Ottawa International Animation Festival draws talent to Canada’s capital including films by Sheridan students and alumni

Six Sheridan student and five alumni films will be screened at the 43^rd annual Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), which takes place from September 25 to 29, 2019.

Billed as one of the leading events of its kind in the world, more than 28,000 people converge on the nation’s capital to take in over 80 screenings, talks and exhibits over five days in the downtown core.

The Sheridan-affiliated filmmakers and artists involved in this year’s selections studied in various arts programs including Honours Bachelor of Animation, Honours Bachelor of Illustration, Honours Bachelor of Arts – Art and Art History and Media Arts.

“We’re so proud of the student and alumni animators who are involved in the OIAF,” said Angela Stukator, Associate Dean of Animation and Game Design at Sheridan. “The Festival has been a great platform for showcasing Sheridan talent in years past and this year will be no different with the diverse contingent of films.”

Eligible for the Canadian Student Competition at the OIAF are 21 films, six of which are by Sheridan Bachelor of Animation students, a few of whom previously completed other programs at the college. They include:

• Anderson by third-year students Arantxa Chavarri (Art Fundamentals ’16), Deepanu Sumbriya (Art Fundamentals ’15), Shaena Trotman (Art Fundamentals ’16), Adrian Abbruzzino, Aidana Nessipbekova, James Lin, Kai Lin Sem, Taylor Jambrich (Art Fundamentals ’16), Tristan Fairclough and Troy Yin. Hardworking father Tom discovers the importance of balancing family and work with the help of his son’s creation, Smiley.
• The Fox & The Pigeon by third-year students Michelle Chua (director), Aileen Dewhurst (Art Fundamentals ’16), Sharon Gabriella, Viktor Ivanovski, Sang Lee (Bachelor of Animation ’18), Tyler Pacana (Art Fundamentals ’16), SiKyung Kevin Sung, Morgan Thompson (Art Fundamentals ’16), Steven Wang, Matt Walton (Art Fundamentals ’16) and Chelsea van Tol. It’s a story of self-empowerment that arises out of an argument between Fox and a curious Pigeon with the narrator trying to control the narrative.
• In Passing by fourth-year student Esther Cheung follows two neighbours growing up in government housing in bustling old Hong Kong. It’s inspired by Cheung’s parent’s own childhoods.
• “SMITE!” by fourth-year student Tyler Nardone is inspired by the expressive and wacky cartoons of the 1940s and 1950s. Watch the trailer here.
• Wash Day by fourth-year student Jaida Salmon is about a young black girl going through the relentless process of washing and styling her hair.
• Wolfrid’s Wish by fourth-year student Anna Ryzhjova tells the story of a wolf who hosts a birthday party on a hill, drawing from soviet-animated shorts.

Alumni films being screened include:

• Erodium Thunk directed by Winston Hacking (Media Arts ’05) in the Short Film Competition 5.
• Robot Chicken “Hi” animated by Brett Long (Media Arts ’05) in the Animated Series Competition.
• What’s My Superpower? by storyboard artist Emma Pedersen (Bachelor of Illustration ’17) in the Young Audiences: Preschool Competition.
• Wunderkammer directed by Jennifer Linton (Art and Art History ’91) in the Canadian Panorama Competition.
• Dream Cream directed by Noam Sussman (Bachelor of Animation ’12) in the Canadian Panorama Competition.

Pictured top: Stills from the student selections for the 2019 Ottawa International Animation Festival (from left to right, clockwise): Anderson, The Fox & The Pigeon, "SMITE!", Wolfrid's Wish, Wash Day, In Passing.