BLOCK CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING FILMS:
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A POEM IN BAMBOO (USA)
UTAH PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: 1920s, southern Anhui Province, China. In this moody, atmospheric short animation, a young bridegroom is visiting his aunt, who lives alone in the distant mountains. Bamboo grows everywhere, like an ocean. Rumors swirl around the isolated mansion and the lonely old lady who lives there, but her nephew is determined to maintain family ties. The rural setting is beautiful, and his aunt seems kind, if subdued. Still, there is that locked room in the attic. And that strange noise. And secrets?
RATINGS GUIDE: Family Friendly, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Xufei Wu & Chun Yao
AWARDS NOMINATIONS: N/A
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Xufei Wu is a 3D artist with specialties including but not limited to lighting, animation and storyboard. He comes from a strong 2D background and will continue using his 2D aesthetics as his ultimate inspiration. After years of drawing on paper, he discovered that tablets and computer software are very powerful tools to create exciting images. His last semester in college introduced him to Maya. Since then he has found a completely new way of playing with lights.
Chun Yao is a CGI artist and Compositor. He was a graphic designer, AAA game artist and stereo artist in the industry for years until he became a MFA student and found his enthusiasm to the compositing and matte painting. He deepened his learning in lighting, and shading and live action compositing which makes him good at visualizing the stories and bring the fantasy, moody atmosphere into his works.
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FRIENDS & RIVALS (CANADA / S. KOREA)
UTAH PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: Sent by the Council to retrieve a powerful, magical gemstone artifact, before the sky island where it is located collapses, Summoners Durand and Morgana, along with their technical support Batu, arrive to find that the location is already unstable. After battling the relic protecting giants of the gemstone with their monsters, the Summoners sense of competition gets the best of them, and they fight each other over the artifact. But this rivalry between Durand and Morgana is tempting fate, as the entire sky island they are on, floating hundreds of feet before Alea’s surface, is about to collapse and they could lose everything.
RATINGS GUIDE: Family Friendly, All Audiences
AWARDS NOMINATIONS (1): Best Animated Short
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Paul is a visionary short and long form content and gaming director. At WSS he works with our teams to bring characters to life in a both a traditional and digital interactive space. His enthusiastic and innovative approach to storytelling is an inspiration to all that work with him. For WSS he has most recently adapted, written and directed a short film based on the massive game Summoners War (85 million players+). Prior to joining WSS he was at Creative Director for one of Canada’s top creative agencies. He got his start in visual effects at Rainmaker Digital Pictures working on shows such as Stargate: SG-1 and feature films like I, Robot and Tropic Thunder.
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GIANT BEAR (CANADA)
UTAH/REGIONAL PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: A timeless Inuit legend about a solitary man, a giant bear and their daunting foes: each other.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Neil Christopher & Daniel Gies
AWARDS NOMINATIONS : N/A
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Co-Director Neil Christopher – Many years ago, Neil moved to Resolute Bay in northern Canada. Neil quickly fell in love with the North—the landscape, the wildlife, and the culture. It was also in those first years in the North that Neil was introduced to the rich mythology of the Canadian Inuit. For the last ten years, Neil has been researching Inuit myths and legends and has used this research to develop publications for children, youth, and adults. In 2012, Neil wrote and directed his first animated film, Amaqqut Nunaat: The Country of Wolves. This film was an international success, garnishing many awards and critical acclaim. The success of that film prompted Neil to start the film company Taqqut Productions with his publishing colleagues, Louise Flaherty and Danny Christopher. Neil currently lives with his family in the capital of Nunavut, Iqaluit.
Co-Director Daniel Gies – Daniel is a Co-founder and the Art + Tech Director at e→d films, a Montreal-based animation studio that makes award-winning films with a handcrafted feel. With 20 years worth of projects behind him, Daniel is an accomplished animator and inventor. His peers know him as a leader in pushing the limits of off-the-shelf animation software through use of customized scripting, hybridization, and creative programming. His extensive library – comprised of more than 200 online video tutorials which explore his innovative and unique computer animation techniques – has an active and organically growing international online following. When he’s not doodling in his sketchbook or experimenting with animation techniques, he can be found with paper and glue in his hands.
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GOOD NIGHT LITTLE KNIGHT (USA)
UTAH PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: Lizzie’s father has given her a teddy bear to help ward off bad dreams.
RATINGS GUIDE: Family Friendly, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Thomas Nicol
AWARDS NOMINATIONS : N/A
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Thomas Nicol is a filmmaker/animator from Champaign, Illinois.
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KELPIE (CANADA)
UTAH/REGIONAL PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: A young shepherd boy frees a panicked, trapped horse, only to find out why it was shackled in the first place.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences, Family Friendly
DIRECTOR: Danielle Bittner
AWARDS NOMINATIONS: N/A
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: After studying Architecture for a few years, Dani Bittner decided to leave in order to follow her true passion: Animation, and she is now a 2D and 3D Animator and Designer working in Vancouver, BC. She is a 2019 graduate of Sheridan College’s Bachelors of Animation Program, where she made her thesis film, “Kelpie”, during her last year in school.
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L’ HOMME ET LE POISSON (CANADA)
UTAH/REGIONAL PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: Set against the backdrop of a vast, frozen tundra; a grizzled fisherman gets his comeuppance from a vindictive, yet familiar fish.
RATINGS GUIDE: Family Friendly, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Lewis Leon
AWARDS NOMINATIONS: N/A
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Lewis began as a playwright before transitioning into documentary filmmaking. He has won numerous Canadian and international awards for his work including the first ever William Marshall award from the Toronto Film School named after the co-founder of the Toronto International Film Festival and awarded to the film student who best combines artistry with academics. ‘L’Homme et le Poisson’ is Lewis’ first animated film. He currently works in marketing and resides in Toronto, Canada.
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MOGU AND PEROL (JAPAN)
UTAH/REGIONAL PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: A story about two friends living on Yummy Island, where delicious food can be found everywhere! Whenever Mogu is cooking, Perol just pops up and eats the yummy meal. One day Perol finds a very tasty looking Brrrr-berry that Mogu was about to pick. Perol doesn’t wait for a second to taste the berry which brings about an unexpected quarrel between the two.
RATINGS GUIDE: Family Friendly, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Tsuneo Goda
AWARDS NOMINATIONS (1): Best Animated Short
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Creating “Domo”for NHK led Goda into the field of stop motion animation establishing dwarf studios in 2003. Domo TV series was broadcasted globally on Nickelodeon in 2008.His other stop motion series “Komaneko” has also been highly praised at various film festivals.His recent work includes “The Curious Kitty & Friends” for US Amazon Studios, “By Your Side”, a charity project with Sade for Great East Japan earthquake and TO&KYO a short film depicting two petite-demons living in downtwon Tokyo.
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ROCKET BOY (UK)
UTAH PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: As we reach the 50th anniversary of the first people travelling to the moon, ‘Rocket Boy’ is the account of a man who witnessed, first hand, the launch of that rocket.
As he recalls the awe inspiring event, the story is told through the eyes of a young boy, who’s power of imagination makes the impossible become real.
RATINGS GUIDE: Family Friendly, All Audiences
AWARDS NOMINATIONS: N/A
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: I grew up in a small town in Suffolk. Everyone I knew left school to work in a factory or a shop. I chose a camera shop. I started taking photographs as a hobby, and also worked part-time as a cinema projectionist in my rundown local cinema. (The sound system was so poor that it used to pick up passing minicab radio, which produced some exciting mid-film overdubs from Barry the controller. I learned my trade at Staffordshire University, and then moved to London to assist Lord Snowdon for several years before leaving to freelance for some of my photography heroes, including the incredible David La Chapelle. When I’m not working I’m usually watching films (Star Wars, Wizard of Oz, anything by Kubrick or Linklater) running marathons (eleven at the last count) or dreaming of one day going into space.
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RUNO (CANADA / FINLAND)
UTAH PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: In a time before music, a wise old wizard builds a harp from the jaw of a monster, and brings magic to the world. Based on rune #41 from the Kalevala, a collection of ancient Finnish folktales and myths.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences, Mild Violence
DIRECTOR: Joakim Juti
AWARDS NOMINATIONS: N/A
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Joakim Juti (1996) is a director, producer, and animator. Joakim began directing with “Goodbye” and has since then directed and animated “Runo”, a short film based on Finnish mythology. Joakim Juti has also worked for independent and studio productions, from the sci-fi short film “No Compassion, No Mercy” to the Rovio kid’s show “Piggy Tales”
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SERENDIPITY (USA)
UTAH PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: Gordon does not want to freeze during his dinner date. Not only is Gordon nervous, but he has a secret- he has snakes for hair with a bad habit of turning people into stone. Will he find love or is this a date with disaster?
RATINGS GUIDE: Family Friendly, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Carlos Mejia & Kevin Barwick
AWARDS NOMINATIONS: N/A
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Carlos Mejia is a Colombian born CG artist, passionate about storytelling and cinematography, and is the Co-Director for Serpendipity. Through animation, he has found a fascinating creative medium that allows for the most outlandish and wondrous adventures to be created and shared with others. His goal is to create strong emotionally driven narratives for wide audiences.
Kevin Barwick is the Co-Director of Serpendipity. For Kevin it’s been an honor and a privilege to learn and grow so much from this film, and with this team. The talent and passion alone are the reason animation is what it is.
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TEDDY MATE (USA)
UTAH PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: In a world where children bond with magical teddy bears that eventually transform into their perfect, human life partner; an optimistic and strong-willed young woman struggles when her teddy mate subverts expectations.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Rommel Villa
AWARDS NOMINATIONS (2): Best Student Short, Best Screenplay – Short
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Rommel Villa is a director, producer, and writer born and raised in Sucre, Bolivia. His interest in telling stories started when he was a kid, creating fictional stories about his family having superpowers and fighting poverty, drugs, and corruption.
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THE TIME TREE (UK)
UTAH/REGIONAL PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: 1596. Anne, a deaf girl, bullied by the maids and mistresses who look after her, finds solace when she comes across a magical tree: a portal to the present, where she meets Jo and Rachel, who help her overcome her disability in a way she could never have imagined.
RATINGS GUIDE: Family Friendly, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Celine Cotran
AWARDS NOMINATIONS: N/A
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Celine is a British-Lebanese filmmaker and London Film School graduate who tells female-driven stories that touch on the fantastical and absurd. Since graduation, she has been mentored by Academy award-winning producer David Parfitt, who executive-produced her shot film, The Time Tree, a grant recipient of the DFI Fall 2017 Grants Programme which premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival 2018. Celine is currently in post-production on a documentary that follows a family of Syrian refugees living in England, and their relationship with the local synagogue.
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TIFFANY (USA)
UTAH/REGIONAL PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: While packing away her deceased grandmother’s affairs, Pauline discovers that one of their stained glass sculptures has come to life. As the lights in the house go out and their memories together begin to dim, Pauline realizes there is joy in celebrating the legacy of those who have been lost.
RATINGS GUIDE: Family Friendly, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Christina Christie
AWARDS NOMINATIONS: N/A
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Christina Christie is a 3D artist and animator based in Orlando, Florida. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Character Animation and intends to continue her studies at the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy. As of 2019, she is credited with directing the short “Tiffany” as well as the initial story pitch for “Serpendipity”, both of which are currently in contention on the international film circuit and plans to bring her passion for narrative and animation into the industry.
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