Emerging Animators Shortlisted – AniJam UK Public Vote Now Open
Skwigly
Vote for your favourite animation created as part of AniJam UK, the first ever nationwide 48-hour animation challenge.
This summer, teams across the UK took up the challenge to create a short animation in a weekend, based on the theme ‘Together’. More than 100 animators took part, and now the shortlisted teams are battling it out to claim exclusive prizes and special trophies. Visit www.anijam.co.uk to see the films created and vote for your favourite.
The competition is brought to you by Anim18 and WONKY Films. Anim18 is a UK-wide celebration of British animation led by Film Hub Wales and Chapter (Cardiff), with the BFI Film Audience Network and a wealth of project partners. The series of AniJams takes inspiration from previous events delivered in the South West of England since 2012 by WONKY and Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival. This year they are extending nationally and the challenge will culminate in a prize-giving event at Manchester Animation Festival.
AniJam UK aims to inspire and showcase new work from emerging and established talent. The regional heats took place in cities from Bristol to Belfast, hosted by partners including Derby QUAD, Leicester Phoenix, Glasgow Short Film Festival, World of Film Festival, Aesthetica Short Film Festival, Chapter (Cardiff), Young FAN, Rich Mix (London) and Nerve Centre (Belfast). Animators aged 18+ competed for free in teams of up to 5 people, creating an original film based on a theme that was kept secret until the challenge kicked off. The short films are in a range of animation styles, from 15 to 90 seconds in length. The shortlist will be screened at venues and festivals including Encounters Short Film & Animation Festival, Glasgow Film Theatre, the Wirksworth Arts Festival and Manchester Animation Festival.
As well as the Public Choice Award, there will be a Grand Prix selected by a panel of industry experts, including representatives from key UK film and animation festivals, studios and organisations such as BAFTA Cymru and the BFI. Prizes include bespoke trophies created by Animation Toolkit, delegate tickets to key UK festivals, and distribution by ShortsTV – ‘the global home of short movies’.
The AniJams form part of the wider Anim18 programme, which runs until November. This explores the history of British animation, from early techniques to modern technologies such as gaming and VR. As well as AniJams, audiences will have the opportunity to see newly remastered films from the BFI National Archive’s unique animation collection and get involved in additional pop-up activities such as GameJams and VR exhibitions. They will even be able to smell their way through Scratch n Sniff screenings of Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit, experience live musical soundtracks, and singalong to 50th anniversary screenings of Yellow Submarine.
Anim18 is supported by the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery, by Arts Council England and the British Council. The initiative aims to generate renewed interest in British animation, bring classic titles back to the big screen, and support innovation and experimentation by UK animators. The programme complements BFI Animation 2018, a year-round celebration of animation.
Hana Lewis of Film Hub Wales says:
We are thrilled that an eclectic range of UK exhibitors, from venues to film festivals, are coming together to develop new animations during Anim18, merging film watching, making and understanding as part of one celebratory programme.
Vicky Brophy of WONKY explains:
WONKY have been really excited to see AniJam go national thanks to the brilliant regional partners taking part across the UK this year. We’ve very much enjoyed seeing how this year’s theme of ’Together’ has been so widely interpreted by all the teams. Following such an animation-packed summer, we can’t wait to finally watch them all come ’together’ on the big screen!
Ben Luxford, Head of UK-wide Audiences for the BFI, says;
AniJam is a fun and creative project that brings together animation filmmaking talent with industry experts, festivals and audiences through the BFI Film Audience Network.
Peter Knott, Area Director, Arts Council England, said:
Arts Council England is very pleased to support Anim18 and the AniJam project which will allow established and emerging talent to create new and innovative work. It’s a great opportunity for the public to have their say, voting for the best ideas, as well as audiences across the country and online experiencing animation and the visual arts in new ways. It is funded by the National Lottery, which is your money being invested back into your project and we want as many people as possible to share in its benefits.