Animation Festival on this weekend

An encounter between an angry monkey and an alien with a zap camera, an absurdist little tale about the widow of a man who wanted to make defibrillators, and a poem set in a pub about the probability or not of there being a God, are all part of the Australian International Animation Festival (AIAF) at Southern Cross University this Friday and Saturday, September 14 and 15.

Festival-goers still have time to book for an animation master class with renowned local animator Tim Adlide, one of Australia’s most accomplished animator/directors, whose work in children’s TV is seen regularly around the world.

Tim’s ‘Wind, water and flags: creating flow effects with Flash’ master class will demonstrate the creation of ‘flow’ effects for simulating wind, water and/or cloth waves using Flash. This is an advanced class for the adult audience already familiar with Flash.

This year’s Festival offers a collection of the best international, Australian and local films ever with 17 sessions being held over the two-day event.

A highlight of the Festival will be the screening of ‘Fraught’ the film which won the ‘Best Australian Animation’ at the Melbourne International Animation Festival 2007.

The Festival, being supported by teaching staff in the University’s Bachelor of Media degree, is being held in the Whitebrook Theatre, Y-block, at Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus, Military Rd, Lismore.

It opens at 5.30pm on Friday, September 14 with the launch of the Australian and international programs.

Saturday’s program starts at noon with the kids’ program from 12 – 1.15pm and teen program from 1.30 – 2.45pm. There are concurrent screenings in an adjacent theatre featuring the Australian and International programs, with a second international program screening from 4.45 – to 6pm.

On Saturday night the local animators’ forum will run from 6.10 – 6.50pm. There is an evening digital program from 7 – to 8.15pm and ‘Late Night Bizarre’ screens from 8.20 – to 9.35pm.

Festival pass and session tickets are available over the counter at the Campus Shop, in Goodman Plaza at the University, or by phone (credit card only) on 6622 2311 or at the door on the day.

For information about the Saturday master class with Tim Adlide email sean.oshannessy@scu.edu or call him on 6620 3608. Full program details are available on www.aiaf.com.au.

Photo: A scene from Sigg Jones, a French movie featuring in the international program at the AIAF which is on this Friday and Saturday.

Email your questions to scu.edu.au/enquiries or phone 1800 626 481.