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
