Creativity and craft in Sydney's animation showcase

Sydney's animated collision of creativity, entertainment and education returns to UTS from Friday 23 to Monday 26 September.

In its third year as a stand-alone festival, the UTS: Sydney International Animation Festival (SIAF) features the latest highlights of local and world animation, with a sharper focus this year on the ideas, craft and processes behind animated filmmaking.

Animators and musicians will celebrate the value of creative contribution with the launch of the Music Matters campaign on the opening night of the festival.

UTS design students have collaborated with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) to tell the stories of famous Australian musicians including The Go-Betweens, Oh Mercy, Tim and Jean, Ash Grunwald and Graeme Connors through animation.

Lecturer in UTS's Master of Animation program, Deborah Szapiro, said the university was making itself the home of animation in Sydney. "By hosting this festival UTS is creating a forum for discussion and exhibition for students, independent practitioners and industry," she said.

"Collaboration, new work and providing a platform for emerging directors is an important aspect of UTS:SIAF – the Music Matters campaign is great as it gives equal respect to the musicians and the animators.

"The campaign has international recognition and is an opportunity for the students to work to an industry brief and receive international exposure for their work."

Salvatore Scopelliti, picture by Alexandra Berriman

UTS fourth-year design student and creator of the animation for Oh Mercy, Salvatore Scopelliti, said, "I was a fan of the band previously, so working with ARIA and Alexander Gow (lead singer) was a really exciting experience.

"Working to a brief with such a positive client has definitely sharpened my animation skills and having my work published outside the university on an international level is a big drive."

Music Matters Communications Manager Luke Woods said being able to launch the campaign at the animation festival gave special focus to both art forms.

"All of the students embraced the campaign wholeheartedly, combining their passion for music and design to create some very special animations that will serve as an integral part of the Music Matters campaign," Mr Woods said.

The 2011 UTS: SIAF includes a bustling program of current animated films from Australia and around the world including films from the Supinfocom school in France, a Korean films program, Global Greats and the ever-popular Late Night Bizarre.

Meanwhile, expert panels, discussions and student workshops will connect with the local animation industry, including a showreel masterclass and portfolio session.

The next generation of animators isn't forgotten, with about 50 high school students from around Sydney taking part in animation workshops, hearing from industry guests and selecting the ‘teen choice’ award from some of the films screening in the festival.

UTS: SIAF is a collaboration of the UTS faculties of Design Architecture and Building, Arts and Social Sciences and Engineering and IT and its sister Melbourne International Animation Festival.

See www.siaf.uts.edu.au for the full program.