From Thursday, Dec. 6 through Saturday, Dec. 8, Hostos showcased the work of student and other animators at the 4th Annual Hostos Community College DUM-D Student Animation Festival. The brainchild of critically acclaimed filmmaker and Hostos Animation Professor Andy London, the Festival allows animators from around the world to submit their work, including Hostos and students from other colleges and universities.
Dum-D kicked off with a special guest, internationally acclaimed animator Emily Hubley, daughter of the legendary experimental animator couple Faith and John Hubley. Students screened some of her work and brainstormed animation themes based on objects that held significant meaning to them.
On Friday and Saturday the animators’ creativity and artistic talent were on display when shorts created by students from Hostos, CUNY’s City College, and Harvard University were screened in the Black Box Theater. The shorts were based on subway themes, and were equally creative, entertaining, thought-provoking, and timely.
Gayane Sarkisyants is studying animation at Hostos and is one of London’s students. She gravitates toward funny themes with her projects, which involve computer animation. For her, Dum-D allows students to not only showcase their work but helps expose outside students and artists to Hostos and the Animation Program.
On Friday night, Part 1 of the International Animation Competition was held in the Black Box, where the best 40 films out of 1,100 from schools and colleges from around the world were screened. Part 2 was held on Saturday. In total, three hours of screenings were held and special guest judges Felix Massie (children’s book writer and animation director), Lisa LaBracio (Ted ED animation director), and Erica Perez (Emmy award- winning animator) presented awards.
Watch the animations that were screened at the festival here:
Subway Stories
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6warlx3vg8ekyz3/subway%20stories%20v5.mp4?dl=0
Saturday Screening
https://www.dropbox.com/s/43hg5s4y8ssiv5x/Saturday%20Competition_v4.mp4?dl=0
Friday Screening
https://www.dropbox.com/s/akepi6d20jzhf2n/Friday%20Competition_v3.mp4?dl=0