ANIMAC AWARDS THE HONORARY AWARD TO WENDY TILBY AND AMANDA FORBIS

The International Animation Film Festival of Catalonia, Animac, organized by the Lleida City Council from 20 to 23 February 2025, will award the Prize Honorary to Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis, the Canadian animation duo with an exceptional career that has marked the panorama of contemporary animation.

Tilby and Forbis have developed a unique visual style that combines traditional and experimental techniques to explore the complexity of human relationships. Their best-known film, When the Day Breaks (1999), won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and other international awards. Other notable films include the Oscar-nominated “Wild Life” (2012) and the recent critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated “The Flying Sailor” (2023). His collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) has been key to developing an artistic language that combines deep narrative sensibility with technical innovation.

Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis met at Vancouver’s Emily Carr University of Art and Design, where they began to develop their distinctive styles. Tilby first came to prominence with the Oscar-nominated short film “Strings” (1991), while Forbis collaborated on commercial animation projects. Their creative partnership officially began with “When the Day Breaks” and has continued with impressive works such as “Wild Life” and “The Flying Sailor”, which combine 2D, 3D and live-action animation.

The duo’s technique is characterised by meticulous attention to detail and innovative use of materials and techniques such as hand-painting, digital montage and image manipulation. This approach has allowed them to push the traditional boundaries of animation and explore profound themes such as human fragility and emotional connection.
As part of the tribute, Animac will organise a retrospective of their most iconic works and the animators will give a masterclass to share their vision and experience with students and professionals in the field.

This edition of Animac will explore the theme “We Animals” with a selection of films and activities that reflect on the relationship between humans and animals. Highlights will include screenings of new short and feature films, conferences and workshops. In addition, the Pro area of the exhibition will host activities such as the Incubator, the Animacrea and the Animac Campus, aimed at promoting emerging talent and fostering collaboration between professionals in the sector.

Animac, the International Animation Film Festival of Catalonia, is a platform dedicated to auteur animation that celebrates the creativity, innovation and talent of artists from all over the world. With a history of more than 25 years, Animac offers a curated selection of films, workshops, conferences and activities for animation professionals and enthusiasts.