The Ottawa International Animation Festival is a month later than past years, which organizers say will boost attendance.
The festival features the competition of animated films, including short films, PSAs, commercials and feature films. Approximately 100 films are selected from 1,000 entries from all over the world each year, says Kelly Neall, managing director of the festival. It also allows animation professionals and fans to get together and network.
More students groups are expected to boost attendance, says Neall. Groups from all over North America have time to organize and are expected to come out, she says. When the festival was held in September, schools did not have time to prepare, she says.
More than 1,500 people have signed up for passes this year and the festival expects to break the attendance record from last year, says Neall. People attend because the festival is one of the largest animation festivals in the world, she says.
“We’re hoping people will enjoy coming for fall colours,” she adds.
Daniel Cossette, who has volunteered and attended the festival for four years, says he does not think the cold weather will deter participants.
“If you love animation you’re going to come by anyways,” he says. “Once you’re here, it’s just a lot of fun and you kind of forget about the cold.”
Susan Godfrey, who has attended the festival for three years, says she agrees.
“It makes the pumpkin carving a little bit more appropriate,” she says, referring to an activity at the annual Animator’s Picnic.
The festival is a month later due to problems with venue availability and the time of other international animation events, says Neall.
The festival will open with films at the Bytowne Cinema tonight.
Neall says she expects the venue to be sold out.
“It’s going to be pretty crazy,” says Neall. “It’ll be a whirlwind tour of the world of animation.”