Press Release from Nickelodeon
NEW YORK, July 1, 2009 -- The Nickelodeon Animation Festival extends its global search for the animators of the future with a call for entries Wednesday, July 1, through Tuesday, Sept. 8. Formerly titled the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival, the Nickelodeon Animation Festival is the first and only multiplatform festival in North America and this year will feature six awards, including the newly created "15 Seconds to Fame" Award that asks animators to submit 15 seconds of an animated funny character. Submissions will be showcased on-air, online and at a live event this October. Entry forms and contest details are available on www.nick.com/naf.
"For the past 30 years, Nickelodeon has delivered a variety of animated programming from different voices, and the Nickelodeon Animation Festival reflects our continued efforts to cultivate fresh talent from the global animation community and to nurture creative partnerships," said Keith Dawkins, Nicktoons Network General Manager and Senior Vice President, Nickelodeon Programming Partnerships. "Our new name signifies new energy and an even bigger pipeline of creativity as we tap into the heritage and innovation of the Nickelodeon brand name and its reputation for quality around the world."
To offer even more creators the opportunity to enter this year, the new "15 Seconds to Fame" Award requires only 15 seconds of animation of an outstanding and funny character in any style. Chosen by the Nickelodeon television development team, the winner will receive $5,000 to be applied to the creation of a new original animated short in conjunction with and commissioned by the Nickelodeon development team. The Nick development team will provide additional production and budget support to complete a full 2 minute short.
Entries for the general submissions categories may be in any style of animation but cannot exceed 10 minutes in length. Submitted shorts will be chosen by a pre-selection jury of celebrities and animation experts and prizes will be allotted in the following four categories: Grand Jury Award ($10,000); Student Award in partnership with mtvU ($2,000); Producer's Choice ($5,000); and Viewer's Choice Award ($5,000), which will be chosen by viewers' online votes.
Additionally, the "I Got Game" contest, in partnership with AddictingGames, invites game enthusiasts to submit a drawing of an original game idea and character. The winning entry will be made into a free online game for AddictingGames.com, the largest youth-targeted free online game site in the U.S.
Select shorts will be showcased during the exclusive two day live event at the Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif. And in November, Nicktoons Network will feature select shorts on air and festival nominees on www.nick.com/naf.
The Nickelodeon Animation Festival, the largest festival of its kind, showcases animators from around the world who submit their original animation, ideas and characters. Last year, the festival received over 4,500 submissions -- the most to date -- from animators around the world, including South Korea, Turkey, Malaysia, Austria, Pakistan and South Africa.
