On June 25, 2007, PLATFORM International Animation Festival, a major new U.S. animation festival, debuted in beautiful Portland, Oregon. The PLATFORM mission is to give artists from around the world a non-commercial forum that allows for continued inspiration and growth of the multi-million dollar animation industry.

The PLATFORM six day (June 25 – 30th) program featured premieres and retrospectives, rare screenings, guest speakers, exhibitions, workshops with leading artists, parties, a picnic and plenty of opportunities for meeting new friends and likeminded artists. There was something for everyone, from animation professionals to students to the general public.

This is an important time for animation with the rapid growth of technology changing our craft every day. Aiming to empower fellow artists, we have created a literal Platform for young and established animators to come together to explore the new challenges and possibilities that contemporary and future technologies bring to animation. Whether the animation has been created for theaters or cell phones or the side of a building, if it is brilliant and interesting, we will show it.

As an incentive to artists there was a NO ENTRY FEE competition with CASH PRIZES. The competition was open to films under 40 minutes (with no minimum running time.) Directors with films in competition were provided with complimentary accommodations and Festival passes. Renowned INTERNATIONAL JUDGES gave awards in categories covering commercial and independent films, student animation and films for new platforms, including cell phones and the internet. We also broke the boundaries into other art forms, including comics, illustration, character and toy design, motion graphics, gallery art and music.

CLICK HERE for competition categories.