The coolest (and arguably one of the best) animation festival in the United States is Brooklyn’s Animation Block Party. The tenth annual ABP this year is on July 25-28th, 2013 at three locations in Brooklyn: The Music Hall of Williamsburg, Rooftop Films and at the BAMcinematek. Animation Block Party is certainly the premier animation festival on the East Coast – dedicated to exhibiting all genres of the world’s best independent, professional and student animation.
I’m happy to announce that I am participating in this year’s event as both a juror and host/curator of a special screening. I hope to see ALL my New York friends there! But before I tell you about what I’m showing – what else is ABP doing?
ABP 2013 festival starts Friday, July 26th at Rooftop Films at 8pm, located at the Greenpoint High School for Engineering and Automotive Technology – 50 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg. Brooklyn NY 11222. The evening will feature live music followed by an outdoor screening, featuring international cartoons, exceptional student films, world premieres and visually stunning shorts.
The screening will be followed by an after party at Matchless, located at 557 Manhattan Avenue in Brooklyn, featuring an open bar courtesy of Red Stripe and Tito’s Vodka.
Animation Block Party continues on Saturday, July 27th at BAMcinématek located at the Peter Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn, NY 11217.
ABP Saturday at BAMcinematek features five different animation programs. A special screening at noon will feature Animation for Kids. The 2pm slot offers a screening of Experimental Films, Motion Graphics, Design Shorts and Music Videos. At 4:30pm, there will be a silent film screening from Tom Stathes’ Cartoons On Film. The 7pm show is the first of two individual International Shorts programs. At 9:30pm, there will be a 35mm screening of Beavis and Butt-head Do America.
DO NOT miss Tom Stathes Saturday 7/27 4:30pm silent cartoon program – which will include:
- The Artist’s Dream / Bray Studios / John Bray / 5 min / 1913
- Farmer Alfalfa Sees New York / Bray Studios / Paul Terry / 6 min / 1916
- Fireman Save My Child / Bud Fisher / 5 min / 1919
- Felix Comes Back / Otto Messmer / 6 min / 1922
- Col. Heeza Liar, Detective / Bray Studios / 8:30 min / 1923
- Jolly Rounders / Paul Terry / 6:30 min / 1923
- Trip to Mars / Max Fleischer / 7 min / 1924
- Felix the Cat Trips Thru Toyland / Otto Messmer / 6 min / 1925
- Krazy Kat in Scents and Nonsense / Bill Nolan / 7 min / 1926
- Making ‘Em Move / Van Beuren Studios – Harry Bailey & John Foster / 7 min / 1930
ABP Sunday, July 28th at BAMcinematek features five different animation programs. Secret of NIMH projected on 35mm at noon. Narrative works, studio shorts and local films screen at 2pm. Student films and independent animators showcase at 4:30pm. Yours truly, Jerry Beck, Presents 1960’s Oscar Shorts at 7pm. The evening will close with a fresh program of International Shorts at 9:30pm.
Following my screening I’m moderate a panel with J.J. Sedelmaier, Michael Sporn and Emily Hubley to discuss animated shorts of the 1960s, Oscar winers and nominees and the panelists thoughts on the Academy Awards for animation. All films will be projected in 35mm. Here’s what I’m showing:
Munro / Gene Deitch / 8:20 min / 1960 Ersatz (The Substitute) / Dusan Vukotic / 10 min / 1961 The Hole / John Hubley and Faith Hubley / 15 min / 1962 The Critic / Ernest Pintoff / 4 min / 1963 The Pink Phink / Friz Freleng and Hawley Pratt / 6:38 min / 1964 Dot and the Line / Chuck Jones & Maurice Noble / 10 min / 1965 Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass Double Feature / John Hubley / 6 min / 1966 The Box / Fred Wolf / 9 min / 1967
After that, the closing evening after party will start around 9:30pm at Habana Outpost at 757 Fulton Street, Brooklyn and features free Six Point Ale and delicious Habana corn.
Additional Important Data: The ABP 2013 jury includes Jerry Beck, Carrie Miller, Devin Clark and Scout Raskin. Award categories are Student Film, Best in Show, Audience Award, Narrative Short, Computer Animation, Minute Movie, Original Design, Music Video, Experimental Animation and Animation for Kids.
Tickets will be on sale at the doors to each event, but you can also buy in advance at links below to ensure a seat. Animation Block Party kicks off on July 25th with an Opening Night concert at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, located at 66 N 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211.
Adam Green and Binki Shapiro will be headlining the event with an opening performance by Dovecote recording artistHooray For Earth. Les Savy Fav frontman and comedian Tim Harrington will host. The evening will feature exclusive animation content from Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Pixar. Doors at 8:30pm.
Click Here for MORE information on the Animation Block Party 2013. It’s going to be a blast! See you there!
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