The 2009 Ottawa International Animation Festival

The Bytowne Cinema will screen many of the Animation Festival films. Photo courtesy of spotmaticfanatic from our Flickr Pool.

Sometimes we take things for granted in this town and don’t realize how good we really have it. Of course, this attitude isn’t unique to Ottawa. It is a very Canadian trait to miss out on the things that make us great until someone else points them out to us. You could say that collectively, we are often humble to a fault.

This week the Ottawa International Animation Festival will celebrate its 33rd year. No that wasn’t a typo. The Animation Festival has been around for more than three decades. In that time it has cemented itself as one of the premier animation festivals on the planet [We here at Apt. 613 cannot comment on what goes on in other solar systems]. Animators from around the world can point out Ottawa on a map because they know that the festival has always been on the cutting edge for their field. In short, the Ottawa International Animation Festival is the place to be if you want to know what exciting directions all forms of animation are headed in the next few years. We should be proud that animators look up to this event to check the collective pulse of their industry. There is no better way to show that pride than to check out some of the best films the festival has to offer.

This year the Animation Festival will run from Wednesday Oct. 14 to Sunday Oct. 18. Over the course of those five days 93 short films and seven feature films will be screened for competition. These films were hand picked from 2,185 different entries over the course of the past year. There will be an additional 58 films (out of competition) that are meant to showcase Canadian talent. The festival also hosts many different workshops and keynote speeches by industry leaders. Spaces for these events are limited for the general public, however, because they are really meant for animation insiders.

With all that said, it can be a little daunting to decide which films to see. I’ve asked some friends who are involved with the festival which films they would recommend. You can find a short list of those recommendations after the jump. Of course, I would also recommend seeing films at random (or through a little online research). You may just leave the theatre pleasantly surprised.

Coraline - This stop-motion feature by Henry Sellick, and based on the book by the always brilliant Neil Gaiman, is easily the most high profile movie in the feature competition. You won’t be seeing the next big thing with this film since it has already been through its theatrical run. That said, if you haven’t caught it on the big screen yet it is well worth the trip to the local cinema. This is also one of the few feature films at the festival that is appropriate for younger children.

When can I see it?

Thursday Oct. 15 @ 3PM and 7PM - Empire Theatres Rideau Centre
Saturday Oct. 17 @ 6:45PM - Bytowne Cinema

Mary and Max - This Australian clay animation film has the potential to become the most talked about movie at this year’s festival. The film is about a friendship between the two very different title characters that spans a 20 year period. It features the voice talent of Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Eric Bana among others. To quote the Animation Festival’s description of the film: “Mary and Max is both hilarious and poignant as it takes us on a journey that explores friendship, autism, taxidermy, psychiatry, alcoholism, where babies come from, obesity, kleptomania, sexual differences, trust, copulating dogs, religious differences, agoraphobia, and many more of life’s surprises.”

When can I see it?

Wednesday Oct. 14 @ 7PM - Bytowne Cinema
Saturday Oct. 17 @ 11AM - Empire Theatres Rideau Centre
Sunday Oct. 18 @ 1PM - Empire Theatres Rideau Centre

Edison and Leo - It seems like stop-motion animation is the technique du jour at this year’s features at the Animation Festival. Edison and Leo is a little more rough around the edges than the previous features I’ve mentioned so far. This Canadian film is about a mad inventor who creates a little trouble when he allows his search for knowledge to overtake common sense. It essentially covers many of the same themes as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein but with a touch of dark humour. This one is not recommended for children.

When can I see it?

Thursday Oct. 15 @ 5PM - Bytowne Cinema
Friday Oct. 16 @ 9:15PM - Empire Theatres Rideau Centre

Short Competition 4 - There will be five different short film screenings at this year’s Animation Festival. They feature a mix of music videos, student films and professional works in just about every kind of animation technique you can imagine. A friend of mine who works for the festival told me that the fourth short competition was her personal favourite. That one features 18 short films from all around the world including Canada, China, Germany, Poland, the United States, Estonia, South Korea and Taiwan. I should also note that the fifth short competition has the latest Wallace and Gromit short. The short film screenings are a great way to experience something new and interesting in the world of animation. You may not like all the films but there’s enough on offer to keep most animation fans pleased.

When can I see it? (Short Competition 4)

Saturday Oct. 17 @ 3PM - Bytowne Cinema
Sunday Oct. 18 @ 1PM - Bytowne Cinema

The Horror! - This spooky screening comes in just before Halloween. The festival guide said the screening is not for the faint of heart or the squeamish as it contains “some of the most frightening animated films ever made.” They emphasize that a good horror film does not need to be live action to be scary or downright creepy. If you haven’t gotten your horror fix at the Mayfair just yet this is the place to be for a frightening time at the movies.

When can I see it?