10^th YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ANIMAZE – MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FESTIVAL WRAPS AND ANNOUNCES WINNING FILMS OF 2023

The Festival Paid Tribute to Canadian Animation Industry Tycoon
Michael Hirsh who Received the Lifetime Achievement Award

Animaze – The Montreal International Animation Festival celebrated its 10^th year with many international attendees and animation films – shorts from filmmakers around the globe. “What we saw this year at Animaze was incredible works from young to seasoned filmmakers from around the globe which left us gasping at times of some of the breathtaking beautiful variety of content and engaging storytelling”, says Laurie Gordon, Founder of Animaze.

Michael Hirsh opened the festival as special guest, keynote and Lifetime Achievement Award winner in the gorgeous Cinéma du Musée theatre.  The exquisite individually crafted awards this year were designed by local renowned multidisciplinary Montreal artist, Nadine Samuel.  Nadine from Quebec, pursues an artistic approach focused on the democratization of culture and the development of laboratory spaces that make creative processes accessible to communities here in Quebec and abroad including Peru and Haiti. (See attached awards)

10^th Year Animaze 2023 Award Winning Films Are:

●        A TREE ONCE GREW HERE – United States - Produced and Directed by Johnnie Semerad (Storyline Award)

●        LOUIS I KING OF THE SHEEP – Germany - Director - Markus Wulf.  (Audience Choice Award)

●        Hardboiled – United States - Director Peter Sluszka (Audience Choice Award)

●        ABOVE GROUND – United States - Produced by Kevin Sharpley – (Special Social Awareness Category)

●        LE CERF BLUE - Mexico - Arnold Abadie – (Special VR-360 Category)

●        PINCIO – Italy - Emanuele Gabbi – (Experimental Short)

●        THE AWAKENING: THE FIRST DAY – USA – Jose Diaz Contreras and Santiago Carraguilla

●        MY JUMPER IT ROARS – Australia - Isabella Spagnola

●        FRIDA IN THE SKY – Canada – Dani Sadun (Student Canada Award)

●        ASHTA – Canada - Ryan Bechara – (Student Canada – QC Award)

●        THE LOST COURIER – China – Ma ZiDong (International Student Award)

Animaze-Montreal International Animation Festival:

Founded 10 years ago Animaze-Montreal International Animation Festival continues to grow and in 2023 will honour Canada’s major contribution to the global animation industry. The Animaze Festival is the only one if its kind in Montreal which remains active throughout the year outside of its flagship Montreal edition. Animaze curates Canadian, First Nations, emerging and established international animated films. As well Animaze presents panels and market screenings presenting mentors and speakers to international festival conferences at the Cannes Film Festival, Sharjah International Film Festival, Havana Film Festival highlighting Canadian animation Rock n Rule and Heavy Metal at Moscow, Animator Festival Poland, SIFFCY India (Smile International Film Festival for Children & Youth) Annecy OFF, the Francophonie in Kazachstan, Armenia, and much more. Founders of Animation Day in Cannes (Animaze Daze) in 2014.