Topi on Japanese TV

Topi was recently featured on 'Gat Chane', a program that airs on public television in Japan. The show features the work of both students and researchers, and is aimed at college students.

An excerpt from Topi was included in their episode on motion capture at USC:

The motion capture stage shown is where I shot all the mocap for the film - it's at the Robert Zemeckis Center for Digital Arts at USC. Zemeckis was also the co-instructor of my my mocap class and is featured right before Topi in the clip above.

Now if only I knew what they were saying...

Best Animation at International Short Film Festival of India

Topi won its first Indian award(!) in the animated film category at ISFFI 2010, which was held in Chennai, India.

Screening Update

Quite a few exciting events coming up:

Epiphany Children's Film Festival, New York: March 5, 2010

The interesting story about this festival (which is organized by The Epiphany School) is that they initially told me that my entry would most likely be rejected unless I edited out sections of the film that were deemed too violent for young children. I considered this, but decided against it for both creative and logistical reasons. I was therefore delighted when the festival subsequently chose both to screen 'Topi' and to include the film in the school's curriculum:

' There are a few films that had an extra element that would be wonderful for the guidance program and for the Religious Education program because of the thought provoking issues they raise, Topi, being one in particular.'

Tiburon International Film Festival, Tiburon, California: March 18-26, 2010

Indian Short Film Festival of India, Chennai, India: March 20-21, 2010

San Francisco International Children's Film Festival, San Francisco Moscone Center: April 2-4, 2010

Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, ArcLight Hollywood: April 20-25, 2010

Delta International Film and Video Festival, Delta State University, Cleveland, Mississippi: April 21-23, 2010

Lancaster Area Film Festival, Lititz, Pennyslvania: April 24, 2010

Adobe First Frame, Los Angeles: May 6, 2010

Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival: April 29-May 8, 2010

Busan International Short Film Festival, Busan, South Korea, May 2010

In addition, the Angelus Student Film Festival and the University of Notre Dame's Center for Ethics and Culture are showcasing Topi along with a few other Angelus films on May 1. They've generously provided transportation and accommodation, and I'm looking forward to being there in person.

Finally, Sala Parpalló is a contemporary art gallery in Valencia, Spain that has included 'Topi' in an audiovisual program about India that will run during May 2010.

It's nice to see Topi being recognized outside the festival realm in both academic and institutional settings.