The time of year has come about when I wake up in the night sweating. My skin starts to tingle and my usual morning shuffle around Bradford is replaced by an enigmatic stride that can only signify one thing. BAF is back! All this excitement is not however due the return of the British fencing foundation to the area but to the return of the Bradford Animation Festival.
The Festival has gone from strength to strength in the last few years with increasing interest from industry professionals as well as a large variety of hobbyists. The line up for this year's festival is simply stunning with a whole range of events taking place that have for the first time been put into separate categories aimed at different audiences. A BAF Game Pass gives you free entry to all BAF games and workshops but a full festival pass is still available for the uber-hardcore nuts such as myself. The events will be kicking off from November 15th and will be a glorious four day experience that should be made a national holiday. There is a fabulous mix of seminars and presentations as well as the odd movie screening (watch out for the wacky and complex A Scanner Darkly). I personally will be devouring everything I can but these are some of the events on the programme that caught my motion capture eye in particular.  | | It's BAF time again! |
Marc Craste is a CG [computer generated] animator from the UK who will be in conversation with Paul Wells. His work includes Pica Towers, a series of deeply atmospheric and stylish shorts that made a large impact when they became available on the Internet and created almost a cult following. Marc was also the lead man behind the beautiful Jo Jo to the Stars, a 13 minute short from 2003 that has surely won so many awards now that Marc's front room must represent some kind of silversmiths? Paul Wells is also an established researcher and has published titles on the subject of animation and seeing these two professionals together will be a rare opportunity. In the past these conversation events have taken the form of a casual interview and cater for both technical students of animation and people who just have an interest in the subject. There is also a tribute to British animation legend Paul Berry who passed away sadly in 2001. His chilling 'The Sandman', a fantastic short but not to be mistaken as an animation aimed at children, will be shown in TV Heaven accompanied by a talk. There will also be screenings of clips from other films Paul worked on including James and the Giant Peach and, of course, The Nightmare Before Christmas. These are fine examples of puppet stop motion animation which are best appreciated on a big screen. | "BAF is more rock 'n' roll than the Leeds and Reading Festivals so don't overdo it." | | Good advice from Adam |
British games developers Introversion Software will be talking about their work in The Art of Darwinia. This is the event I am personally most looking forward to. The independent games company has been responsible for many critically acclaimed games in recent times. Darwinia was the game that put the company into the spotlight and features beautifully colourful abstract environments based on retro computer artwork. This will be very insightful for people who might have stereotyped video games in the past. The event is the highlight and 'Closing Keynote' of BAF Game. Arrive early to ensure a good seat! The biggest name this year will be Dave Burgess. He is one of a few very successful traditional animators turned CG, who bring all the talent, experience and a great understanding of animation principals with them. Dave currently works for Dreamworks on big screen titles such as Over the Hedge and Shrek 2. Hopefully he will give us a rundown on his interesting career, starting out at Disney, and how he has moved his skills into today's new computer generated animations of today. Get tickets if you can!  | | Dreamworks' and Burgess' Over the Hedge |
These are just a few of the events I am awaiting like a savage beast. And here's a few tips if you are going to this year's BAF: Events will fill up, it's already too late to join the hands-on sessions at the motion capture facility but places are still available for other workshops. I would advise going to the Panorama events wherever possible as you never know when your gonna see some really inspiringly creative work. These include the films that narrowly missed making it to the Festival competition final shortlist. Most of my favourite films from previous years were from events where I had no intention of attending, although it must be said that I have also stumbled across some utter rubbish in the same manner. BAF is more rock 'n' roll than the Leeds and Reading Festivals so don't overdo it. Last year I asked the fella next to me what he had attended. He enthusiatically replied, 'Everything.' Five minutes into the film we were watching he was asleep despite the audience who were in fits of laughter at the screening. BAF06 is at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television from November 15th - 18th 2006. Details of screenings and events are available on the BAF website. Box office: 0870 7010200 | 
