BAF & BAF Game Programme Highlights Revealed
Skwigly
The full programme for BAF and BAF Game 2013 is unveiled online today, 17th September, with a focus on birthday celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the Bradford Animation Festival.
BAF 2013 once again welcomes Bradford College as Principal Sponsor.
The main strand of the Bradford Animation Festival will open on the evening of Wednesday 13th November with a 20th birthday gala drinks reception at the National Media Museum, followed by a special anniversary screening of Tim Burton’s acclaimed The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG), also 20 years old this year. Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town is bored with his lot and decides that it might be fun for him and his friends to take over Christmas, but they don’t quite grasp the concept. With an entertaining storyline, memorable score, excellent voice cast and fabulous animation The Nightmare Before Christmas showcases the combined talents of Tim Burton and director Henry Selick superbly.
Festival organisers are delighted to announce that the recipients of the BAF 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award will be one of the world’s leading puppet and animation companies; Mackinnon & Saunders. The award recognises the creativity, inspiration and overall achievement of some of the animation industry’s greatest names. The company’s creativity and technical innovation informs Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride and Frankenweenie, Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr.Fox, Barry Purves’ award-winning short films, and popular children’s television, including Bob the Builder and Raa-Raa the Noisy Lion. BAF 2013 joins them in celebrating their own 20th anniversary this year, hosting a screentalk with the company’s founders Ian Mackinnon and Peter Saunders, premiering a unique documentary recounting their history and achievements and handing over the BAF 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Guests already announced for BAF 2013 include; Oscar winning filmmaker Adam Elliot, (Harvie Krumpet, Mary & Max), comedian, writer and actor Adam Buxton (presenting an exclusive BAF edition of BUG); world renowned artist & filmmaker Dave McKean and leading contemporary female animator Michaela Pavlatova, (Repete, Words, Words, Words).
Deb Singleton, director of Bradford Animation Festival at the National Media Museum, said:
‘’This year is going to be a really special edition of the Bradford Animation Festival; not only are we celebrating the festival’s 20th Birthday, but also that of Mackinnon and Saunders & The Nightmare Before Christmas.
We are honoured to be handing over the award to Mackinnon and Saunders in recognition of their world renowned craftsmanship and including screenings of both Frankenweenie and Fantastic Mr Fox as superb examples of their creativity.’’
Mike Bithell, developer of the critically-acclaimed indie platform game Thomas Was Alone, is the latest guest to be added to the bill for BAF Game. Mike will deliver a talk about his exciting new project Volume.
Guests already announced for BAF Game 2013 include legendary designer and producer Warren Spector (System Shock, Deus Ex, Disney Epic Mickey); Crystal Dynamics’ Brian Horton (Tomb Raider); ZeniMax Media’s Viktor Antonov, (Dishonored); Sheffield development studio Sumo Digital’s Steve Lycett (Sonic & All-Stars, Moshi Monsters), TT Games’ Phil Gray (LEGO Marvel Super Heroes); The Indie Stone’s Andy Hodgetts, (Project Zomboid) and Team 17’s Kevin Carthew, (Worms Revolution).
BAF Game, organised each year in partnership with Game Republic and the University of Bradford, attracts some of the most revered legends and radical developers from the world of gaming. The festival, which has earned itself a reputation as one of the UK’s premiere games events, takes place as part of the Bradford Animation Festival at the National Media Museum on 12th November and the University of Bradford on 13th November.
BAF Game has a reputation for attracting some of the biggest and most revealing speakers and sessions from across the world. Headline guests from the past couple of years have included Neil Thompson, Director of Art & Animation at Canadian giants BioWare, who caused a media storm last year when he teased guests with a brief glimpse of the first pre-production screenshot of Dragon Age 3: Inquisition. And in 2011, Brendan McNamara, founder of Team Bondi, the creators of L.A. Noire, exclusively revealed details of his upcoming big budget console game Whore of the Orient in an interview with Eurogamer.
The Bradford Animation Festival (12th – 16th November) takes place each November at the National Media Museum in Bradford. The UK’s longest running animation festival features screentalks, retrospectives, workshops and a competition strand which recognises the very best in new animation from around the world. Bradford College return as Principal Sponsor for the eighth year.
Tickets and passes for BAF & BAF Game 2013 are on sale on 17th September from the National Media Museum (call 0844 856 3797 or visit www.baf.org.uk ). Prices for full BAF Game passes start from £40 with BAF Animation passes from £50, and day passes for either event from £30. Tickets for individual screenings are priced from £3.
The BAF 2013 ident and animated sting has been created by OSCAR nominated and BAFTA award winning British animator Joanna Quinn.
For full BAF and BAF Game listings and prices visit www.baf.org.uk