tuesday 23 5.15pm

#1 “Narrative In The Age Of Modern Animation”
Jonathan Strugnell, AIE

MIAF receives more than 2000 entries each year. Selecting which of these entries will be invited to screen in Competition is our favourite and – often – our most frustrating experience. So often, communicating the animator’s story is the largest hurdle these entrants cannot get over.

Jonathan Strugnell, the senior screen teacher at AIE is an expert in creating narrative in short animated films. Using a selection of his favourite films from MIAF’s Competition line-up he will discuss the finer points of creating concise and engaging stories and how they are most successfully brought to the screen.

Screening: a selection of narrative films from competition

wednesday 24 june, 5.15pm

#2 “Chainsaw: The View From The Producer’s Seat”
Fiona Cochrane, Producer of ‘Chainsaw’

Dennis Tupicoff’s latest film ‘Chainsaw’ has been stacking up awards at festivals all over the world. It is boldly coloured, beautifully drawn and has an engaging, intertwining narrative. Producing a film like ‘Chainsaw’ is a major undertaking. Everything from organising live-action shoots across the scale to dealing with logistics and legal issues are the domain of the producer.

Fiona Cochrane, the producer of ‘Chainsaw’ will introduce this special screening of the film and give us a behind-the-scenes insight into what it takes to ensure a film like this can be taken from the drawing board to the big screen.

Screening: ‘Chainsaw’ > Dennis Tupicoff > Australia 2008, 24’00

thursday 25 june, 5.15pm

#3 “Great Moments In History”

This one's a little different! ... a little longer ... lots more complete films!

Screen Australia joined with Telstra Bigpond to commission and make available for download a total of 13 Australian short animated films. The completed series takes the core theme of ‘Great Moments In History’ in some varied and interesting directions.

A panel made up of some of the filmmakers and producers will introduce this series, discuss the commissioning process and look at the small screen download vs big screen cinema presentation models.

This specially extended “101” will then show all 13 of these highly entertaining shorts - on the big screen.

Screening: The ‘Great Moments In History’ series > Australia 2008, 32’00

friday 26 june, 5.15pm

#4 “Works In Progress”
Susan Stamp, Hung Lin, Jonathan Nix

An outstanding way to gain an insight into the creative process and to get a first-look heads up on some wonderful films yet to hit the screen from 3 of our favourite Australian animators.

Susan Stamp’s beautifully drawn pictures of primates (already exhibited in galleries) are slowly forming the basis for her next film.

Hung Lin’s ‘The Impersonator’ is, perhaps, half completed. Hung will talk about his battle with the storyboard, his search for a producer and present some raw footage of his work.

Jonathan Nix, creator of ‘Hello’ & ‘Gustavo’, has nearly completed a 30 min CG film and will talk about the creative process involved in getting this film off the drawing board and then present a selection of footage from the project.

Screening: selections from each of the Works In Progress