OTTAWA, 28 June 2023 – The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) continues to roll out its 2023 Official Selections with the announcement of the Canadian Student Competition. Of the 979 animation student entries received from Canada and around the world, 25 Canadian student animated works have been selected for competition. Those selected this year will have the opportunity to win the new NBCUniversal Award for Best Canadian Student Animation.
To The Sea
“It’s been astonishing to witness the growth of Canadian student work since we introduced this competition,” says OIAF Artistic Director Chris Robinson. “There was a time when student work in Canada was a tad predictable and safe; now we’re seeing a willingness to take chances and explore different techniques and narratives. It’s a testament to the quality of Canadian schools and teachers.”
The 25 animated works competing in the Canadian Student competition this year include:
- ...To The Sea (dir. Ishaan Thompson, Sheridan College)
- A Body Transgressive (dir. Charlie Galea McClure, Concordia University)
- Abby (dir. Fanny Lord-Bourcier, Concordia University)
- Alongside (dir. River Park, Sheridan College)
- An Ego and I (dir. Jesu Medina, Concordia University)
- Between You and Me (dir. Cameron Kletke, Emily Carr University of Art + Design)
- Bliss (dir. Nadya Aubrey, Université du Québec à Montréal)
- Clean (dir. Nicholas Vassos, Queen’s University)
- Corvette (dir. Émile Désilets, Université du Québec à Montréal)
- Egg Film (dir. Jacob Tobin, Sheridan College)
- Fruiting Bodies (dir. Mia Milardo, Emily Carr University of Art + Design)
- Jitters (dir. Melanie Tikhonova, Sheridan College)
- Look (dir. Constant Yen, Seneca College)
- Mission Popo (dir. Jennifer Wu, Sheridan College)
- Mr. Vaxt’s Venture (dir. Nina Berionni, Pivaut Montréal)
- Prion (dir. Maya Patrich, Emily Carr University of Art + Design)
- Rain (dir. Craig Renaud, Sheridan College)
- Ruins of Equinox (dir. Philippe Shewchenko, Concordia University)
- Synodic (dir. Rebecca Devitt, Concordia University)
- The Clock Is Ticking (dir. Thibault Picquoin, Concordia University)
- The Fool (dir. Noémi Baron, Université du Québec à Montréal)
- The Pest (dir. Jungwoo Choi, Sheridan College)
- Жвачка (Zhivachka) (dir. Liz Adler, OCAD University)
- رثاء الأندلس (Lament of Andalusia) (dir. Anas M’birkou, Concordia University)
- 聽ㄊ丨ㄥ嘸ㄇˊ ㄡ (Don’t Understand) (dir. Weiwei Wu, Emily Carr University of Art + Design)
Abby
NBCUniversal has partnered with the OIAF to sponsor the award for this year’s Canadian Student Competition. The new NBCUniversal Award for Best Canadian Student Animation celebrates emerging Canadian student animators and acknowledges their commitment to the craft. In addition to the award, the winner of the Canadian Student Competition will receive a $5000 CAD cash prize courtesy of NBCUniversal.
The OIAF continues its selections rollout over the coming weeks with its Young Audiences and Teen, Features, Shorts, and Virtual Reality competition categories.
A Body Transgressive