40, The Loop and Flying Bark Productions

Debates and forums, including 2D vs 3D and What is ‘Virtual Life’

The amazing Code Warriors and Cityscapes programs from the UK’s onedotzero

The best in international animation, including a session dedicated to Korean animation

The best in local animation from around Australia

And the best upcomers with student films from UTS and France’s Supinfocom school

 

UTS: Sydney International Animation Festival is on from 23 to 26 September at the University of Technology, Sydney.