Academy Award-Winning Animator Brightens up OIAF 2025 with Owl-Inspired Poster
- The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) unveils its 2025 poster, masterminded by Academy Award-winning Canadian director and animator, Torill Kove.
- Adhering to annual OIAF tradition, a distinct animator was chosen to put their creative spin on the festival poster, mirroring their personal craftsmanship.
- Kove’s interpretation for 2025 derives inspiration from the festival’s emblematic symbol – the owl. She conjures up a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork that resonates with her intrinsic pumpkin spice latte-induced creativity (not confirmed, but we suspect it).
When Owls Fly in the Artistic Universe of Torill Kove
OIAF Giving Animators a Chance to Owl It Up
In the daily grind of our humorless lives, surely, the news of a digital owl making its debut on the 2025 OIAF poster contributes to a collective belly laugh, right?
Ah, the joy of animation, where artists like Torill Kove can be both Picasso and Dr. Dolittle at the same time! A single poster representing a wildly diverse animation industry is no easy feat. And yet, year after year, OIAF pulls it off with the agility of an owl swooping down on its prey.
Though we’re not entirely sure Torill Kove wandered into the woods to besiege wisdom from our nocturnal friends, we nod approvingly at the poster with an appreciation for its aesthetic, which is both soothing to the eyes and, indeed, a silent tribute to all night owls out there!
In animation, as in life, embracing your own hoot is what gives you a unique identity. So, here’s hoping the festival taketh flight in 2025, such as our virtuous owl on the poster. In our book, Kove’s triumph calls for a celebratory wolfing down of pancakes (gluten-free, of course).
Unveiling the unique 2025 poster for the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), conceptualized and executed by the acclaimed Canadian illustrator, director, and Academy Award winner, Torill Kove. The festival chooses a different artist every year to create a one-of-a-kind poster; this time, it’s an imaginative take on an owl, the emblem of OIAF.
In a humorous revelation, Kove states, ““Once last spring, Chris asked me for the design of the 2025 OIAF poster and film. I was all in because, first, I adore owls! Second, I had time on my side. But when Chris checked back for my progress a few months later, all I had was a sketch of a grumpy owl nestled in a tree. Why a grumpy owl, you ask? I think it’s a playful impression that owls often pull off, though I don’t think it implies their actual mood.”
Kove further shares, “After investing genuine time in the poster design, the grumpy owl became my pet project. Feeling that the owl seemed a bit lonely, I popped in few more stick figure owls soaring away from the phenakistoscope. I decided on orange since it’s my color of choice.”
A Norway native and now a long-time Montreal resident, Kove nurtured her love for animation into becoming a multiple Academy Award nominee. It all started with her 2000 nomination for My Grandmother Ironed the King’s Shirts (1999), which narrated the tale of her grandmother ironing shirts for Norway’s King Haakon VII.
By 2007, The Danish Poet (2006), a film by Kove bagged an Academy Award nomination, and ultimately clinched the Animated Short Film category at the 79th Academy Awards. Besides these, Kove’s Me and My Moulton (2014) was a nominee at the 87th Academy Awards. Kove’s films have claimed the world stage, featuring in prestigious festivals such as the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and of course, the OIAF.
Her latest creation, Maybe Elephants (2024) featured at the OIAF 2024 in competition, and made it to the TIFF’s annual Canada’s Top Ten list for 2024.
The press statement by Chris Robinson, OIAF Artistic Director reads, “We are elated to present Torill’s artwork that breathes fresh life into our festival poster. It cuts through the clutter of layered and abstract designs that we’ve conventionally had, with its unique simplicity and vibrancy. We desired a straight-forward, direct design, and Torill’s work encapsulates that spirit flawlessly. It’s a bold new direction for OIAF, and we are thrilled to share it with everyone.”
Kove’s creation for OIAF will sit among the illustrious works of former artists including Lei Lei (2024), Matthew Rankin (2023), Angela Stempel and Amanda Bonaiuto (2021), Gary Baseman (2007), Gary Panter (2005), and Dave Cooper (2001).
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/torill-koves-ottawa-international-animation-festival-2025-poster-takes-flight/