The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) announced the creation of the Hélène Tanguay Award for Humour, in recognition of the late National Film Board of Canada employee and 2007 OIAF Honorary President. A champion for the international animation community, Tanguay was known for her infectious sense of humor. In her honor, the new award recognizes animated works that convey a similar sense of wild, dark, or absurd humor.
“Hélène was beloved by all the classic animation festivals, but her connection to the OIAF was special,” said OIAF Artistic Director Chris Robinson. “For many attendees, Hélène was a fixture of the OIAF since the 1970s, regaling festival-goers with countless hilarious stories about animation, travels, cats, and… more cats. Having an award in her honor ensures that we keep her spirit going at future OIAFs – and given her love of every type of humor, from the silly to the dark to bawdy – it just makes sense that we celebrate and acknowledge humor in her name.”
The Hélène Tanguay Award for Humour joins the roster of awards at OIAF, including the Grand Prize for Animated Feature, the Grand Prize for Animated Short, the Public Prize, the Canadian Film Institute Award for Best Canadian Animation, and several craft awards. The winner of this latest award addition will be selected by a handpicked, rotating jury of Tanguay’s friends and colleagues.
If selected for Official Competition, animators will have the opportunity to win the Hélène Tanguay Award for Humour. The festival accepts animated works until May 31, 2023, and will announce its Official Selection in July.
Source: Ottawa International Animation Festival
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
