Dingle International Film Festival will make a presentation of Ireland’s top animators at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival!

The selection of animation films by Maurice Galway, Director Dingle IFF, includes some of the top names in animation here in Ireland today whilst also giving a nod to up and coming talent. Maurice was invited by the Executive Director of SBIFF, Roger Durling to make the selection.

“There are a number of animation companies you may know including: Brown Bag Films, Kavaleer, Treehouse Republic and Cartoon Saloon, but I have also selected new works from new Irish directors and the Irish colleges, including the Irish School of Animation, BCFE and Dún Laoghaire, IADT” said Maurice Galway.

“We are so honored to feature short animations from a country with such a thriving film industry,” states Roger Durling, SBIFF's Executive Director.  “What makes it even more special is that we are partnering with Dingle IFF located in one of our most favorite Sister Cities.”

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a non-profit arts and educational organization dedicated to discovering and showcasing the best in independent and international cinema.

SBIFF offers 11 days of 200+ films, tributes and symposiums that transforms beautiful downtown Santa Barbara, CA into a rich destination for film lovers which attracts more than 90,000 attendees.

The festival opens on February 3rd and runs until February 13th. Dingle IFF’s presentation of Irish animation will have two screenings at the prestigious film festival in The Metro 4 Theatre on Thursday, February 4th and Saturday February 6th with Maurice Galway participating in a Q&A session following the screenings.

We're delighted to be presenting our short film 'An Ode To Love', written and directed by Matthew Darragh. The film tells of a lonely man on a desert island who explores the highs and lows of romantic love when a mysterious companion is washed ashore. Nothing will ever be the same. Or will it?

Cartoon Saloon will be presenting their short 'Somewhere Down The Road' directed by Julien Regnard. The film follows a man’s life, loves and losses, shown through the exchanges he has with the passengers in his car.

Kavaleer will be screening 'Deadly' directed by Aidan McAteer. Deadly was awarded The Best Animated Short Film at The Animation Ireland Awards in Animation Dingle in 2015. Deadly tells the story of Boney, a working stiff who doesn’t care about his dead-end job. That is, until he has a run-in with a spirited old lady named Bridie.

Appropriately for the year that is in it, Treehouse Republic will present 'Angel of 1916' directed by Patrick O’ Callaghan, a profound story that takes place in The GPO on the day of The 1916 Easter Rising.

Director Jack O'Shea will present 'A Coat Made Dark', which tells the story of a man who follows the orders of a dog to wear a mysterious coat with impossible pockets. The film has been selected to Sundance 2016.

Maurice Joyce who began his career at Murakami Wolf Studios will present 'Violet', a dark cautionary tale of a young girl who despises her reflection. This film is narrated by Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones).

Conor Whelan has written and directed 'Snowfall', the story of an anxious young man who has a moving experience at a friend’s house party. It’s a story of fleeting love, of mixed emotions, and of how we interact with each other.

Alan Holly’s film 'Coda' was announced as the best animated short film, selected by the staff of Vimeo for 2015, along with being shortlisted for an Academy Award and winning awards all over the world, including SXSW.

The showcase will also be representing animation students from Ballyfermot College of Further Education (BCFE) and Dún Laoghaire, IADT with Julie Rush, Gavin Fullerton, and Helga Kristjana Bjarnadóttir’s presenting their short 'Wounded', Elif Boyacioglu presenting her film 'The Tea Cup', Jessica Patterson presenting 'Did You Hear About Her Dad?', Emily Lynch presenting 'Sour Puss' and Suzanne Williams presenting 'Terrain'.

You can view the full lineup here: Santa Barbara IFF 2016 line-up

For more info please visit www.animationdingle.com and www.sbiff.org.