YORKSHIRE FILM SHORT LISTED FOR BRITISH ANIMATION AWARD (22/02/2010)
A stunning animated short film made in a potting shed in Ilkley has been nominated for a prestigious British Animation Award. The Astronomer's Sun, produced on the 4mations strand of the Digital Shorts scheme run by Screen Yorkshire in partnership with Channel 4 and The UK Film Council, has been shortlisted in the 'Public Choice' category for ‘Best Short Film'.
The Astronomer's Sun, produced by Duchy Parade Films based in Harrogate, tours with the other films shortlisted in the Public Choice category across 27 venues throughout the UK, including a screening in Cubby Broccoli Cinema at The National Media Museum in Bradford on Saturday 27th February at 4.15pm (programme 3). Following the screening, the audience will have the opportunity to cast their vote for the winners in three categories. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on April 8th, at the BFI on Southbank.
Visitors to The National Media Museum will also have the unique opportunity to go behind the scenes, as the set and models from The Astronomer's Sun will be exhibited in the museum's Animation Gallery from 23rd February, where they will sit alongside models from Ray Harryhausen and Barry Purves.
The Astronomer's Sun tells the story of a young man, accompanied by a mysterious mechanical bear, who visits an abandoned observatory to confront memories of his past and follow his father on a journey into the unknown. A magical journey about relationships and what it is to be human, The Astronomer's Sun was animated frame by frame with stop motion puppets, the same technique used in Fantastic Mr Fox, Coraline and Wallace and Gromit.
Written & directed by Simon Cartwright (from Ilkley) and Jessica Cope (from Knaresborough) and produced by David Bunting & Peter M Kershaw at Duchy Parade Films Ltd, The Astronomer's Sun was made on the 4mations Digital Shorts Scheme for emerging animators and directors, funded by Screen Yorkshire in partnership with the UK Film Council, and Channel 4. With the backing of 4mations, Simon and Jess were able to work with the professional team at Duchy Parade Films in Harrogate, including Emmy Award Winning Sound designer Dave Aston at the Digital Audio Company. The music for The Astronomer's Sun is composed and performed by Peter Wright, from up and coming Leeds Band Vessels http://vesselsband.com/
Directors Simon Cartwright and Jessica Cope graduated at the Edinburgh College of Art in 2008 and caught the eye of Tony Dixon at Screen Yorkshire and the other executives with their haunting concept for the film.
Director Simon Cartwright says, "The Astronomer's Sun' started off very small, the initial concept being to make a stop motion film from reclaimed and scrap materials to keep costs to a minimum. Our hope has always been that anyone who watches this film will find something to take away with them and that each time they watch it they'll see something new. "
Screen Yorkshire's Emerging Talent Manager and Executive Producer on the film, Tony Dixon adds: ‘'It's wonderful news to hear of the team's success. ‘The Astronomers Sun' is a beautifully crafted film and I know how hard the whole team have worked in realising this project. With the public choice programme being screened so widely, the film will be seen by a wide range of audiences throughout the UK - and coupled with the news that there is to be an exhibition of the set and models at the National Media Museum, the team are receiving the recognition they rightly deserve. I am sure that the film will also do well on the festival circuit over the coming months.''
The British Animation Awards (BAA) covers all aspects of the UK animation scene, from student work to commercials, children's entertainment, short and experimental art films, music videos, new technologies. BAA is held every two years. http://www.britishanimationawards.com/
Tickets can be purchased for the screening at The National Media Museum in Bradford at www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk or by contacting the box office on 0870 70 10 200
