Pearce Sisters Takes Top Prize at Platform

The Pearce Sisters, Luis Cook’s wickedly funny and macabre tale about two weather-lashed Sisters living in remote coastal town won the Grand Prix (as well as best Art Design Prize) at the inaugural Platform International Animation Festival this Saturday. Hosted by Bill Plympton, the awards ceremony wrapped a six-day showcase of innovative animated screenings, panels and outdoor installation art, organized seamlessly by fest director Irene Kotlarz and underwritten by Cartoon Network.

“We truly feel that we have accomplished our goal in creating a literal platform for artists, innovation, debate and discussion as well as set the stage to explore new developments in animation,” said Kotlarz. “We had a wide variety of quality work submitted for competition. The judges had to make some extremely tough decisions when determining the winners of this year’s competition.”

More than $50,000 worth of awards were given in categories covering commercial and independent films, student animation, installations and films for new platforms, including cell phones and the Internet. Throughout the ceremony, an exuberant list of presenters (including Danny Antonucci, Rose Bond, Will Vinton, John Canemaker, Gaelle Denis, Gary Rydstrom and Marv Newland) praised Kotlarz for the amazing caliber of the festival, the excellent quality of the work displayed, the bold integration of experimental and installation art in the mix of screenings and the general hospitality and warmth of Portland’s artistic community. Upon receiving a rousing standing ovation and a gift of flowers, Kotlarz was visibly moved by the reception and thanked the city of Portland and everyone who helped make the festival such a success. As Aardman Animation Peter Lord founder noted, Platform was a true ‘triumph.’

Among the many festival highlights this past week were presentations about LAIKA, Aardman Animation and Pixar hosted by the likes of Peter Lord, David Sproxton, Don Hertzfeldt, James Jarvis, Ward Jenkins, Nina Paley, Michael Ouweleen, Fred Seibert, Henry Selick, Aaron Simpson, Jerry Beck, Amid Amidi, Nick Weidenfeld, Aaron Simpson, and Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes (who also created the stylish opener for Platform). On Friday, fest goers were treated to a rare screening of Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, followed by a delightful appearancy be dancer and choreographer Marge Champion, who was the model for Snow White’s movements and gestures. The sharp-minded 88-year-old was a marvel to behold as she was interviewed by the always-brilliant John Canemaker.

Here is a complete list of the Platform winners:

Grand Prix

The Pearce Sisters

Luis Cook

Grand Prix/ Installation

No Never Alone

Gregory Barsamian

Student Grand Prix

Guy 101

Ian Gouldstone

Student Grand Prix

Dreaming of Lucid Living

Miwa Matreyek

Best Film Under $5,000

Everything Will Be OK

Don Hertzfeldt

Best Film Under $50,000

Rabbit

Run Wrake

Distinguished Jury Award

God on Our Side

Uri Kranot and Michal Pfeffer

Best Film Over $50,000

Tower Bawher

Theodore Ushev

Best Promotional Film

Vodafone Mayfly

Darren Walsh

Best Title Sequence

The South Bank Show

SSSR

Best Art Direction

The Pearce Sisters

Luis Cook

Best Sound

I Met the Walrus

Josh Raskin

Best Music Video

The Knife: We Share Our Mother’s Health

Motomichi Nakamura

Most Innovative

Stability & Wildlife

Karolina Sobecka

Best Performance by Animated Character

No Room for Gerold

Daniel Nocke

Best Installation

Reduced Conception

Daniela Repas

Best Film For the Internet

Secret Lives of Robots

Lee Rubenstein

Best Film For Mobile Devices

Office Buddies: Stapler Face Off

Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson

Best Film for Children

Adventure Time

Pendleton Ward

Best Series for Children

Shaun the Sheep: Still Life

Chris Sadler

Audience Choice Award/Best Installation

Dreaming of Lucid Living

Miwa Matreyek

Audience Choice Award/Best Film

Tragic Story with a Happy Ending

Regina Pessoa

Audience Choice Award/Best Mobile

Sou

Theodore Ushev

For more info about the event, visit www.platformfestival.com