animation newport v2.0: graduates

garth

Graduates garth+ginny present a new super super short film:

You can also watch it at its original 50x50 pixel size!

Thanks!
garth+ginny

Ginny

Pixel Film:!// from Ginny Robertson on Vimeo.

Here is Garth and Ginny latest little film, it was screened on the side of the Yo!Sushi building in Brighton as part of the Fringe Festival. We hope you like it!

Felix

Felix Massie (with funding from the UK Film Council, South West Screen and Aardman) completed his second film last year. It's called, 'The surprise demise of Francis Cooper's mother' and is the story of Francis Cooper and his mother; Emily Maddison and that man's face; and Craig MacKay and his cat.

You can see a short clip below and a complete list of credits and promotional stills here.

It has so far been shown at Animex, Encounters and the Northern Lights Film Festivals and is also being shown at Animated Exeter this weekend in the Screen Out Loud category (Sunday 15th, 4.30pm) and in competition at Florida Film Festival in April.

James Manning

Last month Jonay's graduation film Homeland (2007) was screened at the ICA in London as part of the Open Rehearsal and the Cultural Olympiad launch. Homeland was screened, as Jonay originally intended, with the live original music for prepared piano performed by the composer and Big Bang Lab director Sergio López Figueroa. Homeland has been well received by the festival circuit and has to date been screened at the following festivals:

-St. Petersburg Open Student Film Festival (Russia) : Sept 25-30
-Animasyros Animation Festival (Greece) : Sept 19-21
-Animadrid Animation Festival (Spain): Sept 30th
-Balkanima animation festival (Serbia) : Oct 7th -11th
-Optica Paris (France) : Oct 4th.
-Canarias Mediafest (Spain) : Oct 28th - Nov 1st.
London International Animation Festival (UK)
Melbourne International Animation Festival (Australia)
Animofest Animation Festival (Slovakia)
London Spanish Film Festival (UK)
Huesca International Shortfilm Festival (Spain)
Animated Exeter (UK)
Proyectaragon (Spain)
Optica Festival (Spain)
Finest Films, University of Wales, Newport (UK)
Adobe Media Event in London (UK)
Scife short film festival (Spain)
Black&White short film festival (Portugal)
Hebden Bridge Festival (UK)
Imaginaria Film Festival (Italy)
Asolo Art Film Festival (Italy)
VII Muestra de Cortos Aragoneses (Spain)

To keep up to date about Jonay and his film, browse to http://www.thisishomeland.com/. Below is Jonay's latest showreel:

Jonay O Urbina reel sept08 from Jonay O Urbina on Vimeo.

James Manning

Matthew Walker has a new blog. Unlike his other blogs, he aspires to keep this one updated. Matthew is currently working on his new film entitled Little Face commissioned as part of the Digital Shorts scheme for Southwest Screen and the British Film Council. For more insight browse to http://domesticspace.blogspot.com/.

Newport Animation Dept

Matthew Walker has been named Screen International's UK Stars of Tomorrow – well done Matthew Walker!

Further details:
http://www.encounters-festival.org.uk/news/DepicT-News.html
http://www.screendaily.com/ScreenDailyArticle.aspx?intStoryID=39809

James Manning

Multi-award winning Newport graduates Tom Brown and Daniel Gray with their graduation film ‘t.o.m.’ (2006) were interviewed by Mark Kermode on ‘The Culture Show Uncut’ last Friday. The film and interview are available on iPlayer until Friday http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/page/item/b00c6w1q.shtml and slide the time bar to 53m30s.

Tom and Dan to date have received 28 international awards including winning Newport ‘Best Graduation Film 2007’ at Annecy International Animation Festival for the second year running, ‘Best Student Film 2006’ at Norwich International Animation Festival, ‘Cartoon D’or Nomination 2006’ at Encounters International Short Film Festival, ‘Honorable Mention for Short Filmmaking 2007’ at the Sundance Film Festival and most recently, two awards at the British Animation Awards 2008.

Having recently signed with Blacklist and Picasso Pictures for North America and Europe respectively, Holbrook’s Films have just directed their first commercial and are currently developing a script for another short film.

James Manning

Our previous post regarding our London screening wrongly stated the venue as the BAFTA Building, Piccadilly. It seems in reality it will be held at The Vaults, RSA instead. Full details below...

YOU ARE INVITED…

You are invited to meet the best of the next generation of talented animators at the Skillset Animation & Games Art Showcase.

An informal exhibition space will allow the best graduating students from the network of industry endorsed courses to showcase their innovative and inspiring work. Come along anytime between 4pm-7pm to meet some of the brightest and best new UK animators, hear about their work and network informally over a drink.

Space is limited, so please RSVP to guarantee your place by registering at:
www.skillset.org/animation/showcase

TUESDAY 1st JULY 2008

Timings:
Drop in any time
between 4pm and 7pm

Venue:
The Vaults
RSA
8 John Adam Street
London WC2N 6EZ

James Manning

UNIVERSITY OF WALES, NEWPORT ANIMATION DEGREE SHOWS 2008

You have been formally invited to view an eclectic mix of short, animated films brought to you by the internationally renowned, multi-award winning animation degrees* at the University of Wales, Newport. This year, the continued success of our graduate films has prompted us to provide a plethora of events throughout south Wales and south England.

Envisage by Josh White

NEWPORT

Graduate Show
University of Wales, Newport, Caerleon Campus, NP18 3QT

Private Viewing:
Friday 30 May, 18:00-22:00

Public Viewing:
Saturday 3 May – Friday 6 June, 10:00-17:00

Screenings will also being shown (10.:00, 13:00, 16:00) at The Riverfront, Bristol Packet Wharf, Newport, NP20 1HG

For a full programme of events please see website:
http://artschool.newport.ac.uk/

Contacts:
t: 01633 432432
e: graduateshow@newport.ac.uk

RE:Generation by Cat Davis and Priya Mistry

CARDIFF

IFSW Finest Films Award Ceremony
Cineworld, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff, CF10 2EN
Wednesday 18 June 18:00-22:00

As part of the International Film School Wales, join us in celebrating the finest selection of this years' graduate films plus special guests. Reception available.

Crescendo by Rob Evans and Mike O'Sullivan

BRISTOL

Bristol Animation Screening
Tuesday 24 June, 19:00-23:00
Hen and Chicken, Bedminster, 210 North Street, BS3 1JF

Back by popular demand, join us again in celebrating the finest selection of this years' graduate films. Reception available.

Ontogenesis by Anna Adoniu

LONDON

Skillset Showcase Event
Tuesday 1 July, 16:00-19:00
The Vaults, RSA, 8 John Adam Street, WC2N 6EZ

As part of our double Skillset accreditation come meet the students at this years' Skillset Showcase Event. Registration required www.skillset.org/animation/showcase. For more details please contact Sarah Afzal saraha@skillset.org.

Checkmate by Danial Rees

For more information about these events:
w: http://animation.newport.ac.uk/
t: 01633 432432
e: james.manning@newport.ac.uk

Sh*t Happens by Andrew Grindle

*ABOUT US

The internationally renowned, multi-award winning animation degrees at University of Wales, Newport have been consistent in producing some of the most prestigious and successful graduate films from within the UK.

t.o.m. (2006) by Tom Brown and Daniel Gray

Selected awards:
British Animation Awards 2008: Winner, Student Film and (co-winner) Public Choice Award
Ottawa International Animation Festival 2007 : Winner, Best Graduate Animation
Cartoon D’or 2007: Finalist
Annecy International Animation Festival 2007: Winner, Best Graduation Film
Royal Television Society Student Awards 2006: Winner, Best Undergraduate Animation

Astronauts (2005) by Matthew Walker

Selected awards:
Annecy International Animation Festival 2006: Winner, Best Graduation Film
Melbourne International Animation Festival 2006: Winner, Best Animated Short
British Animation Awards 2006: Winner, Best Student Film
Royal Television Society Student Awards 2005: Winner, Best Undergraduate Animation

Newport Animation Dept

MA graduate Firman Machda's 'Empty Space' and Matthew Walker's 'Operator' will be screened at the Edinburgh Film festival on June 23rd - 29th. Empty Space is in the Trailblazer screening on the 23rd and Operator is in the Maclaren Animation 2 screening.

http://www.edfilmfest.org.uk

garth

Ginny and I are proud to say that our little e4 sting has been short listed and may be playing right now on your television. We'd love to have your vote so we can have the chance to make more!

Go forth and vote at:
e4

If you haven’t seen our sting feel free to view it on our website before voting!
www.garthandginny.com

thanks,
garth

Felix

Felix Massie, a graduate from last year, has received funding from the UK Film Council and Aardman as part of South West Screen's Digital Shorts program.

The film will be his first since Keith Reynolds can't make it tonight (2007) which is due to be screened at the Animex festival early next month, along with two other graduate films from Newport - t.o.m. and Stiff Upper Lip.

James Manning

Jonay Ortiz de Urbina, in collaboration with composer Sergio López Figueroa, has received the Best Original Music award 2007 at the SCIFE festival in Spain, with his graduation film Homeland (2007).

Congratulations to both! Let's hope this is the one of many accolades our graduate films receive this coming festival year. Watch this space!

Johnny

Garth, Ginny and Johnny have just completed a 30 and 15 second promo for a new series of the Nickelodeon show 'Zoey 101'.

You can view the promos here, but it might be a bit odd as there is no sound. The promos should start running this weekend.

garth

Garth and Ginny's e4 competition sting is being screened as part of pictoplasma's characters in motion festival this year!
If your off to Berlin for the festival give us an email so we can meet up for drinks.

James Manning

Congratulations to both Tom Brown and Daniel Gray on their continued success with their graduation film t.o.m. (2006). Last month they were awarded a prestigious Annecy Crystal for Best Graduation Film at the Annecy International Animation Festival 2007. That now makes Newport the only UK college to win 2 years in a row (last year Matthew Walker celebrated this success with his graduate film Astronauts). A full list of Annecy Prize Winners 2007.

"Annecy is definitely the 'Cannes' of the animation world..."

Adam Elliot, Director of Oscar winning Harvie Krumpet.

Here is a (very) short clip of the tail end of Tom and Dan's acceptance speech:

Further great news, t.o.m. is one of only five European films shortlisted to compete for the Cartoon d'Or 2007, the annual award that recognises the work of new talents in the European animation industry. This accolade, along with the global festival success of t.o.m., further underlines the international success of our graduate films.

What others have to say:

"There seems to be many films in this year's BIFF line-up featuring odd, troubled children and Snow Ben is a perfect example. Another is the animated boy Tom in 't.o.m.' , who takes us through his most bizarre daily routine from waking in the morning to arriving at school. To say anymore of this three-minute short would be to ruin it. It simply left me feeling uncomfortable for both Tom and myself."

Tania Theriault, ROYAL GAZETTE

"The prize of Best Student Film goes to a film that impresses for it's strong design, eccentric humor and highly accomplished storytelling, t. o. m. by Tom Brown and Daniel Gray"

Jury's comments, Norwich Int'l Animation Festival 06

"...a very short, beautifully drawn animation with a really very haunting story, of quite some psychological depth. It's an unusual, indeed singular piece of work that stays in one's memory. The sensitivity of the art work, the strange, vaguely Asperger's syndrome fastidiousness of the voice-over and the quite startling ending suggest a pair of film makers who really have a lot to say for themselves."

Tim Vaughan, Royal Television Society Awards 2006

"Beautifully drawn, it has a somewhat trippy feel"

IMAGINE MAGAZINE

"Want to get out of going to school? Simple. Take all your clothes off!...Okay, it's very odd behavior, but Tom is a lovable character regardless of that high pitch voice that grates away at you. You have to give the unusual plot top marks and the animation is seamless with a hand-painted background look adding to the child-like innocence of the film. It's a film you're not quite sure what to make of. But, if nothing else, its worthy of a watch as you could spend hours trying to imitate Tom's funny voice."

Sirkka Huish, BERMUDA SUN

James Manning

Following on from our Graduation Show earlier this month, we have two additional celebrations of this years' graduate films:

Finest Films Event 2007
The Riverfront, Newport
6.30pm, Friday 22 June

6.30pm - 7.45pm Awards Ceremony
7.45pm - 8.30pm Refreshments
8.30pm onwards MA and 3rd yr screening

All industry professionals welcome!

Skillset Screening Event
David Lean Room, BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London
Tuesday 26 June from 4pm – 7pm

By invitation only. For further details contact Claire Doughty (Events & Marketing) 020 7520 5753 claired@skillset.org.

James Manning

Animation student Mark Rogers (below) produced a short 3D film entitled ‘Unification’ about a child who arrives in a strange building and hears noises in the night so wanders down the corridors to investigate.

“I’ve always wanted to be a cartoonist and have wanted to make animation films since I was seven - it’s my passion,” said 22-year-old Mark, who comes from Topsham, near Exeter.
“The film took me a year to make and it’s been a great learning experience here at Newport. I did some very valuable work experience including a stint at Nick Parks’ animation film company Aardman Animation where I helped work on the US version of the TV show 'Creature Comforts'."

Kerry Dyer’s animation film ‘Sura’ is about three characters trapped in a room with a strange box.

“My film is three minutes long but took me a year to make,” said 21-year-old Kerry (above) who comes from Bristol. “The thing I’ve enjoyed most about studying animation at Newport has been the work placements. They have been great because our course tutor Caroline Parsons has so many contacts in the animation film industry.”

Sophia Angela Davis found inspiration in the silent films of the 1920s for her short animation movie project ‘Bananigans!’

“It’s a tortoise and hare version of a cops and robbers story,” said 20-year-old Sophie who comes from Bridgend. “I’ve been into drawing all my life and my ambition when I graduate is to work as an animator and illustrator.”

[Extract taken from the University's press release]

Tom

Official Selection

Student Program #3

Newport, UK:

	The Mystery Of The Pig City Johnny Luu, Garth Jones, 3'15
	Childhood Matthew Dabb, 3'30

International Program #3

	T.O.M. Dan Gray, Tom Brown, UK, 3'00 One very strange little boy’s explanation of how and why he arrived at school without any clothes on.

Congrats to all. For more, click HERE

Tom

t.o.m. won the Best Undergraduate Animation award at this years' RTS Student Awards ceremony at the Barbican Centre, London last week. Although Newport has dominated the regional RTS Student Award for Best Animation for the last 6 years, this is our first National success!

Tom and Dan were there to collect their awards in person. Also from the International Film School Wales nominated for Best Undergrade Factual was Murray Mints & Paw Prints by Iain Paterson & Kurt Williams.

What the judges had to say:

“… a very short, beautifully drawn animation with a really very haunting story, of quite some psychological depth. It’s an unusual, indeed singular piece of work that stays in one’s memory. The sensitivity of the art work, the strange, vaguely Asperger’s syndrome fastidiousness of the voice-over and the quite startling ending suggest a pair of film makers who really have a lot to say for themselves…”

Tim Vaughan

More info here

Since the last post, t.o.m. has also received:

Aspen Shortsfest 2007:
Special Jury Award

Wood Green International Short Film Festival 2007:
Best Animation

On another note, congratulations to Garth and Johnny with Mystery of Pig City making the Official Selection at Anima Mundi 2007.