Stoke Your Fires 4 - Including the launch of Potteries Vampire series, Aardman animators and more

Aardman animators and Oscar nominated producers line-up for moving image festival Animators from Aardman, the studio behind Wallace and Gromit, and Oscar nominated producers from big budget Hollywood films will speak at Stoke-on-Trent’s biggest ever festival of the moving image next month.

The high profile guests have joined the line-up for the annual Stoke Your Fires festival, which has this year expanded to include film and digital media as well as animation, for the first time.

The festival is supported by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and will run from 18 February to 4 March.

And as well as screening international new film releases, staging a 48-hour film challenge, film and animation competitions and hands-on half-term activities for children, the festival will feature a four-day convention for industry professionals and those with a keen interest in the moving image.

The convention will run between 1 March to 4 March, and speakers will include:
• James Richardson, co-founder of Vertigo Films. Since the company formed in 2002, James has produced or executive produced 18 films including The Football Factory, It’s All Gone Pete Tong, The Business, The Children, Oscar nominated Ajami and recent international hits StreetDance 3D and Monsters. Vertigo is currently shooting Horrid Henry – The Movie and in 2011 will start production on five films including The Sweeney and StreetDance 2.
• Barry Purves, an animator, writer and director who has worked on blockbusters such as King Kong and Mars Attacks. He has directed and animated 70 commercials, title sequences, animation inserts for films and pop promos. He worked for Cosgrove Hall on productions including The Wind in the Willows and Postman Pat and has held workshops about animation in major American studios including Dreamworks, PDI, Pixar and Will Vinton.
• Matthew Rees, a senior animator at Aardman who has been with the studio since 2001. Matthew works in the company’s CGI department on commercials for companies including Hershey’s, Chevron and BT. His career has seen him be a 2D animator, work in the gaming industry and work on children’s TV series and commercials.
• Andrew Lavery, a senior lighter and modeller in Aardman’s CGI department. He has worked on commercials, broadcast and features projects, and has been involved in production and concept design. Andrew is currently developing a children’s TV series from an original idea of his own.

Councillor Hazel Lyth, cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: “This is a fabulous opportunity to hear from leading industry figures and gain unique insights into how big budget productions work.

“It is a must for anyone interested in the film industry or animation, and it is a real coup for the festival to have secured such high profile speakers.

“This year’s festival is set to be the biggest yet, and I urge anyone who wants to take part to register their interest early.”

James Richardson will be one of seven producers and script consultants who will describe the journey of producing a film on Tuesday 1 March. On Wednesday 2 March the convention will cover digital media, and on Thursday 3 and Friday 4 March Barry Purves and the Aardman animators will help to lead a two-day focus on animation.

The two-week festival will also screen international new release The Insatiable Moon, an acclaimed New Zealand story of the self-proclaimed second son of God; new commissions including the locally produced Blood & Bone China, a web-based vampire mini-series; and back by popular demand, SoulBoy, which charts the story of the Northern Soul music movement that was filmed in Stoke-on-Trent.

Tickets for the festival cost £15 for a one-day pass, with £12 for concessions; and £35 for a full festival pass, £28 for concessions. The full pass includes free access to all evening showings on convention days.

Tickets are on sale now from www.enjoystaffordshire.com or from Stoke-on-Trent Tourist Information Centre on 01782 236000.

For more details about the Stoke Your Fires festival, visit www.stokeyourfires.co.uk.