Duck & Red Octopus: A Short Funny Stop Action & Animated Film Festival is back baby and it's bigger and better than before!
According to the official website: On Sept. 27 and 28, the city of Cortland, long celebrated for apples, barbed wire and the guy who invented the gyroscope, will gain new renown when it hosts the “Duck and Red Octopus Short Funny Stop Action and Animated Film Festival.” Finalists from around the world will compete for awards, including Best Stop Action Short and Best Animated Short. There will be guest speakers, film premieres, director Q&As and more, including a a live concert by none other than the voice of Sponge Bob Square Pants himself, Tom Kenny and the Hi Seas.
Excited?! Us too! Below, we'll break down the festival schedule so you know where and where to find the laughs.
WHEN: September 27-28
WHERE: Ake Gallery at 165 Main Street, Cortland NY and Center for the Arts of Homer at 72 S. Main St, Homer NY
ADMISSION: Festival admission: $10 Tom Kenny and the Hi Seas concert: $39.66 CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
FRIDAY NIGHT
OPENING RECEPTION & TOM KENNY & THE HI SEAS CONCER
Let the funny festivities begin with opening reception followed by a special concert from SpongeBob himself, Tom Kenny and the Hi Seas at the Center for the Arts of Homer. Get ready for a ruckus performance by Kenny's “Rock n Soul” party band. Performing songs from artist such as Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, The Shangri-Las, The Righteous Brothers, Gary US Bonds, they will be sure to have you dancing in the aisles as you sing along to all your favorites.
SATURDAY
On Saturday Sept. 28 the action takes place at the world-famous Ake Gallery in Cortland with a showing of the finalists’ films, presentation of awards and several panels.
BREKING IN AND BREAKING OUT 11AM
Enquiring minds want to know, and here is your chance to discover just what goes into creating comedic gold. Get ready for a intimate Q & A with some of the biggest names in the animation industry. You don't have to know much about the industry or even animation to find yourself enthralled with clever advice, funny back stories, inside jokes and witty banter from folk paid to find your funny bone. You'll find yourself sat at the feet of Claudia Spinelli Senior Vice President of Nickelodeon Animation Development along side an Animation Industry Panel featuring Tom Kenny, the sole Voice Director of Paramount’s SpongeBob-iverse as well as the Voice Director of Netflix’s new series Exploding Kittens, Peter Hannan Creator and Executive Producer of Nickelodeon’s CatDog, Gene Grillo, Emmy Award winning Writer of Teen Titan’s Go, Kung Fu Panda and Johnny Bravo, Martin Olson Writer and Producer of Phineas and Ferb, Danny Giovannini Writer (and occasional voice actor) for SpongeBob SquarePants and its universe of spinoff shows – Kamp Koral and The Patrick Star Show plus Duck and Red Octopus festival Co-Chairman and SpongeBob Producer Peter Hartsock.
EXCLUSIVE PREMIERIES NOON
Grab your popcorn, you won't want to miss this! Your festival ticket includes exclusive premieres of several animated projects including the animated pilot I Confess featuring Tom Kenny, Bobcat Goldthwait, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Eddie Pepitone and Karen Kilgariff.
FINALIST FILM SCREENING NOON-3PM
Hundreds of entries were submitted for the Duck & Red Octopus Short Funny Stop Action & Animated Film Festival. Stop action and animated films poured in from all over the world, making distilling the section down the finalists a tough job for all the judges. This year's judges include such famous comedic minds as Tom Kenny, actor/comedian and voice of SpongeBob SquarePants. And of course, Peter Hannan, creator of the Nickelodeon series CatDog and “Bobcat” Goldthwait will join in. Other judges include Martin Olson, an Emmy-nominated comedy writer, television producer, author and composer best known for Rocko’s Modern Life and Phineas and Ferb. Danny Giovannini writer (and occasional voice actor) for SpongeBob SquarePants and its universe of spinoff shows – Kamp Koral and The Patrick Star Showm will be joined by Michelle LoGerfo, Maria Norris, animator and writer from Skaneateles. Homer native, and founder of Fantasma House, Peter J. Hartsock rounds out the judge's panel.
CELEBRITY ANIMATION VOICE ACTOR PANNEL
You may not know their faces, but we assure you, you know their voices. Get to know the ins and outs of what it takes to become a voice actor in animation. Industry leaders on the pannel include: Tom Kenny – Voice actor veteran of SpongeBob, Adventure Time, Rocko’s Modern Life, Powerpuff Girls, Johnny Bravo, and CatDog to name a few. BobCat Goldthwait – voice acted on Buzz Lightyear Of Star Command, Capitol Critters, Back At The Barnyard, Bob’s Burgers and Disney’s House Of Mouse Carlos Alazraqui – voice of the Taco Bell Chihuahua. Carlos has also voiced characters for Looney Tunes, The Family Guy, The Fairly OddParents, Rocko’s Modern Life, CatDog and The Loud House. Martin Olson – voice of the Vampire Hunson Abadeer The Lord Of Evil on Adventure Time. Jill Talley Kenny – voice of Karen The Computer and Squidina on SpongeBob Squarepants, Rita Loud from The Loud House, Sarah in The Boondocks, Ramona in American Dad, Gretchen, Nina and Miss Mucus on Camp Lazlo.
AWARDS CEREMONY 4-5PM
It's the moment we've all been waiting for: the Duck & Red Octopus Short Funny Stop Action & Animated Film Festival Animation Award Ceremony! The awards are as unique as the festival it's self and include up-cycled bowling, baseball and wrestling trophies.
Jury prizes in the following categories:
Best Stop Action Short
Best Animated Short
Funniest Stop Action Short
Funniest Animated Short
Best Under 1 Minute Animated Short
Best Under 1 Minute Stop Action Short
Best Short From Central New York
Best Youth Short From Central New York
Festival Audience Favorite Stop Action
Festival Audience Favorite Animated
Pat On The Back Award For Giving It Your Best Shot
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT Duck and Red Octopus – Short Funny Stop-Action and Animated Film Festival
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