Fred Seibert's Blog

Frederator Postcards Series 9.6, mailed April 9, 2010

The internet hadn’t really become a factor in video when I approached the Nicktoons network. They’d recently made a renewed effort to assert themselves as an alternative cartoon network, and I suggested that they couldn’t be a kids network for 24 hours a day. What about running a shorts festival in the late evening hours and get the message out to animation freaks? A film festival on TV. We produced the first three years when they decided to take it over themselves. That was OK with us because by then we had our hands full with a better alternative for short cartoon filmmakers at Channel Frederator.

From the postcard back:

Congratulations!
You are one of 200 people to receive this limited edition Frederator postcard!
www.frederator.com

History of Frederator Studios
Nicktoons Film Festival
2005-?
Created by Fred Seibert
Programmed & produced by Eric Homan & Rita Street

Series 9.6
Postcard ©2010, Bellport Cartoon Company. Nicktoons Film Festival ©2010, Viacom Intl. All rights reserved.
..….
More Frederator Postcards

Marv Newland really gets around! Postalolio, the short that Marv produced with Frederator will be screening all over the world over the coming months. If you’re in any of these countries or states, make sure you come out to support this great film.

04 - 08 November 2009
Holland Animated Film Festival
Utrecht

11 - 15 November 2009
15th Cucalorus Film Festival
Wilmington, North Carolina

03 - 06 November 2009
Les Sommets Du Cinéma D’Animation
Montreal, Canada

25 - 29 November 2009
I Castelli Animati
Italy

01 - 04 April 2010
11th Dawson City International Short Film Festival
at the Klondike Institute of Art
Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

21 - 27 June 2010
Melbourne International Animation Festival
Australia

Congratulations to Marv on gaining entry to these prestigious festivals and best of luck!

There’s a ton of Marv Newland news in the hopper.

Tomorrow night, Marv’s got a gallery opening of postcards in Serignan, France. If you can’t make it, you can check out some of the cards at his Marvcards site (and those who know Marv best can marvel at the fact that there’s a website!).

We’ve mentioned before that Frederator was producing a short film of Marv’s over the last couple of years, and, lo and behold, the subject matter is… postcards! Well, Postalolio is finished (complete credits are below the fold) and started it’s festival run. It started at the Edinburgh International Film Festival this past Saturday, and continues on to Brazil’s Anima Mundi Festival throughout July.

Postalolio (sample #1), by Marv Newland from fredseibert on Vimeo.

I wanted to give a taste of what you’re missing, and assure you I’ll let you know the rest of the worldwide screening schedules where you might see the film yourself in person.

Go Marv!

[Read more…]

Program cover illustrated by Doug Crane

Over the last five summers, filmmaker Casey Safron has turned his Brooklyn based Animation Block Party into one of the most anticipated festivals (if you insist on calling it that) in the US cartoon community. So it’s always great when he stops by and we talk about ways to do something together. We haven’t figured it out yet, but we’re getting closer!

Anne Denman came by Frederator a while back to catch up and introduce us to studios she’s working with like MonkeyPaw Media, Sketch Engine Studio, Spank Productions, Harbour Block Productions, and Denman Wilde Productions.

Anne was the delightful person who helped us so much with the Drinking & Drawing event at last June’s Platform Animation Festival (she’s the Director of the Student Program and Panel Coordinator) and put neat bow on things, she’s worked a lot with our great friend Marv Newland at International Rocketship.

Back in May a former Turner Broadcasting colleague, Patrick de Bokay, stopped by to kindly ask me to judge the shorts competition at the Miami Film Festival. I don’t really like to travel, even to nice places, but when the date’s so far away I always say ‘yes’ since I figure 2 million things will get in the way and something will force me to not go.

I’ll be there next week, seeing some great films.

Pen! Dan & Lee!* Congratulations!

We’ve had a few films in a few festivals, but this year was our first ever with two. And, truth be told, I never ever think about winning; it sounds dumb, but I actually feel it is an honor to be nominated.

But two wins! Holy cow! As I think I’ve said before, I’m honored you choose to work with us. Thank you.

*And Animax Entertainment, Steve, Nylon Motion, Devin, Bernard, Seed Animation, Joe, Mukpuddy Animation, Jeaux, Javan, Bishop Animation, Doogtoons, and Michael.

Frederator’s got two cartoons in this week’s Platform Animation Festival, and we’re sponsoring Dan Meth’s first Drinking & Drawing cartoon jam.

Say hello if you see any of us (Dan, Pen, Lee, Eric, Carrie, me) wandering around in a daze.