On Saturday, July 29, the Toronto Animated Images Society will present two 60-minute short film programs representing the best in independent Canadian and international animation in its 11th Annual TAIS Animation Showcase. The evening will also feature the results of TAIS’ latest Anijam competition, and a new VR piece from Zeesy Powers.
Tackling diverse themes with a range of stylistic approaches, the 20 selected narrative and experimental short films (listed below) hail from nine different countries: Canada, China, Costa Rica, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK and the US. Award winners will be chosen by a guest jury of Canadian animation luminaries: Michael Fukushima, head of the NFB Animation Studio; artist, educator & curator Adrienne Crossman; and digital artist Nicolas Sassoon — co-founder of WALLPAPERS and SIGNALS.
TAIS’ BIG EYES Sharp Teeth Anijam generated 20 entries this year, with each 10-second mini-film making a mega-impact. And from TAIS 2017 Canadian Artist in Residence Zeesy Powers comes the interactive VR experience This Could Be You. Produced in TAIS studios, eh projects puts participants in the body of a 90-year-old woman in the middle of a techno-dystopic environment — on track with Toronto-based Powers’ artistic explorations of technology’s impact on our lived experience.
Tickets are $10 in advance, or $12 at the door ($8 for TAIS members), and are available online.
TAIS Animation Showcase 2017 films:
Au revoir Balthazar Rafael Sommerhalder; Switzerland, 9:30, 2016, stop motion, narrative
Birdlime Evan DeRushie; Toronto, Canada, 10:51, 2017, stop motion, narrative *not in juried competition
Bone Guitar Julianna Cox and Payton Curtis; Elora, Canada, 1:22, 2016, stop motion, music video
Casino Steven Woloshen; Montreal, Canada, 3:58, 2016, experimental scratch on film
Cococo Julian Gallese; Costa Rica, 7:06, 2017, hand drawn, narrative
Conditioner Shane Beam; United States, 4:46, 2017, hand-drawn, narrative
Death Van Michael Enzbrunner; Toronto, Canada, 5:32, 2017, 3D animation, narrative *not in juried competition
Hi, It’s Your Mother Daniel Sterlin-Altman; Toronto, Canada, 4:53, 2016, stop motion, narrative
Hypertrain Etienne Kompis and Fela Bellotto; Switzerland, 3:35, 2016, 2D drawn and 3D animation, narrative
In a Heartbeat Beth David and Esteban Bravo; United States, 4:05, 2017, 3D animation, narrative
Jenny in the Self-Checkout Line Nick Fox-Gieg; Toronto, Canada, 2:10, 2017, drawn frame-by-frame with a Vive controller, narrative
Lo Ted Wiggin; United States, 3:10, 2017, experimental
Lotus Lantern Xingpei Shen; China, 6:30, 2017, hand-drawn, non-narrative
Nailbiter Laura Hodkin; Scotland and the United Kingdom, 3:26, 2017, 2D drawn, non-narrative
Nutag-Homeland Alisi Telengut; Montreal, Canada, 6:00, hand-painted, non-narrative
Popsicle Tzu-Hsin Yang; Taiwan, 5:22, 2017, hand-drawn, hand-painted, narrative
Quarters FIG House; Oakville, Canada, 5:00, 2017, stop motion narrative
Sister Narcissa Dylan Glynn; Toronto, Canada, 2:20, 2016, 2D drawn, narrative
The Pear Wang Yihao and Tong Reko; China, 6:25, 2016, hand-drawn, watercolor painted narrative
The Stunt Manual Ben Fernández; Spain, 9:37, 2016, stop motion
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