Australian International Animation Festival 2017

The Australian International Animation Festival 2017 featured a celebrated collection of the world’s finest animation for its 14th Anniversary. This internationally renowned event featured over 120 prestigious films selected from more than 4,000 submissions from all around the world. The range of styles, genres and techniques is testament to the vibrancy and relevance of creative animation. The International Competition programs were made up of an eclectic mix of films and offered audiences a complete, up-to-date snapshot of the international creative animation scene. In addition to these were programs was a special presentation by AIAF Co-Director and CSU lecturer Andrew on 10-years of CSU Animation and Visual Effects. He revealed untold true stories, exclusive photos & video from the past, and shared the stage with special guests to mark the historic occasion. Animation & Visual Effects and Multimedia alumni travelled especially for the occasion. Alice Markham, director of the stop-motion story “LOSS”, and Matt Barron, director of 3D film “The Cloud Factory”, shared valuable insights into making heartfelt character-driven animations through very diverse mediums in a presentation titled Stop-Mo & CG: Different Techniques, Same Goals. Discussing the similarities and differences in their filmmaking processes, they share universal truths that applied to their independent productions, and offer expert tips for other filmmakers using highly-specialised techniques. AIAF Co-Director Malcolm Turner presented 2016 – Year of the Animated Masters. This included new films from true living masters of animation including Priit Parn, Phil Mulloy, Koji Yamamura, Marv Newland, Raoul Servais, Joan Gratz and others. Furthermore, there were special children’s shows, public seminars, and a broad representation of national filmmakers introducing the Australian Showcase. As co-director, producer and editor for the event, I organised the venue, technical duties and marketing for the three-day event. The festival premiered on Friday 12th May to Sunday 14th May, 2017 at the Forum 6 Cinema, Wagga Wagga. The success of the event secured Wagga playing host to AIAF in 2018.