The Ottawa International Animation Festival is the largest event of its kind in North America, attracting attendees from around the world. Film buffs, art lovers and cartoon fans won't want to miss this year's great line up of screenings taking place at the ByTowne Cinema, National Gallery of Canada, Empire Theatres Rideau Centre and Arts Court Theatre.

For 2012 the Festival received a record-setting 2,377 entries from which they were able to select 101 finalists for competition. Thirty-four Canadian films will be screened during the five-day Festival.

Of particular note, the Canadian entries screening in competition include:
• Kali The Little Vampire, co-produced by the National Film Board of Canada and narrated by Canadian Oscar winner, Christopher Plummer
• Demoni, a music video directed by Theodore Ushev (who directed Lipsett Diaries, earning a Genie Award for Best Animated Short)
• Justin Time 2 – The Thirsty Garden, directed by Harold Harris of Toronto's Guru Studio, is featured as part of the TV animation for Children competition

New at this year’s Festival is the creation of an award for Best Canadian Student Animation Film, celebrating the wealth of up-and-coming Canadian talent. Some of the films on display in the Canadian Student Showcase, include:
• Two entries from Toronto’s Sheridan College: Ballpit, directed by Kyle Mowat and Gum, directed by Chris Summerville (Both entries are also selected for competition)
• Nine entries from Montreal’s Concordia University
• Four entries from British Columbia, two each from the Vancouver Film School and Emily Carr University of Art and Design.

The International Jury for Short Program, Student and Commissioned animation includes Mike Fallows, J.J. Sedelmair and Sarah Muller. The International Jury for Animated Feature Films and School Showreels includes Barry Purves, Hisko Hulsing and Izabela Rieben.

There is more information on the OIAF website.