International Festival of Animated Objects

{{Infobox recurring event

|name = International Festival of Animated Objects

|logo =

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|caption =

|location = {{Flag|Calgary}}, {{Flag|Alberta}},
{{Flag|Canada}}

|years_active =

|founded =

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|genre = Art

|attendance =

|patron = Calgary Animated Objects Society

|website = [http://puppetfestival.ca Festival of Animated Objects]

}}

The International Festival of Animated Objects is an annual festival which promotes the arts of puppetry, mask, and animated objects in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The FAO was produced by Xstine Cook as a project of the non-profit group Calgary Animated Objects Society from 2002-2016. It was formed as its own non-profit society, the International Festival of Animated Objects Society in 2015 by Xstine Cook, Bob Davis, and Peter Balkwill. It was originally produced biennially by Xstine Cook from 2002-2016, then by Gwen Murray in 2017 and 2019, and Amelia Newbert in 2021. Newbert transitioned the FAO to an annual event during the pandemic era in 2022. Cosmo Christoffersen took the helm in 2023, and is the current Managing Producer.

The FAO features high calibre local, national, and international artists working in the realm of animated objects. Programming includes live performances, screenings, lectures, workshops, exhibitions for all ages and adult audiences, including the ever-popular late night "Dolly Wiggler Cabaret".

Past programming has included Canadian marionette superstar Ronnie Burkett, The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, BC spectacle artists Three on the Tree, Tsimphisan carver Victor Reece, Cirque du Soleil artist Mooky Cornish, Phillip Huber (of "Being John Malkovich" marionette fame), Frank Meschkuleit ("Bride of Chucky", "The Left Hand of Frank"), Calgary's The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, Red Smarteez, and Czech group Buchty a Loutky, amongst others.

The March 2024 edition of the Festival of Animated Objects included programming support from a number of partner organizations: Calgary Animated Objects Society produced the Exhibitions, curated by Tia DeLauria and Claudia Chagoya, Animovies short film packages by Kes Lefthand and Kelsey Two Young Men of the Stony Nakoda AV Club, and the Dolly Wiggler Cabaret which was curated by Xstine Cook, and hosted by Xstine Cook and Mooky Cornish. WP Puppet Theatre produced the Learning Component, in concert with Sparrow Arts Society. The Canadian Academy of Mask and Puppetry produced Wunderbriefs, a series of short pop-up works, as well as a residency with Brazilian artist Nina Vogel. Seton YMCA and Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge produced Splish Splash for young audiences. The FAO was sponsored by Street Characters.

Animovies is the screening portion of the International Festival of Animated Objects. Submissions for the film portion may be made through FilmFreeway.

Supporting the IFAO are the following organizations:

Canadian Heritage
Human Resources Development Canada
Alberta Lotteries
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Alberta Human Resources
Calgary Arts Development

External links

Official Website

[https://www.puppetfestival.ca/ FAO Website]
[http://animatedobjects.ca/caos/ CAOS Website]
[https://www.maskandpuppet.com/ CAMP Website]
[https://www.nakodaavclub.com Nakoda AV Club Website]
[https://www.wppuppet.com WP Puppet Website]
[https://www.sparrowartspace.com Sparrow Art Space Website]
[https://www.mascots.com Street Characters Website]
[https://cspacemardaloop.com cSPACE Website]
[https://www.ymcacalgary.org/locations/south-health-campus-ymca YMCA Seton Website]
[https://www.ymcacalgary.org/locations/shane-homes-ymca-rocky-ridge Shane Homes at YMCA Rocky Ridge Website]

[http://public.museums.ab.ca/Events.cfm?ItemID=1577 Glenbow Museum]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140818185007/http://www.goldensheafawards.com/default.aspx?page=70&a=n&y=2014 Golden Sheaf Awards]
[http://www.vtape.org/artist?ai=1509 VTape]
[http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/2012/01/16/prairie-tales-returns Prairie Tales]
[http://www.hubermarionettes.com/ Phillip Huber]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110201113929/http://puppetsandvoices.com/site/Welcome.html Frank Meschkuleit]
[http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/varekai/default.aspx Cirque du Soleil Varekai]
[http://www.theoldtrouts.org/ The Old Trout Puppet Workshop]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20100914204718/http://www.redsmarteez.com/ The Red Smarteez]
[http://www.johnlambert.ca/english/ronnie/ronnie_productions.htm Ronnie Burkett]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110718165312/http://www.buchtyaloutky.cz/content.php?set=en Buchty a Loutky]

Press Links

[https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-set-to-host-festivals-of-animated-objects-1.6798874 CTV News 2024 Calgary Set to Host Festival of Animated Objects]
[https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/local-arts/wild-and-wonderful-anything-goes-at-the-festival-of-animated-objects Calgary Herald 2024 Wild and Wonderful: Anything Goes at the Festival of Animated Objects]
[https://thegauntlet.ca/2024/03/16/the-festival-of-animated-objects-brings-the-whimsy-and-magic-to-the-arts-in-calgary/ The Guantlet 2024 The Festival of Animated Objects Brings Whimsy and Magic to the Arts in Calgary]
[https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/video/c2846476-festival-of-animated-objects-1-4 CTV News 2024 The Festival of Animated Objects]

[https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/local-arts/lets-have-a-good-time-annual-dolly-wiggler-cabaret-offers-short-and-often-surreal-performances Calgary Herald 2024 'Let's Have a Good Time': Annual Dolly Wiggler Cabaret offers short and often surreal performances]
[https://theyyscene.com/2024/03/05/what-to-do-in-march/ TheYYScene 2024 What to Do in March]
[https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/video/c2881408-festival-of-animated-objects-starts-friday CTV News 2024 Festival of Animated Objects starts Friday]
[https://www.todocanada.ca/city/calgary/event/one-for-sorrow-two-for-joy/ To Do Canada 2024 One for Sorrow, Two for Joy]
[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/blackfoot-language-animation-festival-1.6782021/ CBC 2023 Teacher's dream of Blackfoot language 'Sesame Street' inspires art exhibit]
[https://www.mylethbridgenow.com/29831/featured/animation-project-makes-learning-blackfoot-accessible-online/ My Lethbridge Now 2023 Animation project makes learning Blackfoot accessible online]
[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/blackfoot-language-animation-festival-1.6782021/ CBC 2023 Teacher's dream of Blackfoot language 'Sesame Street' inspires art exhibit]
[https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2023/03/13/blackfoot-language-project-to-be-screened-at-calgarys-festival-of-animated-objects/ Lethbridge News Now 2023 Blackfoot language project to be screened at Calgary’s Festival of Animated Objects]
[https://livewirecalgary.com/2023/03/21/frankenstein-production-uses-masks-puppetry-to-draw-audiences-closer-to-original-gothic-novel/ Livewire Calgary 2023 Frankenstein production uses masks, puppetry to draw audiences closer to original Gothic novel]
[https://www.avenuecalgary.com/things-to-do/festival-of-animated-objects/ Avenue Calgary 2023 Check Out This Festival Celebrating All Things Puppetry]
[https://www.airdriecityview.com/rocky-view-news/springbank-puppeteer-spearheads-theatrical-production-6190985 Airdrie City View 2022 Springbank puppeteer spearheads theatrical production]
[https://calgaryherald.com/life/swerve/puppet-masters-festival-of-animated-objects-a-labour-of-love-for-co-artistic-directors/ Swerve 2017 Puppet Masters: Festival of Animated Objects a labour of love for co-artistic directors]
[https://theyyscene.com/2019/03/12/festival-of-animated-objects-brings-calgary-to-life-with-puppetry-performance-film-and-arts-installations/ The YYScene 2019 Festival of Animated Objects brings Calgary to life with puppetry, performance, film and arts installations]
[https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/frankenstein-is-back-this-time-with-puppets-1.6328084/ The Calgary Herald 2023 Frankenstein is back, this time with puppets]
[https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/local-arts/the-old-trouts-offer-something-new-and-old-at-the-international-festival-of-animated-objects/ The Calgary Herald 2015 The Old Trouts offer something new (and old) at the International Festival of Animated Objects]
[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-festival-animated-objects-1.4028622/ CBC 2017 Interview with Xstine Cook and Peter Balkwill]
[https://www.nantonnews.com/entertainment/local-arts/drive-in-film-festival-takes-place-next-weekend/ Nanton News 2021 Drive In Film Festival]
[https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/theatre/review-ghost-river-has-massive-success-with-giant/ the Calgary Herald 2019 Ghost River Theatre's GIANT]
[https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2657961662 CBC interview with Xstine Cook]
[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/weekend-entertainment-guide-puppets-justice-wrestling-ballet-1.5058354/ CBC 2019 Animated Objects]
[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/puppet-show-familys-experience-alzheimers-1.5044259/ CBC 2019 Puppet show pulls back curtain on family's experience with Alzheimer's]
[https://calgaryherald.com/life/swerve/five-facts-about-dolly-wiggler-cabaret/ The Calgary Herald 2016 Five facts about Dolly Wiggler Cabaret]
[https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/theatre/veteran-clown-mooky-cornish-headlines-dolly-wiggler-cabaret/ The Calgary Herald 2016 Mooky Cornish headlines Dolly Wiggler Cabaret]
[https://theyyscene.com/2019/03/18/ghost-river-theatres-giant-a-poignant-passionate-and-energetic-look-at-larger-than-life-actor-and-wrestler-andre-the-giant/ The YYScene 2019 Ghost River Theatre's GIANT]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20140517132622/http://ca.ammsa.com/publications/windspeaker/film-project-inspired-tragic-death-stranger AMMSA 2010 Film project inspired by the tragic death of a stranger]
[https://calgaryherald.com/story.html?id=8059059 Calgary Herald]
[http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/canadian_theatre_review/summary/v144/144.boss.html Canadian Theatre Review]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20101017112746/http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/arts/theatre/animated-oddities-3190/ FFWD 2009 Festival Preview]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20101017112322/http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/arts/theatre/magical-masks-puppets-and-freaks-3245/ FFWD 2009 Crawdaddy Review]
[https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/animated+objects+action/1143835/story.html Calgary Herald 2009 Les Voisins Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303172835/http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/animated+objects+action/1143835/story.html |date=2016-03-03 }}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20101016065544/http://communities.canada.com/calgaryherald/blogs/bladerunner/archive/2009/01/29/review-elephant-in-zulu.aspx Calgary Herald 2009 Alice Nelson Review]

Category:Puppet festivals

Category:Festivals in Calgary

Category:Art festivals in Canada

Category:Puppetry in Canada