Festival News: Ottawa
by Staff Editors
(March 24, 2023 – Ottawa, ON) Two bits of festival news out of the nation’s capital. First up, the 3rd Ottawa Black Film Festival kicks off tonight. Running March 24–26, 2023, the In-Person screenings and events take place at La Nouvelle scène Gilles Desjardins and Library and Archives Canada. The red carpet event to launch the festival happens at 7:00PM. The festival opens with King Shaft and Michael Mutombo’s feature, 1960, at La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins (333 King Edward Ave, Ottawa). The film is also available online throughout the Festival. There is more information online.
And, the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) has announced the creation of the Hélène Tanguay Award for Humour in recognition of the late National Film Board of Canada employee and 2007 OIAF Honorary President. A champion for the international animation community, Tanguay was known for her infectious sense of humour. In her honour, the new award recognizes animated works that convey a similar sense of wild, dark, or absurd humour.
“Hélène was beloved by all the classic animation festivals but her connection to the OIAF was special,” said OIAF Artistic Director Chris Robinson. “For many attendees, Hélène was a fixture of the OIAF since the 1970s, regaling festival-goers with countless hilarious stories about animation, travels, cats, and…more cats. Having an award in her honour ensures that we keep her spirit going at future OIAFs – and given her love of every type of humour, from the silly to the dark to bawdy – it just makes sense that we celebrate and acknowledge humour in her name.”
The Hélène Tanguay Award for Humour joins the roster of awards at the OIAF, including the Grand Prize for Animated Feature, the Grand Prize for Animated Short, the Public Prize, the Canadian Film Institute Award for Best Canadian Animation, and a number of craft awards. The winner of this latest award addition will be selected by a handpicked, rotating jury of Tanguay’s friends and colleagues.
If selected for Official Competition, animators will have the opportunity to win the Hélène Tanguay Award for Humour. The Festival is accepting animated works until May 31, 2023, and will announce its Official Selections in July.
SOURCES: Ottawa Black Film Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival.
