Several deserving young men and women walked away winners at the 2010 Animae Caribe Animation and New Media Festival. The Festival, which concluded in grand style at the Academy of Performing Arts in Port of Spain on November 28th, saw a number of submissions in seven different categories including Most Promising Animation Feature, Best Trinidad and Tobago Short, the D.E.W Most Outstanding Caribbean Short and a Festival first – the Best Latin American Animation Award.
The first ever Best Latin American Animation Award went to Cuban animator Barbaro Joel Ortiz for “20 Years ”, a stop motion/claymation film which explores what goes on behind the closed doors of a marriage. The very real issues of love, frustration, betrayal and domestic violence are explored with great insight in this 12-minute silent film. The 2010 Animae Caribe Festival marks the first time Barbaro ’s work has been seen by a wider Caribbean audience and hopefully it won ’t be the last as he also copped the Most Outstanding Animation Feature!
The young men from the Youth Training Centre (YTC) were especially jubilant as they walked away with the Most Promising Newcomer Award for their piece entitled “The Journey ” which explored themes of Hope, Love, Creativity and Peace. The YTC group was part of an animation workshop organized by the Festival Founder Camille Selvon-Abrahams back in October. The Journey was the main feature on the opening day of the 2010 Festival and won the hearts of the judges for the outstanding storyline yet simple artistry.
Trinidad and Tobago was also well represented at the award ceremony in other categories including the prize for Best Trinidad and Tobago Short: “Rainbow Hill ” by Wendell McShine. Wendell is known for staying true to his thought-provoking, often dark yet visually appealing aesthetic and Rainbow Hill is no different. Currently based in Mexico, he is a Festival veteran having submitted last year and won the Best Use of Animation in a Music Video Award for “Prosper ”by 12 The Band. We look forward to 2011 to see what this self-proclaimed underground artist comes up with!
The Best Use of Animation in the Media Award went to Christopher Guinness for “Animal Instinct ”. Jamaica took home the coveted D.E.W. Most Outstanding Short .Allison Latchman’s “Cabbie Chronicles ” won the nod of the judges, while David Prossner won the Best Student Award for “Matter Fisher ”.
The Animae Caribe Animation and New Media Festival took place from November 22nd to 28th in Trinidad and Tobago. Look out for the 2011 installment which promises to be a grand event as the Festival marks its 10th anniversary.
