On NFB.ca animated short films about the pandemic

A variety of new content will continue to be available towards the end of the month and throughout October NFB.ca. Free streaming and produced by NFB studios across the country, this collection includes: the latest works in The Curve. La collection of projects that explore the pandemic; compelling feature-length documentaries; and finely crafted animated and doc short films.

This autumn lineup of highly relevant and deeply humanistic new works joins the vast catalog of over 4.000 titles already available on NFB.ca. This also includes a hundred interactive works, almost all of which can be viewed online for free.

The curve - The creators of NFB, with their talent and intuition, are bringing to life the voices of Canadians touched by COVID-19, both near and far. This collection offers thematically linked works in documentary, animation and digital storytelling formats. All of this will be released at various times over the next few months, closely following the ongoing developments of this COVID-19 era.

Coming September 21:

• The great restoration | These animated bedtime stories for children in the post-COVID world, present the views of four prominent thinkers (Armine Yalnizyan, Munira Abukar, David Suzuki and Bruce Mau). The short films lasting about three minutes each, are produced by the English Program Animation Studio.
• Economy by Philip Eddolls
• Governance by Ho Che Anderson
• Visions of the world by Malcolm Sutherland
• City by Lillian Chan
• Body and soul | Inspiring, insightful and wildly inventive, these projects explore the physical and emotional aspects of pandemic isolation. Includes Andrea Dorman's picture book-style animation Like being at home (Quebec and Atlantic Study) e Yesterday Today Tomorrow by Laura Cortes, Alexandra Hook, Mel Eshaghbeigi and Jam3 (English Program Digital Studio and Jam3).

Like being at home, made by the National Film Board of Canada

Top 10 October, on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, NFB.ca will debut with a 15-minute animated short film Shannon Amen (2019, English Program Animation Studio). Based on Shannon Jamieson's words, music and art and directed by his friend Chris Dainty. Shannon Amen he discovers the frantic, passionate and painful expressions of a young woman overwhelmed by guilt and anxiety. The woman struggles to reconcile her sexual identity with her religious faith. The film is a memoir that reconstructs Shannon's problems, which also plague other LGBTQIA + young people like her, who face discrimination.

Shannon Amen (Trailer 39 sec.) From NFB / Vimeo marketing.

Then the week of 26 October - on the occasion of the International Day of Animation (October 28) - presentation of the NFB Animation week, a special programming list featuring vibrant and bold new work from animators from across Canada.

The online debuts are announced just as NFB is about to enjoy a strong presence during the virtual Ottawa International Animation Festival, from 23 September to 4 October.

This includes two world premieres in the official competition.

The first animated documentary by Toronto director Robin McKenna Thanadoula (Gaudete Films / NFB), with the artistic direction of Elise Simard; and international co-production TO HIDE (La Cellule Productions / NFB / CUB Animation Studio) by British-born Hungarian creator Daniel Gray, whose 2006 short tom (with Tom Brown) was named Best Graduation Animation at the OIAF.

Thanadoula, Robin McKenna, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

Other NFB animations competing at the OIAF are those of Quebec animator Jean-François Lévesque I, Barnabé (NFB with the participation of ARTE France). The Necktie creator's latest NFB work; 4 North A, the first collaboration between Newfoundland native Jordan Canning and Saskatoon-born Howie Shia, now both based in Toronto. Altötting (Studio Film Bilder / NFB / Ciclope Filmes) by the German animator Andreas Hykade, designed by the Portuguese Regina Pessoa.

In the VR competition, NFB is represented by three innovative and interesting projects.

The book of distance by Calgary creator Randall Okita, now based in Toronto and Japan.

Hangman at home (Late Love Production / Floréal Films / NFB) by Danish and Israeli animators Michelle and Uri Kranot.

The orchid and the bee by Montreal interdisciplinary artist Frances Adair Mckenzie.

Outside of the competition, OIAF participants can take The false calendar by emerging Atikamekw creator Meky Ottawa (produced through the Hothouse program) and NFB animation: 80th anniversary by Montreal animator Alex Boya in the Canadian Panorama. Additionally, Donald McWilliams, veteran NFB director and OIAF honorary president, is a member of the jury this year.