Bradford Animation Festival (BAF) is the U.K.'s largest and longest-running animation festival. The event hosts master classes, seminars, extensive screening programs and special events.
Highlights for 2004 include Spotlight On... Oscar-nominated director Paul Driessen who will give an exclusive screentalk interview and retrospective of his work. From traditional stop-motion to state-of-the-art special effects, the event profiles 3D animation in all its forms. From the 'traditional' puppet animation of Barry Purves, through the history of the U.K.'s best-loved stop-motion studio, Aardman Animations -- to the very specialized, triple-Oscar world of Randy Cook, director of animation for the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy.
Guests will also include internationally-renowned director and multi-award winner Caroline Leaf, acerbic wit Phil Mulloy and acclaimed Polish animator and academic Piotr Dumala.
Events to celebrate new talent in the industry include a Channel 4 /Skillset Skills Surgery providing feedback sessions from industry experts, the BBC Three Talent launch and a preview of the Channel 4/Animator in Residence scheme. Other special events include workshops on scriptwriting and creating a TV series and a 50th anniversary screening of ANIMAL FARM.
The festival concludes with the BAF Awards, a celebration of the very best new animation from around the world and the only annual awards for animation in the U.K. For more information, visit www.baf.org.uk.
