Animation @ Edinburgh Film Festival

Four programmes of short animation highlighting the role of the medium in foreseeing issues affecting contemporary anxieties and passions will screen alongside the annual presentation of some of the hottest British animating talent in the McLaren Award screenings as well as a special retrospective of a unique talent in animated filmmaker Elizabeth Hobbs.

Taking place on Wednesday 27 June, ELIZABETH HOBBS – A RETROSPECTIVE OF ANIMATED WORK, running as part of Anim18, a celebration of British animation taking place across the UK, will pay tribute to the award-winning animator who has been making short films for over 17 years and is both a graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art and a recipient of EIFF’s McLaren Award. Screening will be THE FILING OF THE FANGS, LITTLE SKIPPER and THE TRUE STORY OF SAWNEY BEANE amongst a number of other charming stories by this wonderful indie animator.

Hobbs’ I’M OK will also compete in this year’s McLaren Award for Best British Animation, supported by the British Council, alongside Emily Scaife’s ATTRACTION; Chris Shepherd’s topical BREXICUTED; INVADERS, made by Daniel Prince; Jonathan Hodgson’s ROUGHHOUSE and THAT YORKSHIRE SOUND by Marcus Armitage amongst a host of other titles with the winner crowned by the Festival audience.

International Animation returns this year with a focus on female directors each bringing a unique perspective to very relevant debates taking place in the public consciousness of our day: short films screening includes Alison Snowden’s ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR, Emily Ann Hoffman’s NEVADA and ICEBURGS from Eirini Vianelli.

Programmer Iain Gardner said:

Edinburgh always attracts the best British Animation for a chance at winning our McLaren Award, and I’m extremely excited at the number of World Premieres at the Festival this year, including some brand-new work from some established old hands!

Animation at EIFF is supported by creative communications consultancy, Emperor, who are celebrating their 15th anniversary in Edinburgh this year, with match funding provided by the Culture & Business Fund Scotland. Launched in April 2017, this programme is run by independent charity Arts & Business Scotland to encourage closer collaboration between businesses and the cultural sector by match-funding business sponsorship of cultural projects pound for pound.

Noel O’Connor, Emperor Founder said:

Encouraging and nurturing creativity in all forms is really important to us and to help celebrate our 15th year in Edinburgh we’re delighted to support the animation programme at EIFF.

Carl Watt, Heads of Programmes at Arts & Business Scotland, added:

Emperor’s sponsorship of the animation programme at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival is another great example of Scotland’s business and cultural communities working together to deliver something uniquely creative for mutual benefit. Support from the Culture & Business Fund Scotland means the impact of Emperor’s investment will be maximized and will enable the Edinburgh International Film Festival to host an animation programme that is genuinely world-class.

As previously announced, FILM FEST JUNIOR boasts two UK Premieres of animations VITELLO, in which a young boy goes in search of his father and ZOMBILLENIUM where a member of the undead must find his place at a monster theme park as well as an exclusive preview of PRINCESS EMMY, animated entertainment aimed at fans of princesses and horses. This year’s Family Gala is the long-awaited Disney-Pixar animation, INCREDIBLES 2.