Amanda Spalinski’s film will be screened at the 2005 Trenton Film Festival, April 29-May 1.
"Skippy" an animated short film created, directed and produced by Amanda Spalinski will be screened at the 2005 Trenton Film Festival, to be held April 29-May 1.
Born in Trenton, Ms. Spalinski is a graduate of Hopewell Valley Central High School, Class of 1999.
Narrated by a little boy, "Skippy" tells the story of a family dog with a special talent. "The hand-drawn, traditional 2D animation uses a style that embraces the humor and genuine charm of child-like storytelling," a spokesman said.
Ms. Spalinski created the film as a student project at the California Institute of the Arts, where she is preparing to graduate in three weeks with a bachelor’s degree in character animation.
Ms. Spalinski submitted the film to various film festivals throughout the country where it has been enthusiastically received, the spokesman said. It was recently screened at the Tiburon International Film Festival in California, the Durango Film Festival in Colorado where it received a jury commendation, and the Carolina Film & Video Festival where it captured the College Experimental/Animation Prize and a $1,000 cash prize.
Two weeks ago it was shown at the Prince Music Theater as part of the Philadelphia Film Festival’s "Family Funamation" Animated Shorts program. The Philadelphia screening of "Skippy" came on the heels of a showing at Asbury Park’s Paramount Theater on the Boardwalk in the "Just for Kids" segment of the Garden State Film Festival. "Skippy" was also honored earlier this year as a finalist in the Nicktoons Film Festival, produced by Frederator Studios and ANIMATION MAGAZINE.
Ms. Spalinski is completing an internship with DreamWorks animation studios in Glendale, Calif., and plans to pursue a career in the animation industry upon graduation. She credits her CHS high school art teacher, Dr. Robert O’Boyle, as a "source of continuing inspiration and support."
For further information on the Trenton Film Festival, contact Kevin Williams, festival director, Trenton Film Festival, at www.trentonfilmfestival.org, phone/fax (396-6966) or e-mail: TFFDirector @aol.com.