ABP 2023 - Fest Prize Winners*

20th Annual Animation Block Party Festival featured two major prizes!

This summer’s official Animation Block winners are:

Audience Award: 

Snif & Snüf (Michael Ruocco / California / 4:43 min)

Student Film:

Sleep Mode (Emmet Zabor / CCS / 4:12 min)

ABP 2023 was highlighted by feature length classics, Tokyo Godfathers and Triplets of Belleville, Cartoon Carnival documentary, retrospective of Sublo and Tangy Mustard, a presentation of Malt Adult NYC plus Animation Block shorts competition programs.

Check out this summer’s Animation Block Party festival intro animated by Jonni Phillips!

Animation Block Party 2023 at BAM!

August 18-20, Animation Block Party, the largest animation festival on the East Coast, returns to BAM Film for its twentieth season of the world’s finest animated works.

Friday, August 18:

8pm: Tokyo Godfathers (2003).

Satoshi Kon’s third film follows a homeless trio of friends living on the streets of Tokyo. An alcoholic named Gin, teen runaway, Miyuki and trans heroine, Hana. On Christmas Eve, they discover a newborn and set out to find the baby’s parents.

Saturday, August 19:

2pm: Animation Block Party Shorts Program One (2023).

Program One of this summer’s eclectic Animation Block Party festival mix of the world’s best animated shorts with a focus on student films and local works. 

Animation Block Coney Island Bumper (Jonni Phillips / Chicago / 30 sec)

ABP and Coney Island represent in this exclusive 20th anniversary bumper.

WO RM (Julia Chien / RISD & Brooklyn / 7:46 min)

A split worm searches for his bottom half.

Sea Bud (Natalie Greene / NYC / 2:50 min)

The story of one starfish leaving the ocean for the beach for the first time.

Inner Wound Real (Carrie Hawks / Brooklyn / 14:37 min)

Documentary short about three BIPOC folks who self-injure, then find new ways to cope.

Apollo Moon (Vivian Vazquez / Pratt / 42 sec)

Exploration of the crosshair animation technique in relation to the Apollo 13 mission.

Sleep Mode (Emmet Zabor / CCS / 4:12 min)

A little robot must arrive at his destination before his timer runs out.

In Search Of Birds (Miranda Jacoby / North Carolina / 1:17 min)

Commercial astronaut returns to Earth in search of birds, but has trouble finding them.

Space Case Cadets (Rylee Arenson / RIT / 4:25 min)

Cartoon sci-fi hijinks in the outer space ship.

You Should See Other People (Uriel Cruz / MICA / 3:18 min)

A misguided 20-something copes with the hurtful affairs she's been involved in.

Chew Gum (Shane Curry / Los Angeles / 5:03 min)

Chew and Gum are in a band. A terrible band.

Mother’s Milk (Urja Vakta / SVA MFA Computer Arts / 1:05 min)

A thirst-quenching vodka-infused coconut water that’s set to launch in the summer.

It Was Up There (Jesse Willmon / Queens, NY / 6 min)

A couple see something unexplainable up in the New Mexico desert night sky.

How To Save A Baby From A Snake Attack (Chris Bennett / Syracuse / 1 min)

Dark comedy depicting how best to save the day from certain serpent slaughter.

Total Catastrophe (Leon Price / UArts / 6:31 min)

Spunky girl tries her hardest to take care of a stoned cat.

Goose Quest (Clarisse Chua / Los Angeles / 16:39 min)

When Goosie's hamster dies, the young goose goes on a quest to find the restart button.

Midnight Ash (Pilar Garcia-Fernandezsesma / NYC / 1:46 min)

A woman reminisces about her childhood and her strained relationship with her mother.

Just Checkin’ (Xerograde / Texas / 3:46 min)

Park patron gets an impromptu lesson in how to play checkers.

Atta Girl (Jess Hock / Brooklyn / 5:55 min)

Caught between her digestive system and an intrusive plumber, Frankie tries to find peace.

4pm: Sublo and Tangy Mustard Retrospective (2015-2023).

Screening includes the following episodes!

  • Episode 1 "First Day"

  • Episode 4 "Katy's Birthday"

  • Episode 7 "Halloween"

  • Episode 9 "Bad Guys"

  • Episode 11 "Art Show"

  • Episode 13 "Convention"

  • Episode 14 "Tito's Girlfriend"

  • Episode 15 "Picnic"

    plus behind-the-scenes video!

6pm: Animation Block Party Shorts Program Two (2023).

Shorts Program Two from the Animation Block Party festival features award-winning international films, experimental and design centric films and music videos.

Disappearing Jewels (Will Kim / California / 15:33 min)

Remembering the filmmaker's grandfather who was a blind man and walking weather forecast.

Still Life with Woman, Tea and Letter (Tess Martin / Rotterdam / 2:14 min)

Photograph is a window into the past, sometimes border between past and present is not clear.

빛 [Inheritance] (Hyung Jin Lee / Brown University / 6:20 min)

Strands of time spiral, contrasting emotions a young woman feels toward her grandmother.

Pushing Through (Geneviève Bélanger Genest / Quebec, Canada / 8:57 min)

Ice floes cover the St. Lawrence River. Otherworldly, determined silhouettes appear…

Tick Tock (Chris McDonnell / PA / 3:45 min)

Music video for Aldous Harding's "Tick Tock.”

Perception (Brandon Frank Lopez / DePaul / 4:28 min)

A blob of residue rejects the ideals of its creator, relationships and connections face uncertainty.

Jellyhead Goes On A Walk (Scott Coello / Hastings, England / 1:10 min)

Poem about a person with jelly for a head.

The Scramble (Angelina Retodo / SVA Animation / 3 min)

A ninja chef’s journey to find a rare dragon egg and cook the ultimate omelet. 

Snif & Snüf (Michael Ruocco / California / 4:43 min)

Two characters discover an interesting new object, and learn about what it means to share.

The Space Between Us (Julianne Martin / Los Angeles / 2:43 min)

A lonely spaceman's desire for company may be fulfilled when a mysterious ship arrives.

Gayle FMK with blackbear (Chris Ullens / London / 4:12 min)

Miniature Gayle and blackbear failing at being good neighbours in the most extravagant ways.

Why Is No One Talking About Fight Club? (Daren Jannace / Los Angeles / 3:21 min)

Little foil man contemplates the cruel and changing world that no longer talks about Fight Club.

Last Nite at Sam’s (Devon Manney / NYC / 14:45 min)

A man walks into a bar. It gets worse.

Tomato Kitchen (Junyi Xiao / California / 8:42 min)

An accident interrupted Lee’s dinner with his colleagues.

Living The Dream (Ben Meinhardt / Canada / 1:15 min)

An indefatigable young citizen makes his way in the modern world.

8pm: Malt Adult NYC (2023).

Screening includes a Q&A with the Malt Adult NYC filmmakers.

  • Malt NYC Bumpers by Ian Ballantyne (2:00)

  • Ted Wiggin: Jaws of Asphalt - Scales and Rails (01:37)

  • Caitlin Craggs - Kinesthese (01:54)

  • Mason Lindroth - Game Assets (02:32)

  • Leah Shore - Launch (03:00)

  • Simeon Kondev and Felipe Di Poi Tamargo - Beeline (03:34)

  • Leilanni Todd - Scrimps Need Love Too (1:06)

  • Kate Costello - Lay Lady Lay (01:33)

  • Emma Mora - JEST (3:16)

  • Sam Lanier - DAP 03: Road Trip (02:22)

  • Sensitive Athletes (Alex Swift + Alexander Laird) - Treachery at the Gate of Obodaxis (01:39)

  • Alex Futtersak - Etude for Theremin and Potted Plant no. 1 (01:09)

  • Amanda Bonaiuto - Cécile McLorin Salvant - D'un feu secret (03:49)

  • Miranda Javid - What Humans Do (06:40)

  • Yusef Najafi - Too Short (The Sequel) (02:04)

  • David De La Fuente - Rager (04:44)

  • Morgan Evans - Ego Death (04:28)

  • Team Rolfes - Holly Herndon - Jolene (feat. Holly+)(03:05)

  • Jack Wedge - The Star Tree (04:18)

  • Nate Milton - Viewfinder (02:40)

  • Kohana Wilson - Edith and the Tall Child (6:50)

  • Yusef Najafi - East & West (01:38)

Sunday, August 20:

2pm: Triplets of Belleville (2003).

Sylvain Chomet’s Oscar nominated feature tells the story of Madame Souza and her journey to save her grandson, who has been kidnapped by the French mafia during the Tour de France. Madame Souza teams up with her dog and the Belleville Sisters, a 1930’s song-and-dance team on her adventure.

4pm: Tommy Stathes Presents The Cartoon Carnival Documentary (2021).

Directed by United Kingdom based producer, Andrew T. Smith, the Cartoon Carnival tells the story of the pioneering days of the animated art-form and chronicles a preservationist's quest to rescue pre-sound cartoons from obscurity. Screening will be hosted by animation historian, Tommy Stathes, who also appears in the documentary.

Animation Block Party 20th Anniversary!

Saturday, June 3 at 7pm, Animation Block Party festival will present a special 20th anniversary screening at BAM, celebrating two decades of filmmaking talent!

Listed by order of year animated, does not reflect screening order of official program.

Brooklyn Magazine top pick for Saturday, June 3rd!

Animation Block Party Festival 2023!

Animation Block Party begins at 7pm on Saturday, June 3rd at BAM Film with an anniversary screening of fest classics and faves.

The 20th Animation Block Party festival will take place on August 18-20, 2023 and is open for animated short film entries through June 16th.

This year’s Brooklyn skyline poster was illustrated by Xiongliang (Ben) Li and colored by Janet Lin to commemorate twenty years of Animation Block.

Animation Block Valentines – Official Shorts Program*

Films curated by Malt Adult.

Permanent Records is located at 1906 Cypress Ave, LA, CA 90065.

Doors at 6:30 / Show 7pm PST*

Animation screening opens show!

Picture This comedy follows screening.

Animation Block Valentines - Picture This at Permanent Records!

Animation Block Party returns to Los Angeles on Saturday, February 11th at Permanent Records with a Valentines special headlined by Picture This Show live animated comedy.

Permanent Records is located at 1906 Cypress Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90065.

Doors 6:30 / Show 7pm PST

  • Proof of vaccination required for entry to the live show

  • Street Parking available, ride share encouraged

  • 21+ ID required for entry

  • RSVP required for zoom link to the event

Animation Block Valentines 2023!

Animation Block Valentines returns to LA on February 11, 2023 at Permanent Records!

Animation Block Valentines is seeking “love” themed micro-shorts & GIFs!

  • Micro-short and animated GIF entries must be under thirty seconds and submitted in H.264 or Apple ProRes 1920 x 1080 format.

  • Entries are free and will be open from December 16, 2022 through January 18, 2023.

  • The best “love” clip will receive a $500 prize as well as ABP festival merchandise and art supplies!

  • Micro-short and GIF submissions should be emailed via downloadable links to maltadult@gmail.com

  • Do not send the only copy of your animation. Any materials you send us will not be returned.

  • Please label your QuickTime file with the name of your entry and include your preferred contact email in cover letter with submission.

  • Suggested file transfer sites include www.wetransfer.com, www.hightail.com, www.sendspace.com, www.dropbox.com or Google Drive.

  • Accepted works will be transferred to a digital stream for the festival.

  • Please check ABP Valentines on February 3rd for selections as space is limited.

Submit video by The Sunshine Mall.

Valentine shorts will be curated by Malt Adult, via Sarah Schmidt and Ian Ballantyne.