Unveiling the Star-Studded 16th Annual SPARK ANIMATION Festival: Celebrating the Best in Animated Storytelling. Running from October 31st until November 3rd, 2024 in Vancouver, Canada, and with online content available until the end of December, this year’s festival is set to break all previous records. Recognized by both Oscar® and Canadian Cinema & Television, it is one of the most prominent festivals of its kind.

With SPARK ANIMATION 2024, creators from around the world can vie for the prestigious Academy Awards® and the Canadian Cinema & Television Academy’s Best Animated Short category, without the need for a conventional theatrical release. The event blends in-person and digital experiences, with a rich array of film premieres, presentations, interactive Q&As, and networking opportunities.

The festival kicks off with the eagerly-anticipated Canadian Premiere of Claude Barras’ eco-conscious parable, Savages. The event also boasts a varied roster of premieres, including:

• The Heartwarming Family saga – The Sloth Lane, Tania Vincent & Ricard Cussó’s directorial – Canadian Premiere
• (S)KiDS – Leslie Solis’ defiant and energized rock musical, with fresh compositions by Vancouver’s own Rare Americans – North American Premiere
• Sunburnt Unicorn – Alberta’s Nicholas Johnson’s adventurous narrative – BC Premiere
• Dounia: The Great White North – directorial continuation of Dounia’s adventures by André Kadi & Marya Zarif – Western Canadian Premiere

The festival will conclude with yet another Canadian Premiere – Naoko Yamada’s universally-praised film, The Colours Within.

Introducing the Esteemed Festival Jury

The celebrated SPARK ANIMATION jury, comprising esteemed industry professionals, will preside over the festival competitions. The full jury panel includes:

• Alan Barillaro – Renowned Author and Film Director, Passion Pictures
• Alyssa Zárate – Art Director and Environment Supervisor, The VFX Mentor
• Athena Georgaklis – Executive Producer, Independent
• David Mullins – Co-Founder, CCO, Writer, and Director, ElectroLeague
• Dawn Fidrick – Production Team Manager, DNEG
• Don Perro – Senior Lecturer, Capilano University
• Jinko Gotoh – Producer, Sony Pictures Animation
• Kenny Park – Artist, Klei Entertainment
• Melissa Tierney – Producer, Animal Logic
• Rick Mischel – Founder and CEO, Artists Animation Studio

Festival Director of SPARK ANIMATION, Marina Antunes, expressed her enthusiasm:

“We are delighted to showcase another year of phenomenal animation and are honored to have won recognition not only from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences but also the Canadian Academy. The jury will face a challenging task in selecting the “Best in Show” and other award winners among such a diverse range of creative projects.”

SPARK ANIMATION’s history is rich with influential animation artists, with seven past “Best in Show” winners receiving Oscar® nominations. This year’s winner will once again be eligible for Academy Awards® consideration and the “Best Canadian Film” award, as recognized by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television.

Secure your tickets for selected programming now at sparkanimation.ca.

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