November 15th 2009
Just back from an overnight trip to one of my favourite festivals - whether it is my favourite because they always give me such a welcome, not just the staff but also the volunteers and eveyone. An ego s most aggreeably stroked there, but I've a good history with the museum and festival, and it really is one of the friendliest and most informal festivals, with stunning projection facilities and always there are excellent guests. Just being there yesterday I missed a lot, especially a screening of Mary and Max, but I did catch an excellent seminar on the visual effects of Corlaine by Brian Van't Hull. I knew Brian a bit from King Kong, and what a welcome he gave me, and gave me some interesting insight about kong, and my time there that made me feel a bit better. He did an entertaining (and oh my sometimes the boffins may be brilliant but they can be dull!) talk about the hands on effects on Coraline. An ttentive audience were, well attentive, including my chum Ben, and his Waldo and Max. I also attended the tribute to Pat Raine Webb. This was not surprisingly, very moving. just last year she and Margot were sat there enjoying everything. This year Margot is by herself, but she has become adopted animation royalty with every one paying due court. The rogramme consisted of Pat's favourite films, including Screen Play which still seems to touch audiences. A great selection of films.
Then tme for the awards and I changed very unglamourously in the toilets. I was hopefully quite upbeat this year, and I think I lived up to the hype in the programme. It was a joy to give awards to these films and there are some great ones out there. I still love French Roast, but I saw Lost and Found for the first time - now there's a film to break your heart. Beautiful. Also Alma is a quirky disturbing but equally beautiful film. I do feel very comfortable at these awards dos.
The party afterwards was suitably relaxed and I tried to chat to everyone, but fatigue won at about 2.00. The young students partied on.
Well done to Debs, Ben, Tom and all the Bafettes. A good festival that everyone enjoys.
