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anima 03 JORNADAS DE ANIMACIÓN - CORDOBA 2003 A new animation festival in South America Interview with the festival director Alejandro R. González

Centro Cultural España - Córdoba

Thomas: " Dear Alejandro R. González, you are the director of the new animation festival in Cordoba. Would you please tell us a little bit about your person and your interest in animation film?"

Alejandro: " I first became involved with animation when studying filmmaking at the Film Department of the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba in 1991. At the time I started to study, I didn't even think about animation. My main interests where in live action, feature film scriptwriting, directing and production. If at that time you asked me "what is animation", all I could think about was that animation that I grew up with: Disney features, the WB shorts from the forties and fifties, García Ferré´s productions, and some anime (I wasn't aware of the term "anime" then; and though I enjoyed those films, I wouldn't have qualified as a cartoon fan or as an otaku - another term I didn't know existed). My liking for animation started when I took the - compulsory - course called "Film Animation and Graphic Design". I think that the exact moment that changed my mind was when Carmen, our Professor, showed us an old NFB film by Norman McLaren and Grant Munro called "Aspects of Motion" which focuses on animation principles such as tempo, acceleration and deceleration, etc. I couldn't believe my eyes: those guys were expressing feeling from a circle and a line! After that, I discovered that film animation was something bigger than I thought; that animation was not only "some doodles for kids" - and that those WB animations that I liked weren't specifically aimed at kids at all! - ; and that it was the perfect medium for personal expression, much better than live action film. The work of artists like Norman McLaren, Caroline Leaf, Alexander Alexeïeff, Jiri Trnka, Peter Foldes, Nick Park, Paul Driessen, to name a few, was of a huge influence for me. Since that moment, I started to experiment with animation. "

Thomas: " The most important reason for animation festivals might be to get publicity for this art form, and to improve the situation of animation production. How is the situation for the art of animation in Argentina? Would you please give our readers some information about the history and present situation of this art form in Argentina? Which role plays animation industry in Argentina, and how is the situation for 'independent artists'?"

Alejandro: " Long question, I'll take it one bit at a time. I couldn't agree more when you mention that the most important reason for animation festivals is to bring publicity to this art form. I remember a seminar I took some time ago, taught by a film director of the ICAIC (Cuba). She mentioned that the Havana Film Festival was wonderful mainly because of the exposure that it brought to Cuban films and directors, and that it had a feedback effect because it stimulated film production in Cuba. That is one of the objectives that we have in mind when organizing our own Animation Festival. Another of the objectives is to try to form and educate an audience into animation, because what most people are exposed to is the kind of animation that airs on commercial television and what makes it to the movie theaters. The domain of American animation in commercial venues is indisputable. About the history of animation in Argentina, it spans for about 86 years since Quirino Cristiani´s "El Apóstol" (The Apostle). Argentina´s animation history is full of independent efforts with mixed results; poor or nonexistent connections between those independent animators in the country - therefore isolating themselves even more - ; several dozens of small animation studios that were created, only to close their doors a few years later; and only one animation studio that was able to achieve commercial success through feature length animation pictures (García Ferre´s, which is still alive and kicking). The situation for animation in Argentina improved in the early nineties. Video and computers made animation accessible; auteur animation from other countries found a slot in nationwide television networks; many film, video, tv and animation schools were created; and some tv producers started to produce shows that included animation as a fundamental part. Therefore, the nineties saw the rebirth of animation in Argentina, both commercial and independent. Of those two, the most interesting is independent animation, both in its graphic qualities and its narrative. "

Thomas: " I understand with delight, that you are mainly interested in the art of animation, as it is realised in independant or personal films. So I assume, that your festival will focus on that kind of animation? Or do also plan to present the more commercial side of animation? "

Alejandro: " Well, with the exception of publicity works, we are open to all kinds of animation, therefore almost anyone may submit a film. However, when defining the competition programs, we will try to favor those works of an independent, personal nature. We feel that mainstream animation has more than enough channels of exhibition already, and also that mainstream animation is more able to find an audience than personal works. Also, and because of the same reasons, we are specially interested in screening school productions too. "

Thomas: " What is the concrete programme of your festival? Do you have an international competition? How many programmes will be from Argentina or South America, which international shows will you present? Would you like to highlight special screenings or presentations?"

Alejandro: " The Celebration has two parts: 1) The International Animation Festival, which is the competitive side. The Festival will screen about 80 works (which sums up to nine hours) in five different programs into competition, and one non-competitive program: Program I: Internet Animation - Films into the Internet Program II: Internet Animation - Internet into the Film Program III: Film and Video - Narrative animation Program IV: Film and Video - Non - narrative animation Program V: Film and Video - Commercial Animation Non-competitive Program: Argentine Animation Panorama We would have liked to include a non-competitive program on Latin American Animation, but we did not receive enough works (which in itself talks about the state of animation production in Latin America). 2) There will be the following special screenings and retrospectives: - Origins of American Animation (Courtesy of the Library of Congress, USA). - National Film Board of Canada (Courtesy of the Canadian Embassy in Argentina). - Walter Tournier: A retrospective. - Chris Hinton: A retrospective (Courtesy of the NFB and the Canadian Embassy in Argentina). - A special screening of Pablo Rodríguez Jáuregui´s "The Planet" (one of the most important independent animation features from the last year) - A special screening of Juan Antín´s "Mercano, the Martian" (which was awarded a special Jury Mention at Annecy 2002) The composition of the competitive programs, as well as a general schedule of the Festival and more information, is available online at the festival´s website: www.animafestival.com.ar . "

Thomas: " Could you please give our readers a short impression about the size and capacity of your festival? Do you e.g. expect many international guests, can you invite filmmakers in competition?"

Alejandro: " The Festival will take place in two locations: The Centro Cultural España - Córdoba, which is located at a beautiful, 19th Century building (pictures), and the Cineclub Municipal "Hugo del Carril", a state of the art theatre which can accommodate up to 400 people. We are expecting several visitors from all over Argentina, and some from other countries. Córdoba is the second biggest city of Argentina, with a population of around two million people, beautiful architecture and several landmarks of cultural importance. Unfortunately, our budget is not enough to cover travel and accommodation expenses of the filmmakers whose works have been selected for competition. The only international guests are Christopher Hinton and Walter Tournier, which are honoured at the retrospectives. "

Thomas: " What would you need to improve the situation of your festival? Do you have any concrete ideas, how people can support your?"

Alejandro: " SPONSORS. Our Festival is organised and supported by educational institutions and cultural, non-profit organisations. This is great because it allows us to focus on independent, non-commercial animation both in the competitive section and in the special screenings section. The downside of this is that our budget is really low. We would like to find sponsors who could share our vision and support the next editions of the festival. "

Thomas: " I thank you very much for answering all these questions. And I wish you a big success for the festival! "

Alejandro: " Thanks to you for all your help! "

www.animafestival.com.ar

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