Having revealed an impressive initial feature slate and jury a couple weeks ago, Animation Is Film has announced that tickets are now available for its inaugural edition and the full program slate has been revealed — both accessible at www.animationisfilm.com. The first AIF takes place Oct. 20-22 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theater in Hollywood.
In addition to confirming filmmaker Q&As for some of the previously announced titles, AIF has added Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom, and a few more treats for older audiences with Mutafukaz, Tropical Virus and Masaaki Yuasa’s Night Is Short, Walk on Girl to the feature film competition.
Special screenings include the historical Outlandish Lands: Surreal Studio Shorts from the 1930s, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 80th Anniversary Screening; more recent indie Mind Game by Yuasa and kids’ hit The LEGO Batman Movie (with filmmaker Q&A), plus Disney-Pixar’s The Incredibles with a sneak-peek of Coco (Q&A with producer John Walker). The immersive VR Flicker Lounge open Saturday and Sunday will feature LA premieres of two new Google Spotlight Stories: Jorge Gutierrez’s Son of Jaguar and Scot Stafford & Chromosphere’s Sonaria.
FEATURE FILMS IN COMPETITION:
The Big Bad Fox & Other Tales [US Premiere]
d. Patrick Imbert, Benjamin Renner, France, 2017 | Recommended for ages 8+
Saturday, October 21st at 1:30PM – Followed by Q&A with directors Patrick Imbert and Benjamin Renner.
Big Fish and Begonia [World Premiere for English Language Version]
d. Liang Xua, Zhang Chun, China, 2016 Recommended for ages 8+
Sunday, October 22nd at 11:00AM
Birdboy: The Forgotten Children [West Coast Premiere]
d. Alberto Vázquez, Pedro Rivero, Spain, 2015 | Recommended for ages 14+
Saturday, October 21st at 4:15PM – Followed by Q&A with directors Alberto Vázquez and Pedro Rivero.
The Breadwinner [US Premiere – Opening Night Film]
d. Nora Twomey, Ireland/Canada/Luxembourg, 2017 | Recommended for ages 11+
Friday, October 20th at 7:00PM – Followed by Q&A with director Nora Twomey.
*Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom [North American Premiere – Opening Night Film]
d. Noboyuki Takeuchi, Akiyuki Shinbo, Japan, 2017 | Recommended for ages 8+
Friday, October 20th at 9:30PM
Lu Over the Wall [US Premiere]
d. Masaaki Yuasa, Japan, 2017 | Recommended for ages 8+
Sunday, October 22nd at 2:15PM
Mary and the Witch’s Flower [North American Premiere for English Language Version]
d. Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Japan, 2017 | Recommended for ages 6+
Sunday, October 22nd at 5:15PM – Followed by Q&A with director Hiromasa Yonebayashi.
*Mutafukaz [West Coast Premiere]
d. Guillaume Renard and Shoujirou Nishimi, France/Japan, 2017 | Recommended for ages 17+ Saturday, October 21st at 7:00PM
*Night Is Short, Walk on Girl [US Premiere]
d. Masaaki Yuasa, Japan, 2017 |Recommended for ages 14+
Sunday, October 22nd at 8:00PM
Tehran Taboo [North American Premiere]
d. Ali Soozandeh, Germany, 2017 | Recommended for ages 17+
Sunday, October 22nd at 5:15PM – Followed by Q&A with director Ali Soozandeh.
*Tropical Virus [World Premiere]
d. Santiago Caicedo, Colombia, 2017 Recommended for ages 14+
Saturday, October 21st at 7:00PM – Followed by Q&A with director Santiago Caicedo. Zombillenium [North American Premiere]
d. Arthur de Pins & Alexis Ducord, France, 2017 Recommended for ages 8+
Saturday, October 21st at 4:15PM – Followed by Q&A with director Alexis Ducord.
Animation Is Film is presented by GKIDS, Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Variety and ASIFA-Hollywood.
