Summary
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.
| International Festival of Animated Objects | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Art |
| Location(s) |  Calgary,  Alberta,  Canada |
| Patron(s) | Calgary Animated Objects Society |
| Website | Festival of Animated Objects |
The FAO features high calibre local, national, and international artists working in the realm of animated objects. Programming includes live performances, screenings, lectures, workshops, and 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.
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 edit
Official Website
- FAO Website
- CAOS Website
- Glenbow Museum
- Golden Sheaf Awards
- VTape
- Prairie Tales
- Phillip Huber
- Frank Meschkuleit
- Cirque du Soleil Varekai
- The Old Trout Puppet Workshop
- The Red Smarteez
- Ronnie Burkett
- Buchty a Loutky
Press Links
- My Lethbridge Now 2023 Animation project makes learning Blackfoot accessible online
- CBC 2023 Teacher's dream of Blackfoot language 'Sesame Street' inspires art exhibit
- Lethbridge News Now 2023 Blackfoot language project to be screened at Calgary’s Festival of Animated Objects
- Livewire Calgary 2023 Frankenstein production uses masks, puppetry to draw audiences closer to original Gothic novel
- Avenue Calgary 2023 Check Out This Festival Celebrating All Things Puppetry
- Swerve 2017 Puppet Masters: Festival of Animated Objects a labour of love for co-artistic directors
- The YYScene 2019 Festival of Animated Objects brings Calgary to life with puppetry, performance, film and arts installations
- The Calgary Herald 2023 Frankenstein is back, this time with puppets
- The Calgary Herald 2015 The Old Trouts offer something new (and old) at the International Festival of Animated Objects
- CBC 2017 Interview with Xstine Cook and Peter Balkwill
- Nanton News 2021 Drive In Film Festival
- the Calgary Herald 2019 Ghost River Theatre's GIANT
- CBC interview with Xstine Cook
- CBC 2019 Animated Objects
- CBC 2019 Puppet show pulls back curtain on family's experience with Alzheimer's
- The Calgary Herald 2016 Five facts about Dolly Wiggler Cabaret
- The Calgary Herald 2016 Mooky Cornish headlines Dolly Wiggler Cabaret
- The YYScene 2019 Ghost River Theatre's GIANT
- AMMSA 2010 Film project inspired by the tragic death of a stranger
- Calgary Herald
- Canadian Theatre Review
- FFWD 2009 Festival Preview
- FFWD 2009 Crawdaddy Review
- Calgary Herald 2009 Les Voisins Review
- Calgary Herald 2009 Alice Nelson Review