All roads lead to Conamara as Galway studio hosts Ireland's first animation film
Ireland’s first festival dedicated to the craft of stop-motion animation will take place in Stiúideo Fia, Leitir Móír, on August 29-30, with film screenings, artist talks, workshops and other creative events.
Frame Fest, which will be free to attend and will take place in Irish and English, is the brainchild of artist and educator Paul McDonnell who runs this stop-motion animation studio
Artists with links to leading studios, such as Aardman Animations, MacKinnon & Saunders, Telegael, Nexus Studios and Elk Studios, will share insights into the making of some of the world’s most distinctive animated films.
“Stop-motion has always fascinated me because it’s such a hands-on craft – part animation, part theatre, part filmmaking. It’s also a community of people constantly learning from each other,” says Paul. “Frame Fest is about creating a space where that community can come together and share their love of this wonderfully unusual craft.”
Highlights will include a feature screening of Captain Morten and the Spider Queen, and an an Irish-language stop-motion screening for families, puppet-making and animation workshops, a sketch and walk, and optional early-morning Atlantic swim.
Speakers will include Richard Pickersgill of MacKinnon & Saunders, talking about high-end puppet fabrication, including techniques used on Guillermo del Toro's film Pinocchio. Séamus Malone of Aardman will share his experience directing on the internationally acclaimed Shaun the Sheep.
Audiences will get to meet professional stop-motion puppets up close, offering a rare insight into the craft behind characters such as Pinocchio and Shaun the Sheep.
Frame Fest will also present four award: Best Stop-Motion Short, Excellence in Craft and Process, Spirit of Stop-Motion and the TG4 Best Irish Language Stop-Motion Award, supported by TG4.A call for film submissions is open now, via Film Freeway. The deadline is May 25.
While Frame Fest is a free event, registration is required as places are limited. Register at www.stiuideofia.ie/framefest.