22 October 2009
Made-in-Dundee animation nominated for BAFTA
An enchanting animation film produced by students from the universities of Dundee and Abertay is
among the nominees at this year’s BAFTA Scotland Awards.
The Happy Duckling is a nine-minute short feature which, in a unique and innovative 'pop-up book'
style shows a young boy and a very unordinary duck learning that sometimes you have to be cruel to
be kind.
The film was written and directed by Israeli animator Gili Dolev, who studied and taught at
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, part of the University of Dundee.
He approached animation students at both universities with the idea of involving them in the
project at the beginning of the 2007/08 term. Eight students became involved in the project,
which required them to give up much of their free time to work alongside Gili, a renowned
animator and director with several credits and awards to his name.
The Happy Duckling has already been shown in almost 50 countries worldwide, and won several
awards at film festivals around the globe.
'The students really deserve a huge amount of credit,' said Gili. 'It was great to work
alongside them, and their enthusiasm for the project was fantastic.'
'For them, it was their first experience of working on a real film project and they proved
incredibly hard-working and dedicated, working way beyond the end of the semester when their
peers were enjoying their summer holidays.'
Production of the film took place at Duncan of Jordanstone’s media labs and Abertay's White
Space studios, and the film premiered at Dundee Contemporary Arts during last year’s Discovery
Film Festival for children and young people. It proved an instant hit with both children and
adults.
The animated adventure follows the antics of a young boy who finds himself the reluctant
travelling companion of a relentlessly happy duck. Despite his best efforts to shake the duck
off, it trails him all the way through the delightful and surprising pop-up book world where
anything can, and does happen.
The film’s original score was provided by Dundee-born composer Mick Cooke of Belle and
Sebastian.
Gili (35) has now returned to Israel with his wife and child and works as a Content Development
manager with Primus Design and Animation. He says he misses Scotland, which was his home for
over 10 years, and hopes to be able to return for the BAFTA Scotland Awards ceremony on Sunday,
November 8th.
Notes to editors:
Since it's launch in October 2008, the film has received the following accolades:
- Best Children Animation at Stuttgart International Animation Festival in Germany, awarded by
an all children's Jury.
- PULCINELLA AWARD for Best Short Film at Cartoons on the Bay, Italy, for its 'clever storytelling
and very unique animation'.
- Best Animated Short and Best Animated Short Audience Award at the OxfordInternational Film
Festival in the US.
- 2nd place Best Children film, Lola Kenya Screen, Kenya. 'The HappyDuckling was singled out
for being concise, clear and creativelydirected.'
- Special Mention, Children's Film category, Concorto Film Festival, Italy 2009, awarded by a
children jury.
- Special Mention, Best Short category, Festival du Film de Lama, France2009.
It has also been screened at over 40 international children’s, film and animation festivals,
from Hollywoodto Nairobi, Paristo Buenos Airesand Sydneyto Bucharest.
'The Happy Duckling' is theatrically distributed in France, Belgium, Switzerlandand Luxemburg,
by Folimage, in their 'Mélie pain d'épice' children shorts compilation. TV right's for the film
have been bought in Italy, Spainand Switzerland.
More information is available at www.happyduckling.com.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
