This year’s pandemic friendly online edition of Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) September 23-October 4 celebrates the Norwegian Oscar winning animation studio Mikrofilm. This is the first broad international retrospective on the studio and will be accessible worldwide.
OIAF gives the following description of the Mikrofilm program:
«Founded over twenty years ago in Oslo, Norway, the animation studio, Mikrofilm is a group of filmmakers that create love-letters to the unique perspectives in each of their stories. Whether it’s the frustrated titular character in Oscar-winning The Danish Poet, the tenacious runner in The Marathon Diary, or the contemplative narrator in Oscar-nominated Me and My Moulton; each is treated with a playful sincerity that extends to, and embraces, the audience. It’s enthralling to watch one of their animated works; the worlds they create are dynamic, specific and not a single one of their beautiful frames are wasted (to a point where repeat viewings will reveal moments you may have missed- a kind of visual mischief that leaves the viewer in delight and awe).»
Chris Robinson, artistic director of OIAF is pleased to announce the retrospective that has been 18 months in the planning:
«Mikrofilm is one of those studios that I've always admired for their passion, diversity and fierce independent nature. For over 20 years, they've thrived by carving out their own path led by a group of unique and talented voices and the OIAF is pleased to be sharing Mikrofilm’s wide ranging brilliance», says Robinson.
Mikrofilm producer and CEO Lise Fearnley is honored by the initiative:
«The fact that OIAF directs the spotlight at Mikrofilm is a huge recognition of our directors. Through our collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada on Torill Kove's films, the Canadian animation scene is close to our hearts. The Canadians share Mikrofilm's tradition of artistically distinctive and ambitious short films, so we are very grateful to be given this attention by OIAF».
A comprehensive program
The Mikrofilm focus consists of two programs with shorts and commissioned films and includes 20 of Mikrofilm’s productions. Please see the selection here:
https://oiaf2020.ca/watch/films/retrospectives/mikrofilm-1/
https://oiaf2020.ca/watch/films/retrospectives/mikrofilm-2/
In addition to the retrospective series, Mikrofilm founder Lise Fearnley and Kajsa Næss will participate in a Studio Talk moderated by Robinson, where they will share insights from Mikrofilm’s artistic development. Matthew Corluka has also written an in-depth interview with Fearnley, director Torill Kove and producer Tonje Skar Reiersen, to be published in the festival’s online catalogue. Fearnley will also be part of this year’s feature film jury.
About OIAF
The Ottawa Animation Festival was established in 1976 and is today North America's largest animation festival. OIAF is both a broad audience festival and an important industry festival. The industry program manages to unite the big American players and the indie field. The festival is known for its uncompromising artistic programming.
About Mikrofilm
Mikrofilm AS was established in 1996. Ever since the beginning, artistic quality and international orientation have been at the company's backbone. With over 30 short films and a large number of collaborative projects and commissioned films, Mikrofilm has been a key player in the Norwegian and European industry for 24 years. Mikrofilm's productions have been Oscar-nominated twice, and in 2007 they won the statuette for best animated short film with Torill Kove's The Danish Poet. Mikrofilm is currently in production with their first animated feature film, the highly ambitious Titina (2022) directed by Kajsa Næss. In the spring of 2021, there will also be theatrical release of the Swedish animated feature film The Ape Star directed by Linda Hanbäck, which Mikrofilm has co-produced with Lee Film (SE) and Nørlum (DK).
Attached stills: Farce (Robin Jensen 2019)