Animae Caribe is celebrating its sixth year as one of the Caribbean’s most notable festivals which is being co-sponsored by The University of the West Indies and which will take place at the UWI Institute of Critical Thinking from October 25-27, 2007. 

This year, in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company, Animae Caribe has joined with the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival (TTFF) for a month-long celebration of Caribbean films and animations.  The aim of this festival is to establish a thriving arts and animation movement in the Caribbean. 

Over the last six years the festival has blossomed, with a network of local and internationally renowned animators who visit to share their knowledge, as well as animation industry CEOs who attend with the purpose of stimulating the industry.  The programme includes a schools day, a business day, animation training as well as a gala awards ceremony. 

The boy who started out drawing at Newtown Boys Primary School in Trinidad, has become the man who does animation, CG Supervision, look development, texturing and final lighting for Walt Disney Animation Studios.  Olun Riley, is an extremely talented son of the soil, currently employed at the Walt Disney Animation Studios in Los Angeles.  As an animator at one of the largest animation studios in the United States, Olun has worked on some of Hollywood’s biggest movies, including, Meet the Robinsons, Monster House, Anastasia, El Dorado, The Polar Express, Ocean’s Eleven and X-Men – The Movie.

Once again Animae Caribe will take place on the JFK quadrangle in front of the Main Library of the St. Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies. Students are invited to express their creativity on October 18 from 1pm – 4pm.

Camille Selvon-Abrahams, Animae Caribe Festival Director, says “This is what animation is all about – a platform for the sharing of the Caribbean style through an appreciation of visual communication elements. Last year the chalk drawings were incredible works of ART, we look forward to seeing many more creations.”

In addition to screening animations from Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean, World Animations will be showcased this year.  Animators from Africa and Ireland will be in attendance, bringing with them animations from their respective parts of the world. 

This year for the first time, the TTFF Caravan will be travelling to Tobago and all over Trinidad offering residents in the rural communities the opportunity to experience the art and craft of local and regional film and animations.  

Apart from screenings, Animae Caribe will be offering training workshops, competitions and lectures aimed at improving skills.  The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the faculty of Engineering at the UWI has created a Robot for display at the festival in order to highlight the prospects of innovativeness and new media as a career option.  A special lecture is carded for October 26 addressing the possibilities of animation for content on local and regional television networks.

Animae Caribe is inviting all aspiring animators to submit their work and be exposed to new possibilities.  There are several categories for awards including the new student category. Maximum length: 30-60 seconds.

Look out for the roving caravan, chalk art display, screenings, workshops, business day, schools day and Animae Caribe awards.

For more information about Animae Caribe please visit the website at www.animaecaribe.com.