Avoid Eye Contact: New York Independent Animation

New York City is a place of constant change, invention and chaos. Avoid Eye Contact sums up these urban qualities in animated terms. Avoid Eye Contact explores the thriving contemporary independent scene going on in New York City today. Recently, a close-knit community has formed, fuelled by small screenings, studio visits, local festivals, and social events; an intimate exchange of ideas, techniques and stories has developed. These Artists don't seem to follow any trends and, although savvy, are not beholden to any technology. Avoid Eye Contact offers a program of acclaimed films spanning the last decade. Young animators join seasoned masters in a show that is surely to become another important part of the animation enthusiast's library. All films are international award-winners, each with a distinct look, united only by genre and the gritty soul of New York City.

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"As animators, we tend to live hand to mouth in one of the most expensive cities in the world, we find ways to produce our films within those restrictions, and that fact underlies every NYC film you see." Patrick Smith

The programme will be presented by Patrick Smith.

"This project was funded, in part, through a U.S. Embassy grant. The opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed herein are those of the Authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of State"

Ko-Ko

George Griffin (www.geogrif.com)

USA, 1988, 35 mm, 3'30''

Charlie Parker's bebop anthem propels a storm of cultural shards.

A Little Routine

George Griffin

USA, 1994, 35 mm, 7'

Bedtime for Nora: parent/child conflict resolution.

Love Story

Signe Baumane (www.signebaumane.com)

USA, 1998, 35 mm, 8'

The story about the separation of love and sex came from a dream a friend of mine had - he said an alligator was pulling him into the water and he was struggling to get out of the alligator's grip.

Mr. Smile

Fran Krause (www.frankrause.com)

USA, 1999, 35 mm, 9'

A silly animated account of Mr. Smile, inviting all of his strange friends to a party.

Sub!

Jesse Schmal (www.jesseschmal.com)

USA, 2000, 35 mm, 9'

A Russian classic or RISD thesis? Jesse draws a hilarious display of social/military/football prowess.

Mousachist

John R. Dilworth (www.stretchfilms.com)

USA, 2001, 35 mm, 4'

The story of a mouse, who cannot control his impulses.

Eat

Bill Plympton (www.plymptoons.com)

USA, 2001, 35 mm, 9'

A quaint, charming French restaurant, with elegant guests and soft music slowly evolves into a scene of culinary mayhem.

Fetch

Nina Paley (www.ninapaley.com)

USA, 2001, 35 mm, 5'

A man loses perspective while playing with his dog; a chase through a world of optical illusions culminates in an epiphany that opens his third eye.

Roof Sex

Pes (www.eatpes.com)

USA, 2001, Beta SP, 1'10''

These chairs are not going to take sex lying down anymore. As their passion reaches a boiling point, they burst onto the roof of their building and get their groove on!

Bar Fight

Christy Karacas, Stephen Warbrick

USA, 2001, Beta SP, 5'

It's every man for himself! ... and a few other creatures, too.

Bathtime in Clerkenwell

Alex Budovsky (www.figlimigliproductions.com)

USA, 2002, Beta SP, 3'15''

This animation is based on Stephen Coates composition under the same title. It is about The Great Revolution of the British Cuckoos, who bravely took over London, forcing all the people to move inside the cuckoo clocks.

Moonraker

Fran Krause (www.frankrause.com)

USA, 2004, Beta SP, 5'

A solitary astronaut stuck on a lonely moon falls victim to the worst post office in the galaxy.

Pee-Nut

Pes

ZDA / USA, 2004, Beta SP, 3'

Ever wonder what a peanut peeing looks like? Didn't think so. But see what it would look life (if you dare) in this twisted stop-motion animated short. This film is nuts, literally.

Handshake

Patrick Smith (www.patsmith.com)

USA, 2004, 35 mm, 5'

An innocent greeting between two people is quickly transformed into a tangled struggle, illustrating the twists and turns of a full-fledged relationship.