Panel discussion: Autobiography

We’re super-excited to share details of our upcoming panel discussion with three film-makers working with autobiography, in partnership with Animate Projects and British Council: Our next Animation Salon is programmed by Alys Scott-Hawkins and Ellie Land from Animated Documentary, is on 4 November. It’s our second in partnership with Animate Projects. The animated documentary genre continues to grow, featuring in a variety of formats: shorts and feature films, explainer videos, interactive documentary; and showcasing an array of techniques such as the autoethnographic film, the investigative film, the call-to-action and reconstruction films, to name just a few. Animators Mary Martins (UK), John Summerson (USA), and Signe Baumane (Latvia/USA) will share their insights and experiences with us, alongside some clips of their work. Animation Salon/Accelerate Sessions Animated Documentary 18:00 (UK time), Wednesday 4 November Zoom More information here. Free. Register here. Spaces are limited – please join early to make sure you get in. Supported by Arts Council England’s Emergency Response Fund. Still: My Love Affair With Marriage, Signe Baumane, 2021 Next Accelerate session coming up… 12 November Animation and VR With Tom Higham (York Mediale), Liz Rosenthal (Venice Film Festival), Juergen Hagler (Ars Electronica), Helen Starr (Mechatronic Library), and Ulrich Schrauth (London Film Festival Expanded).  More details soon.

Ecstatic Truth 2016 and 2017

Ecstatic Truth 2016 panel discussion

With the next Ecstatic Truth symposium coming up on Saturday, this seems like a good time to revisit last year’s event and share the recordings of the jam-packed schedule of speakers, workshops and networking.

Video documentation of all the speakers who presented at the 2016 symposium, including keynotes from Paul Ward, Abigail Addison and Brigitta Iványi-Bitter, as well as  our own Carla MacKinnon, is available here on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/channels/documentaryanimation

Our own post from the event can be found here: https://animateddocs.wordpress.com/2016/05/28/ecstatic-truth-symposium/

Judit Ferencz introducing the workshop

‘Animating the layers of history’ workshop with Judit Ferencz

‘Animating the layers of history’ workshop with Judit Ferencz

The 2016 symposium was held to launch the new MA Animation: Documentary Animation pathway: http://www.rca.ac.uk/schools/school-of-communication/animation/documentary-animation-pathway

Ecstatic Truth: Lessons of Darkness and Light is the second animated documentary symposium at the Royal College of Art, London, on Saturday 26th May 2017.  

Book your FREE tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ecstatic-truth-lessons-of-darkness-and-light-animated-documentary-symposium-tickets-33257461964

Video essay on ‘Waltz with Bashir’ by Digging Deeper

[edit 16th May – this video’s been taken down due to a copyright issue but we’ll let you know if it comes back online.]

“Waltz With Bashir is a documentary film that exists in a rare category (along with films like Close-Up and The House Is Black) in that it bends the generic conventions of its format, ultimately creating an experience that is truly unique. Its idiosyncratic blend of animation, music, and recorded interviews makes it a documentary that is both a sensory spectacle and an emotional journey. In our essay “Echoes of a Forgotten Past” we explore how director Ari Folman uses the seemingly contradictory elements of the animated documentary format to comment on the ethics of filmic representation and the cycle of historical trauma.”

More info here about Digging Deeper “a two man team that likes looking at a film and trying to see if something else is lying beneath its surface.”
https://www.patreon.com/diggingdeeper?ty=h

DRAWING FROM MEMORY – ANIMATED OBSERVATIONS screening at Open City Documentary Festival, London, June 2015

Darn it, news of this event in June passed us by – but what a line up of fascinating nuggets it is, programmed by London Short Film Festival and Animate Projects

And all films are available to watch online, which makes this a screen-at-home programme you can enjoy yourself!

Films can be found in the Animate Collection here:
animateprojects.org/films
apart from Ellie Land‘s Centrefold which you can watch here:
vimeo.com/46035152

http://opencitylondon.com/workshops/london-short-film-festival-drawing-memory-animated-observations

Perfect for a rainy Sunday…

Society for Animation Studies annual conference, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK 2015

Wow. What a brilliant few days! Here are a few of the drawings I made during some of the excellent presentations and keynotes. Many apologies to those represented – accuracy has never been one of my strong points!!

It was my first SAS conference, and also the first time I’ve delivered a paper. I met some lovely people and got some really useful feedback. Thank you all. Next year is Singapore….

Happy 2015!

Blimey, we’ve been quiet a long time – and for that we apologise! Ellie and I are both juggling teaching jobs, small children and other projects, and the last few months have been busy for both of us.

We have some fantastic films lined up to post in 2015, plus an annual awards scheme to announce, so rest assured that though it’s quiet here, good things are brewing…

Lastly, we want to say thank you to the marvellous Alex Widdowson for his carefully crafted reviews over the last couple of years. Alex is now busy with other projects but his contributions to the blog have been absolutely priceless.

If you or someone you know would like to come on board the animateddocumentary.com team either writing or editing & managing, please do get it touch, we’d love to hear from you!!

‘Rocks in my Pockets’ by Signe Baumane – trailer

Check out the trailer for Signe Baumane’s first feature expiring mental illness through the stories of five women in her family – ‘a funny film about depression’.

Upcoming screenings around the world in Sept & Oct 2014 listed here:
http://www.rocksinmypocketsmovie.com/Screenings.html

And a series of ‘making of’ shorts here: http://www.rocksinmypocketsmovie.com/Process.html

Signe’s portfolio site here: http://www.signebaumane.com

‘A is for Atom’ by John Sutherland

Well, what you might expect from a US 1953 public information film about nuclear power and weaponry: simplified science and a rather narrow political view!

This came from Public Domain Motion Pictures on Youtube, a ‘free channel devoted to Public Domain, Open Source and Copyleft movies, TV shows and serials’.

Submit to the 10th International DOK Leipzig Co-Production Meeting! Deadline 1st August 2014

Last call from DOK Leipzig:

‘Dear Friends and Colleagues,

***Less than 10 days to submit your film in development to the 10th International DOK Leipzig Co-Production Meeting!!***

If you are looking for co-production partners and to meet financiers in an intimate and productive environment, we invite you to submit your projects now for consideration. Deadline August 1.

Find more information the online submission form here:
http://www.dok-leipzig.de/industry-training/industry-offers/meet_and_pitch/co-production-meeting

The two day programme (27 & 28 October 2014) offers:

– Individual Meetings with broadcasters, film funds, sales and distributors and other potential partners and financiers. For a list of industry representatives at DOK Leipzig in 2013, please click here.
– Individual Meetings with your fellow producers, offering you and them the chance to build international co-productions, also with a small selection of hand-picked German production companies.
– The most up to date information on working internationally and networking opportunities through our round table sessions and case studies.
– Unstructured space for colleagial exchange and networking in a friendly, intimate and productive environment.

Against the backdrop of DOK Leipzig: the 57th Festival for Documentary and Animated Film. We will also welcome a delegation of Catalonian Producers, organized with Catalonian Films & TV.

Good luck and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions! (oshea@dok-leipzig.de)

Brigid O’Shea & Christine Hille

DOK Leipzig Co-Production Meeting: call for projects in development

From our friends at DOK Leipzig:

“Dear Friends,
We are so pleased to announce that the 10th International DOK Leipzig Co-Production Meeting is now open for submissions. We are looking for:

Creative documentaries in development that are international in scope and looking for diverse financing partners, from Germany and abroad. In particular, theatrical documentaries intended for cinema release, however one-offs, series and trans/cross media projects are also welcome to apply.

The application deadline is August 1, 2014.

The 10th International DOK Leipzig Co-Production Meeting will take place on the 27 and 28 October. The two-day programme consists of individual meetings between producers, potential financiers including commissioning editors, film funds, distributors, and sales agents, as well as carefully-selected German producers looking for international projects. We also offer the most up-to-date information on working with international partners through our case studies and round tables. Participation costs 180 Euros for one participant, 260 for two (ex. VAT), including festival accreditations for the 57th DOK Leipzig Festival for Animated and Documentary Film.

This year we will focus on working with Scotland and countries of the Former Yugoslavia. Once again we will welcome projects from our partner initiatives Ex Oriente/IDF, Dragon Forum and Pitching Doc Montevideo.

For more information and the online submission form please click here: http://www.dok-leipzig.de/industry-training/industry-offers/meet_and_pitch/co-production-meeting

We are looking forward to your projects and wish you all the best for the upcoming summer!

Brigid & Christine”