The Ottawa International Animation Festival was created as a meeting for North American animation professionals and enthusiasts to exchange ideas and to ponder the art and craft of animation. Its main goal is to facilitate the development of animation in North America. Besides, the festival provides international animators with an opportunity to showcase their work on the North American scene.
The capital of Canada was chosen to host an international animation festival for several reasons. First, Ottawa is a capital city with a well-developed infrastructure. Second, it was home to Norman McLaren, a renowned Scottish-Canadian animator, director and producer who was a pioneer in several areas of animation. Third, some of the country’s first private animation studios were established in Ottawa. Fourth, the National Film Board used to be headquartered in Ottawa. All these factors made it the perfect host city for an animation festival.
The Ottawa International Animation Festival is a competitive festival, awards are presented by an international jury consisting of renowned industry professionals from all over the world. The OIAF competition includes categories for narrative, experimental, commissioned, student and feature animation. There is also the Young Audiences Official Competition. Grand Prizes are awarded for Feature Animation and Independent Short Animation.
Alongside the Official Competition screenings, the program of the festival includes out-of-competition screenings featuring new works from Canada and around the world, retrospectives, special programs for kids and teens, industry events, and more. Screenings and other events take place in various venues in downtown Ottawa.
From 1997 to 2004, the OIAF also organized the International Student Animation Festival of Ottawa. It was held in alternate years to the main festival. When the OIAF became an annual event, the Student Festival became its part.
Photo: animationfestival.ca
