This past weekend, from Oct. 18, 2019 – Oct. 20, 2019, the Third Annual “Animation is Film” Festival took place at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatre in Hollywood. “Animation is Film” aims to fill a gap in the market by establishing a world-class animation festival in the US, with its home in the world capital of filmmaking. The Festival embraces the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form. The Festival celebrates filmmakers who push the boundaries of their work.
For the opening night festivities, AIF screened the US premiere of “Weathering with You,” followed by a Q&A with director Makoto Shinkai. The romantic fantasy film set in Japan takes place during a period of exceptionally rainy weather. A high school boy runs away to Tokyo and befriends an orphan girl who appears to be able to manipulate the weather. MUSE TV & Culturally Obsessed’s Brenda Rodriguez attended the opening night of AIF. Brenda spoke to Makoto Shinkai, as well as Genki Kawamura (Producer, WEATHERING WITH YOU), Eric Beckman(founder and CEO of GKIDS), and Ayumu Watanabe(CHILDREN OF THE SEA).
The following day MUSE TV & Culturally Obsessed’s Jennifer Ortega attended the press day for AIF. She had one-on-one interviews with Elea Gobbe-Mellevec (director, THE SWALLOWS OF KABUL) and Anca Damian (director, MARONA’S FANTASTIC TALE).
For more information on the films, please go to www.animationisfilm.com
About:
ANIMATION IS FILM is a major animation festival produced by GKIDS in collaboration with Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Variety, and ASIFA Hollywood. The inaugural event took place October 20-22, 2017 at the historic Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood (TCL Chinese 6 Theater) and featured a highly selective showcase of the best animated films from around the world, plus red carpet, filmmaker Q&As, special events, receptions, short film programs, and both juried and audience awards.
The purpose of the Festival is to:
- Present a highly selective, annual showcase of the best new works of animation from around the world, with programs for both adults and families.
- Champion and support filmmakers who use animation to pursue unique cinematic visions and who are unconstrained by conventional notions of what animation is capable of.
- Champion and support women filmmakers.
- Champion and support filmmakers from a wide range of cultural, economic, national and geographic backgrounds.
- Have a positive impact on Los Angeles’ diverse communities by making the Festival programs available to the widest range of audiences.
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