Ottawa is up to Monkey business…

Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson’s Monkey Love Experiments has been selected for the Ottawa International Animation Festival. It is nominated for Narrative Short Animation in OIAF’s Independent Short Film Competition. This follows its world premiere and award win at EIFF, and international screenings at Anima Mundi and LA Shorts Fest.

The Ottawa International Animation Festival, running from 17th – 21st September in Ottawa, Canada, is one of the biggest animation festivals in the world. MLE was one of 106 films chosen from 2033 shorts and features.

Well done to the entire crew involved!

  • Prepare yourselves readers… This is a long one!
  • We are already more than halfway through 2014. More festivals are still to come, but here is a recap of what the Scottish Shorts have been up to in the first half of the year…
  • Exchange and Mart

  • Cara Connolly and Martin Clark’s tale of sexual awakening in a 1980’s girl’s boarding school has already played many festivals in 2014, with more to follow later in the year. Here are the film’s many achievements so far:

    • Sundance Film Festival / Nomination for Short Film Grand Jury Prize
    • Berlin International Film Festival Nominated for Crystal Bear for Generation 14plus – Best Short Film
    • Glasgow Short Film Festival / Winner of Audience Award, Nominated for Bill Douglas Award for International Short Film & Scottish Short Film Award
    • Nashville Film Festival / in competition
    • Sundance London Film and Music Festival / in competition
    • Big Sur International Short Film Festival / in competition
    • Hamburg International Short Film Festival / Winner of Freestyle Youth Jury Award
    • LA Film Festival / in competition
    • Edinburgh International Film Festival / played as part of Scottish Shorts programme
    • Kinemastik International Short Film Festival / in competition

    Seagulls

    Martin Smith’s Seagulls has enjoyed festival success in Europe so far. The film tells the story of a fourteen year old showman, and his attempts to fit in when he visits a new town.

    Wyld

    Before Rory Alexander Stewart’s Wyld had its world premiere at EIFF last month, it had already won a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award for its actress Julie Speers. Julie plays a young barmaid who has to choose between new responsibilities of her adult life and the intense, sometime violent friendship of her youth when an old friend pays her an unexpected visit at work.


    Wyld will also be screened as part of GSFF Presents: BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award Winners. The event showcases six shorts from this year’s winners, and will be held at GFT on Sunday 20th July at 19:45.

    Monkey Love Experiments

    Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson’s animation about a monkey who believes he is going to the moon, has only recently started its festival run. It had its UK premiere at EIFF, will soon make its international debut at LA Short Fest, and has more festivals slated for later in the year.

    • Edinburgh International Film Festival / Winner Outstanding Contribution to a Short Film, Ainslie Henderson & Will Anderson for directing and screenwriting, Nomination for Best New British Animation
    • Anima Mundi International Animation Festival of Brazil / in competition
    • LA Shorts Fest / in competition
    • Ottawa International Animation Festival 2014in competition

    As He Lay Falling

    Ian Waugh’s story about a Greek economic migrant trying to disappear within the Scottish Highlands, has also just started its festival run. It had its UK and world premiere at EIFF.

     

    Stay tuned for further festival updates on the 2014 Scottish Shorts throughout the rest of the year!

    And from our back catalogue…

    Fixing Luka

    Jessica Ashman’s 2011 animation, based on her personal experience of growing up with an autistic brother, played at The 2014 Sprout Film Festival in New York in 2 of their programmes on 31st May and 1st June this year.

    The 21st Sprout Film Festival brings innovative programming to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It’s great to see our films still being screened years after their initial festival run.

     

     

Following their win at EIFF, Ainslie Henderson and Will Anderson’s Monkey Love Experiments has landed a competition slot at LA Shorts Fest.

Now in its 18th year, LA Shorts Fest is one of the world’s most prestigious festivals, BAFTA and Oscar qualifying, and annually attracting over 6,000 moviegoers, filmmakers, and entertainment professionals. This year’s festival runs from 24th-31st July at Laemmle NoHo 7 Theatres in North Hollywood. Tickets go on sale on 17th July.

MLE will play in Program 38 at 19:45 on Thursday 31st July.

Congratulations to Ainslie, Will, producer Cameron Fraser and the rest of the crew involved.

One of five shorts developed and produced through