BFI Future Film Festival, 17th Feb – Animation Preview
Sunday 17th February will see a wonderful day of animation-related events at the BFI Future Film Festival. The festival itself is a 3-day event, held over the weekend 16th – 18th February 2013. Day one will focus on fiction storytelling and day three will see documentary taking centre stage, while day two will be soley dedicated to animation.
The festival will cover everything from claymation to anime and 3D, with a host of animation experts and panellists who will provide insights on how to make it in the industry. Masterclasses and workshops will explore voicing characters and recording sound, writing for animation and lighting. In addition sessions will also look as the commissioning process and how to create a thriving animation collective.
The only downside is that many events run at the same time, so you will only be able to attend 3 events on the day – 12pm, 2pm and 4pm sessions. Choose wisely…!
To book or find out more, you can visit the BFI Future Film Festival Website
12pm sessions
ParaNorman plus Q&A with Director Sam Fell, NFT3
Young Norman Babcock is a misunderstood loner who can speak to the dead. When a witches curse wakens ghosts and zombies from their eternal sleep, the only person in the town of Blithe Hollow who might be able to help is Norman himself. Laika, the team behind Coraline bring you this original stop-motion tale directed by talented British duo Chris Butler and Sam Fell. A fitting release for Universal’s 100th birthday, ParaNorman is full of comic references to the best monster and horror films released. We are delighted to welcome director Sam Fell to take part in a Q&A following the screening.
Made by MOMOCO, NFT2
NIC BENNS is an Emmy award-winning design director and co-founder of MOMOCO. He will be talking about the process behind creating main title sequences from the brief, pitch stage, filming and animating through to delivery. Case studies will include Luther, Misfits, The Fades, Ripper Street and a selection of film titles.
Ident Masterclass and Live Pitch competition with Red Bee Media, Studio
Red Bee Media will provide you with an insight into the world of moving image idents and will then judge our live pitch competition to make the first ever BFI Future Film ident.
Animated Random Acts, Blue Room
A selection of some of the animated highlights from Random Acts, Channel 4’s late night three-minute film slot, commissioned by Lupus Films and curated by ace animator Chris Shepherd. The programme includes films by some of the best emergent and established animation talent working in the UK today, and is followed by a discussion about commissioning and producing animation for television.
Speakers:
- Gary Thomas, Associate Director, Animate Projects
- Ravi Amaratunga, Editor, Random Acts and The Shooting Gallery, Channel 4
- Chris Shepherd, animator, curator Animated Random Acts
- Tom Mortimer, co-owner and director, 12foot6
Presented by Animate Projects
VFX Careers Masterclass, BFI Reuben Library
Creative Skillset have teamed up with some of the biggest Visual Effects houses in the UK to show you the skills you need, how to get into VFX and the variety of roles available. Find out about an industry where you get to create jaw-dropping visual effects for blockbuster films, hit TV shows and cool commercials.
Brickin’ It! The YouTube Phenomenon of Lego Animation, LS1
Firstlight will be talking to Lego animation experts and a representative from Lego Education UK about the Lego animation phenomenon that’s sweeping YouTube.
Where are we? Creating Story Worlds with The Scriptfactory, LS2
Where a film is set is no more crucial than in Animation. Starting visually with a blank canvas (sometimes literally) brings a number of obligations for the writer in how they convey the world to the audience, whilst also making sure they make the most of it in the story. A character can only exist when it is given an environment to do so – how do you know when you have the right match? In this session we’ll look at how to create worlds for animation, taking some of the finest and funniest examples of this great genre and think up our own worlds, testing them against the best.
2pm sessions
BAFTA Animated Shorts, NFT3
Our second BAFTA shorts session – this time focussing on nominees from the Animated Short Film category from the EE British Academy Film Awards. Each year, the Academy identifies some of the best live action and animated films from the current year. But what do the judges look for and how do filmmakers give their films the best chance of getting noticed? Come along to this screening and with BAFTA nominated short filmmakers to hear about their experiences and how the nomination has affected their career. Today’s selection will draw from the Animated Short Film category.
Studio AKA Illustrated Talk, NFT2
BAFTA and Oscar-nominated Design Studio AKA have been at the forefront of the British animation industry for over ten years. Creators of animated treasures such as the BAFTA winning Lost and Found, the Oscar nominated A Morning Stroll and the award winning Varmints they possess the animation equivalent of the Midas touch. Alongside their much loved film catalogue – Studio AKA are also the originators of some of the highest profile animated commercial campaigns to date and remain firmly at the forefront of the animation industry. Join Studio AKA at the Future Film Festival for a peek into the inner workings of this award winning studio.
Independent Animated Feature Film Production, Studio
Ramsay McBean, is one of the only producers in the country under the age of 25 with animated feature film experience. He is currently the line producer of Saving Santa (2013) Starring Martin Freeman, Tim Curry, Tom Baker, Noel Clark, and Joan Collins, and is developing a slate of projects at Melwood Pictures. This masterclass gives an insight into the unique production model that has been developed at Melwood Pictures and implemented on the current production of Saving Santa. We will also explore the wider world of animated feature film production and the opportunity that it offers the next generation of film makers.
Accelerate Animation: show and tell workshop, Blue Room
How can you kick start a career in animation filmmaking? Is it possible to work commercially and still carry on making personal projects? And how do you set about getting your films shown and seen? This session looks at the kinds of career that animators have, the new kinds of creative opportunities, and just what you need to know to keep going.
- Gary Thomas, Associate Director, Animate Projects
- Alan Warburton, animator
- Jo Lawrence, animator
- Fred Deakin, animator
Presented by Animate Projects
VFX Careers Masterclass, BFI Reuben Library
Creative Skillset have teamed up with some of the biggest Visual Effects houses in the UK to show you the skills you need, how to get into VFX and the variety of roles available. Find out about an industry where you get to create jaw-dropping visual effects for blockbuster films, hit TV shows and cool commercials.
Voices and Sound in Animation, LS1
FILMCLUB will talk to animators about what happens behind the scenes when designing the sound for animated films. Come along and find out how directors work with actors and sound designers to bring their stories to life and offer audiences an audio feast.
Small Scale. Big Thinking with NFTS , LS2
Brian Tufano, NFTS Head of Cinematography and students will talk about the need to light Animation for the big screen and gives an overview of stop motion, computer and cell animation using animation models from students’ recent work.
4pm sessions
Future Film Animation Awards, NFT3
A showcase of the top six short animated films submitted to the festival this year, as selected by the Future Film Institute (our panel of young programmers). All the films will receive feedback from our panel of industry experts and one film in each age category (15 – 18 and 19 – 25) will receive a BFI Future Film Award. This is your chance to check out tomorrow’s talent of Future Filmmakers.
Future Film Short Animation Selection, NFT2
Check out some of our favourite short animated films submitted to the festival this year as selected by the Future Film Institute (our panel of young programmers). This screening will showcase tomorrow’s talent and the future of animation.
Simon’s Cat Masterclass with Simon Tolfield and Mike Cross, Studio
Simon’s Cat is a YouTube phenomenon in the truest sense, boasting over 313 million views and 1.2 million subscribers – it is also the No. 1 Animated UK YouTube channel. Simon’s Cat creator Simon Tolfield joins us to talk about the craft of animation, storytelling and illustration and how he brought these lovable characters to life. He will be joined by Brand Manager Mike Cross who will discuss online distribution and technology and how Simon’s Cat became the most recognisable and popular YouTube animation – loved the world over.
Living your life at 25 frames per second, Blue Room
Underwire Festival and Animate Projects join forces on a panel discussion featuring some of the most exciting new female animators in the UK to talk about life after graduation, retaining creative integrity whilst also paying the rent and what it’s like to live your life always thinking about 25 frames-per-second.
I Am Legend – How to sell yourself in a competitive industry, BFI Reuben Library
With over 32,000 media studies students graduating every year, it’s vital that if you’re serious about a career in film you’re confident in your own abilities and are able to sell yourself to others. Come along to this session run by Women in Film and Television for top tips on how to make the most of your CV and how to ensure your ‘personal brand’ – both in person and online – is as polished and professional as it can be.
Introduction to After Effect, LS1
Join filmmaker and VFX guru, Nuru Mkali as he helps you get to grips with creating visual effects using After Effects software.
Super8 Stop Frame Animation with N.O.W.here Lab, LS2
Artist James Holcombe of N.O.W.here presents a hands-on exploration of the medium of Super 8 film. In an hour-and-a-half we will shoot a roll of black and white Super 8 film, then mix a nice cup of coffee, Vitamin C and washing soda to develop the film in. Yes, you will be amazed! Once dry the film will be projected, warts, mistakes, focus issues and all… this is as hands on, direct, dirty and quick as working with analogue film gets and has to be seen to be believed.
To book or find out more, you can visit the BFI Future Film Festival Website