Many members of the Seattle Experimental Animation Team have work in SIFF this year – either as directors or contributing animators. Check them out:

Tess Martin (director/animator): Mario
Mario is Tess’ latest short film and first that uses paint on glass combined with marker on glass techniques. It is based on an Italian folk song that she grew up singing in her elementary school in Tuscany. Dating back to World War I, the song tells the dark tale of a soldier who returns home to find his girlfriend has left him.
Mario is screening on May 24 at 9:30PM as part of the Animation4Adults program.

Clyde Petersen (animator): My Last Year With the Nuns
Seattle writer-director Bret Fetzer’s debut feature is the story of local monologist Matt Smith as a young teenager, exploring the nooks and crannies of the heavily Catholic Capitol Hill neighborhood in an era of racial tensions.
My Last Year With the Nuns is playing on May 21 at 6:30PM and May 26 at 11AM.

Sihanouk Mariona & Chris Rodgers (co-directors/animators): Super Dads
Super Dads is one of four animated films in Seattle University’s new Film & Family Homelessness Project, funded by a grant from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  Sihanouk worked closely with his Wonderful Lizard animation partner, Chris Rodgers, to create this film. He uses a kaleidoscope of real stories to create an overarching storyline. With the help of Seattle University partners at Mary’s Place and YWCA, Sihanouk found three dads willing to share their stories. Sihanouk and Chris are using stop motion animation with clay, which is both time and labor intensive. They are excited to be working alongside sound design professionals, explaining that it’s a luxury for a lot of independent animation artists.

“I believe that a gripping story joined with engaging visuals can go a great long way to help us relate to each other, understand that no one is immune from circumstance and inspire action.”

Super Dads is screening in the American Refugees program on Mon, May 19, 7PM, Harvard Exit Theater. However, this screening is already sold out. Join them virtually at 7 p.m., May 19, for the online premiere at www.americanrefugees.org. Still want to see it live? SIFF will release unclaimed tickets shortly before the show to those standing in line. Facebook event.

Neely Goniodsky (director/animator): The Smiths
Goniodsky’s story, The Smiths, showcases the cycle of a family falling into homelessness and how they can move out of it if a compassionate, supportive community and resources are in place. Goniodsky’s animation style is a mixture of hand drawn animation, digital cut outs and painting. She does all of it herself. “Compassion and understanding through empathy and members of a supportive community can reinforce feelings of dignity and self-worth in families who have lost everything,” she said.

The Smiths is also screening in the American Refugees program on Mon, May 19, 7PM, Harvard Exit Theater. However, this screening is already sold out. Join them virtually at 7 p.m., May 19, for the online premiere at www.americanrefugees.org. Still want to see it live? SIFF will release unclaimed tickets shortly before the show to those standing in line. Facebook event.

Drew Christie (Co-director/animator): The Beast Inside
Co-directed with Amy Enser, this story illustrates the viewpoint of a teenager in a homeless family, highlighting the difficulties of both being a teen and being homeless. Christie used hand-drawn animation to illustrate the story, using a muted warm color palette.
“I see animation as a tool to communicate complex ideas in a non-threatening way. I believe family homelessness is a tragic issue that must be dealt with in a sensitive way,” Christie said.

The Beast Inside is also screening in the American Refugees program on Mon, May 19, 7PM, Harvard Exit Theater. However, this screening is already sold out. Join them virtually at 7 p.m., May 19, for the online premiere at www.americanrefugees.org. Still want to see it live? SIFF will release unclaimed tickets shortly before the show to those standing in line. Facebook event.

Drew Christie (animator): Song of the New Earth
Directed by Seattle filmmaker Ward Serrill (The Heart of the Game) follows Tom Kenyon’s quest to integrate modern science and ancient mysticism through sound. The scientist and shaman has a four-octave vocal range, and a dazzlingly unique view of the world.
Song of the New Earth screens on May 16 at 7PM and May 17 at 3:30PM.

Drew Christie (animator):  Oil & Water
Two teenagers, David and Hugo, meet by chance on a canoe ride in the Amazon. This documentary follows their lives as David begins a fair-trade certification system for oil production companies to help with the oil-waste problem in the Ecuadorian Amazon, while Hugo gets an American education that will allow him to return to his homelands as a leader.
Oil & Water screens on June 3 at 7PM and June 4 at 4:15PM.

Tess Martin will be visiting Seattle in February (having relocated to The Netherlands last August for studies) and she will present a new work in progress alongside SEAT founder Stefan Gruber, who will be presenting some scenes from Both Worlds II. They will be asking for feedback from the audience.

Come on by! It’s free! NW Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave, Tues, Feb 11th, 6PM.
Here is the Facebook event.