2017 ANNY Best of Fest Recap

 In ANNY Best of Fest NYC, Events, News, Virtual Reality

The second annual ANNY Best of Fest was a blast!

We had a magical couple of days! Thank you to the Animation Nights New York team & volunteers, filmmakers, exhibitors, panelists, judges, and attendees for participating in our second annual ANNY Best of Fest on Sept 29-30, 2017.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Beautiful Venue

We were back at 180 Maiden Lane in the Seaport District for our two day annual symposium.

 

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Industry Tables

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

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2017 ANNY Best of Fest

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2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Fine Art

Anderson Contemporary curated a beautiful exhibition for Art in Motion II.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Virtual Reality Showcase

Our ANNY Best of Fest VR Showcase featured Virtual Reality Animation Experiences and software demos on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream, and Google Cardboard. We had a great view of NYC, too!

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

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2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

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2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

ANNY Exchange

We kicked off our ANNY Exchange initiative with Speed Pitching blocks at the 2017 ANNY Best of Fest. Animation Nights New York is connecting animators to projects!

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Professional Panels

We had fascinating panels at the 2017 ANNY Best of Fest.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

 

Kiira Benzing @doubleeye hosted our Animation in VR: Pipelines and Workflow panel for Best of Fest 2017. Penrose StudiosNice ShoesThe Mill, and SVA discussed what animators and filmmakers need to know about animation in VR. “What does the pipeline look like when working with game engines? How should produces prepare their animations for the VR storytelling Medium?”

 

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

 

Daron Jenkins of New York Film Loft hosted the NYFL The New Disruptors: New Pathways to Storytelling panel for Best of Fest 2017! Binge Wave, SWARM, and Pretend Labs were in conversation about how they are working to innovate and disrupt film/tv/vr in new and unique ways in order to provide new avenues to success for future storytellers.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

 

Max Rothman of Monticello Park Productions presented Cinematic Campfire Poetry for Best of Fest 2017. In an hour-long conversation, Max discussed the origins of the project, the unique collaborative process involved, the challenges, pitfalls, and benefits of the animation production process, the importance of creative autonomy in the experimental form, his hopes for the project in the future, and much more.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Mark Sternberg of Revrie Immersive Works hosted our Animation Tech: Multi-User Experiences in Virtual Reality panel for Best of Fest 2017. AltspaceVR, Abelana VR ProductionsGarou, NYU Magnet, and High Fidelity discussed the recent developments in VR technology.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

 

Faiyaz Jafri hosted our Film Festival Strategy panel for Best of Fest 2017. ASIFA East, Bicycle Film Festival, The ProductiveQueens World Film Festival, and LES Film Festival discussed the challenges and opportunities that arise in hosting a film festival due to the emergence of film festival portals, affordable film making tools, and online distribution models.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

 

Archivist David Kay of The Winthrop Group hosted a special presentation on The Incredibly Surprising History and Future of Brooklyn Animation for Best of Fest 2017. In this inspiring discussion, cartoon collector/historian Tommy Stathes looked back at our roots and shared selected clips of his archive from Winsor McCay, Bray Productions and its pioneering animators Paul Terry, Max Fleischer, and Walter Lantz. Aaron Augenblick from Augenblick Studios discussed how patented inventions from the Golden Age such as Fleischer’s rotoscope combined with local spirits to help inform and embellish his “hand-made in Brooklyn” productions. We also had Interesting Things by  The Museum of Interesting Things with us!

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

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2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

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2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

 

Nina Balton of The Toon Goons hosted our Pre-production and Planning: The Importance of Developing an Idea panel for Best of Fest 2017. John Dilworth, Jimbo Matison, David Pagano, and Aaron Augenblick @augenblickstudios discussed where ideas for animated or projects start, how they take form, and how the process differs depending on the nature of the project.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Bobby Beck (Artella) and Paul Chambers (Sketchfab) hosted a special presentation on Artella Virtual Studio: Sketchfab, Lily & Snout, and the Future of VR for Best of Fest 2017. They discussed the challenges of animating in VR, creating organized assists for delivery on mobile devices, and working around the clock, around the globe. “Lily & Snout,” a co-production between Artella and Sketchfab not only became the first animated VR short delivered via a browser using WebVR, but also provided a great exercise in remote team work.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

 

James Seetal  hosted a special presentation by IGDA NYC on Careers in Gaming for Best of Fest 2017. Animation in games is becoming a career that is layered in multiple mediums. Neil Sveri of DreamSail Games discussed his role in VR animation and Dreamsail‘s upcoming VR game THE IOTA PROJECT. Keith Stevens and Jennifer Chiu of MotionSickFX discussed their upcoming live streaming animated show Critically Awkward premiering on Twitch in October.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Robert Fine and Charlie Fink of VR Voice hosted our Storytelling in Virtual Reality panel for Best of Fest 2017. Jon Clinkenbeard, Nice Shoes, Sunnyside VR, and Baobab Studios explored the state and future of virtual reality animation and storytelling. What are the differences storytellers must take into account when planning filming and animation development in virtual reality and 360 degree settings?

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Jimbo Matison hosted our Pitching Animation panel for Best of Fest 2017. An excellent pitch is essential for getting your animated idea through doors and greenlit. Is your idea ready, or do you still have some work to do? Kickstarter, Children’s Media Association, Cubanimation, and Fantasiation as talked about the do’s and dont’s of pitching animation.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Tristian Goik of ASIFA East hosted our Puppetry and Motion Capture panel for Best of Fest 2017. We learned how today’s master animators are building puppets with the latest techniques: LEGO, clay sculpting, 3D printing, motion capture, live video, and more! Fantasiation, Sesame Studios, Ibex Puppetry, Puppet Heap, and Max Witham discussed where the future of puppetry might be headed.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

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2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

 

Mark Sternberg hosted our Animation: New Models for Business panel for Best of Fest 2017. Frederator Studios, Sesame Studios, and GKIDS discussed the latest and greatest of animation business and distribution models.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

 

Faiyaz Jafri hosted The Philosophy of Animation Style panel for Best of Fest 2017. Stash Media, Cartoon Brew, Monticello Park productions, and Penrose Studio discussed exploring the new frontiers of animation styles and their legitimacy. “Animation is not a genre; it is a cinematic art form. But what is animation? What are the hard definitions and where are the gray areas? These distinctions might be outdated due to the influx of new tools and technologies.”

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest at 180 Maiden Lane in the Seaport District of NYC (Photo Credit: Larry Auerbach)

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Dayna Gonzalez hosted our Surviving and Thriving as a Freelancer panel for Best of Fest 2017. Rubber Onion, Pilar Toons, Quality Schnallity Inc., and Antidote FX discussed the highs and lows of being a freelance animator.  “Surviving in the freelance industry is no easy battle. We
hope our discussion will enlighten others on how freelancers face challenges head-on, not only surviving but thriving.”

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Animation Screening Event

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

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2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

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2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Congratulations to our ANNY Best of Fest Filmmakers!

This year our panel judges picked 20 films from the 175 selected for our monthly curated screening events. Our two part Main Screening Event is happening Saturday, September 30,  7pm & 8pm, at 180 Maiden Lane. The screening event is free. Please RSVP.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest Panel Judges are Debra Solomon (Independent Animator, Academy Member), Phil Weinstein (Disney), and Dayna Gonzalez (Jumping Tadpole Productions, Former ASIFA East President). 

All of 20 our 2017 ANNY Best of Fest Filmmakers will receive an Industry Badge for our 2017 annual festival (Sept 29-30),  a one year subscription for  Toon Boom, a one year subscription for Craft a one year subscription for Stash, a three month subscription for Midas Creature, and a three month subscription for Sketchfab Pro . (2017 ANNY Best of Fest filmmakers may also be eligible for distribution via Shorts HD, if applicable.)

2017 ANNY Best of Fest Grand Prize Winner

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Congratulations to our 2017 ANNY Best of Fest Grand Prize Winner OSSA by Dario Imbrogno!

Our Grand Prize Winner was selected by Andrew Gordon (Pixar) from our ANNY Best of Fest Winners. Dario will receive an Intuos Pro from Wacom and had an opportunity to speak with Andrew Gordon about his film.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

2017 ANNY Best of Fest Animation for Adults Award

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Next, our Animation for Adults Award Winner is Hanging by Nick LeDonne. Our AFA Award Winner was selected by Animation for Adults from our ANNY Best of Fest Winners. Nick will receive an Bamboo Slate from Wacom.

2017 ANNY Best of Fest Anderson Contemporary Award

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

Finally, our Anderson Contemporary Award goes to All Their Shades by Chloé Alliez. Our Anderson Contemporary Award Winner was selected by Ronni Anderson from our ANNY Best of Fest Winners. Chloé will receive a prize from Anderson Contemporary.

Congratulations to our 2017 ANNY Best of Fest Filmmakers. Check out the online program here.

 

Press

This was exciting.

Pascal Nocquet from pixelfondue published interviews with Yvonne Grzenkowicz (Animation Nights New York), David Pagano (Paganomation​), and Douglas Monaco (The Glimpse Group – A Virtual and Augmented Reality Company) covering ANNY info, LEGO Animation, and the Tinkernote AR app.

 

Also, Fox 5 news stopped by for an interview for their New York Minute segment. (Thank you to Ronni Anderson for capturing it!)

2017 ANNY Best of Fest

 

We look forward to seeing you all again soon at our monthly screening events.

Keep supporting independent animation!

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