Adam Elliot
Local Animator Adam Elliot Gets the Oscar Nod
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| Image: Adam Elliot |
Adam Elliot has become one of Australia's most celebrated animators - and certainly our most successful short filmmaker. His touching trilogy of short films - Uncle, Cousin and Brother - have built his international recognition as a master storyteller.
His shorts trilogy has participated in over two hundred film festivals and won over fifty awards - including four AFI awards.
But it is Adam's latest short film, Harvie Krumpet, that has ensured his name will be remembered after his exciting Oscar win at the 2004 Academy Awards. The little plasticine character Harvie beat three of the giants of the animation industry - Disney, Pixar and 20th Century Fox - to win the coveted 'best animated short film' award.
Harvie Krumpet is narrated by Geoffrey Rush with a cameo by Kamahl. It is a work of great accomplishment and a triumph of storytelling - a delight down to the last detail. Mischievous, moving and ultimately very, very amusing, it is Adam Elliot's best work yet.
'How thrilling that after its work-in-progress screening here at ACMI Cinemas in March last year, Harvie Krumpet would go on to such dizzying (and deserved) heights! I cannot tell you how excited I am that Australia's crown prince of plasticine, Adam Elliot, and his fabulously feisty producer, Melanie Coombs, have achieved the recognition that this film demands. The fact that they were up against such tough competition makes the joy even sweeter!'
Clare Stewart, Cinema Programmer, ACMI.
Elliot himself was surprised to win especially given that he was up against such formidable competitors. By comparison with multimillion-dollar films Boundin', Gone Nutty and Disney's Destino (which was favourite to win), Elliot's budget for Harvie Krumpet was a mere $377,000. It took 14 months working from a small shed for Elliot to get the 22 minutes of film absolutely right. All the hard work and creativity has certainly paid off; the Oscar for Harvie Krumpet adds to the existing awards for the film, including the jury and audience prizes from the 2003 Annecy International animated Film Festival and the best Australian Short Film Award from the 2003 Melbourne International Film Festival.
Watch the films online
Visit the ATOM films website to view Adam elliot's shorts trilogy online.
(The Atom Films site provides on-demand viewing of over 1,500 world-class film and animation titles.)
Brother http://atomfilms.shockwave.com/af/content/atom_914
Cousin http://atomfilms.shockwave.com/af/content/atom_916
Uncle http://atomfilms.shockwave.com/af/content/atom_1063
Adam Elliot Filmography
Uncle (1996; 6min)
'The biography of a humble man, his lemon tree, chihuahua and crumpets'.
Cousin (1998; 4min)
'The childhood remembrance of a cousin, his special arm, pet rocks and shopping trolley'.
Brother (1999; 8min)
'The childhood memory of a brother, his cigarette butts, asthma and head lice'.
Harvie Krumpet (2003; 23min)
'The biography of an ordinary man seemingly cursed with bad luck. From being born with Tourette's Syndrome to getting struck by lightning, from having his testicle removed to developing Alzheimer's disease - Harvie's troubles seem neverending! Yet, Harvie learns many lessons about life and enjoys its many fruits. He finds love, freedom, nudity and, ultimately, the true meaning of what it is to be human'.
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