PLATFORM International Animation Festival Announces Slate of Judges Including Academy Award(R) Winning Animator John Canemaker

PLATFORM International Animation Festival Announces Slate of Judges Including Academy Award(R) Winning Animator John Canemaker

Film Submission Deadline Extended to March 15

PORTLAND, Ore., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- PLATFORM International Animation Festival Founder and Director Irene Kotlarz today announced the panel of judges slated to select the film competition winners, who will be recognized during the award ceremony that concludes the six day festival in Portland, Oregon, June 25-30, 2007. World renowned judges include Academy Award(R) winning animator John Canemaker (The Moon and the Son: An Imagined Conversation), Director/Special Effects Specialist Gaelle Denis (After the Rain, City Paradise), Director/Animator PES (Game Over, Roof Sex), and Animation Producer Eiko Tanaka (Tekkon Kinkreet, Mind Game). London-based multi-media artist and Slade School of Fine Art professor Dryden Goodwin will judge the installations.

"We are excited to have secured judges who are well respected in the animation industry, and whose credits show their commitment to creativity, innovation, and excellence," said Kotlarz. "Our judges understand the importance of discovering fresh talent and recognizing innovation and originality to create future generations of animators who will continue to cultivate the art form."

The careers of Canemaker, Denis, PES, and Tanaka are as varied as their work. While established filmmaker Canemaker received early recognition by Hollywood's elite for his work on The World According to Garp and other projects, New York-based PES' core following comes from underground animation enthusiasts who crave distinctly unique films like KaBoom!, a war film created entirely with household objects. Denis is emerging as a filmmaker to watch, honing her craft in her London-based production office and developing mixed media shorts by utilizing new technologies. Japan-based Tanaka most recently produced anime film Tekkon Kinkreet, which has received critical acclaim for its masterful storytelling.

The PLATFORM International Animation Festival will be a literal platform for artists, innovation, debate and discussion as well as set the stage to explore new developments in animation. The Festival program will feature premieres, retrospectives, exclusive screenings, guest speakers, exhibitions, workshops with leading artists, parties and networking opportunities with industry insiders. It will also break boundaries into other art forms, including comics, illustration, character and toy design, motion graphics, gallery art and live action cinema.

Animators from more than 25 countries have already submitted over 700 entries into the competition. Films (including commercials, music videos and TV series) under 40 minutes (with no minimum running time) are eligible and there is no entry fee. Awards will be given in categories covering commercial and independent films, student animation and films for new platforms, including cell phones and the Internet. Rules stipulate that films must have premiered after January 1, 2005 to be eligible. In total, more than $50,000 will be awarded. The deadline to enter the competition has been extended to March 15, 2007.

The International Selection Committee will meet in March to choose films for screening in the competition. The Selection Committee includes award winning animators Laura Heit and Chris Hinton, and Yvette Kaplan, an animation writer, director, producer and consultant whose many credits include King of the Hill and Ice Age. The animated installation entries were selected in February by Portland-based animator Rose Bond, British experimental film authority David Curtis and independent New York animator George Griffin.

For more information on the PLATFORM International Animation Festival, visit www.platformfestival.com

About PLATFORM International Animation Festival

PLATFORM, debuting June 25-30, 2007 in Portland, Oregon, is a boundary- breaking international animation festival and competition sponsored by Cartoon Network. The festival will be a literal platform for artists, innovations, debate and discussion and for exploring new developments in animation.

Media Contact:

Joanne Lichtenstein
(818) 508-9186
press@platformfestival.com

Source: PLATFORM International Animation Festival

CONTACT: Joanne Lichtenstein, +1-818-508-9186,
press@platformfestival.com, for PLATFORM International Animation Festival

Web site: http://www.platformfestival.com/

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