Following the success of Animate IT '08, Film Street the award winning children’s filmmaking website and educational software house Kudlian Software have got together again to launch a filmmaking competition for children, Animate IT '09: To cut a long story short.
This year they have teamed up with CBBC’s Ed Petrie to invite children under 12, primary schools and after school groups from across the UK, to make an animated trailer to promote their favourite book! Encouraging children to use their talent for animation to promote their love of reading, the competition is also supported by the National Year of Reading in England (November is Screen Reads month), and leading film marketing agency, the Picture Production Company.
Ed Petrie, CBBC presenter and Animate IT ’09 patron said ‘The great thing about animation is that it gives children a chance to experiment with filmmaking using the artistic skills they already have. I can’t wait to watch the finished trailers to see how children have used different types of animation to tell others about their favourite books’.
Aspiring young filmmakers can use any type of animation to make their trailers. The winning trailers will be shown in Film Street’s Cinema and the winning animators will win animation equipment and software from Kudlian Software, and a tour around the offices of top trailer makers, the Picture Production Company.
To make the competition accessible to as many young people as possible entrants can
download a free five day trial of Kudlian’s award winning animation software I Can
Animate**. Entries can be submitted by email or post on CD, DVD or video in any format
by Friday 3rd April 2009.
Last year, Animate IT ’08 received over 600 entries from youngsters from across
the UK. It is hoped that Animate IT ’09: To cut a long story short will provide a new creative
challenge that will tempt even more young people to get creative with animation!
Ed said: ‘I am fascinated by the animation process and draw my own cartoons; I would
have loved to have had the chance to get creative and enter a great competition like
this when I was younger.’
Further information and full competition rules can be found at www.filmstreet.co.uk