We are proud to announce that we were invited to participate in the fourth edition of the International "Fest Anca" Animation Festival, established by the ANCA Civic Association. The Festival will be held on July 1 ~ 3, 2011 at the Stanica Zilina-Zariecie Cultural Centre in Zilina, Slovakia.

We are sending the best films of our last 3 seasons. If you won an GI JOE FEST Award, chances are that your film will be screened at FEST ANCA.

An international three-member jury -- renowned professionals in the animation field -- will grant 3 Anca awards to the best animations consisting of a trophy and cash prize. Your G.I. Joe Films are legible to win. Special 3-members committee will make a decision about the best animation in category Music Video. All awards will be announced at closing ceremony of festival on July 3, 2011.

Lee Hardcastle's "Rick's Battle Shock," (12" category )and Patrick Kulas/Brendan Wilcox's "Cobra's Prom Night Crush" (3"3/4 category), were the big winners at the 2010 GI JOE Stop-Motion Film Festival which just wrapped last night in Austin, TX. The Audience Award went to Gregory P. Grant's "Ode to G.I. Joe"
The films were judged back in June by a panel of animators, designers, photographers and set designers. The audience award was given by the Denver Colorado Audience.

The screening at the Alamo Drafthouse marked the end of 6 months of touring, presented by the Onion. This year, the 3rd edition of the festival, saw ticket sales increase 40% percent from its kick off in 2006.

The turnout for and excitement about this year's festival truly blew us away. We knew we were putting on an incredible festival, but to see the crowds and hear the applause night after night just helped drive it home that what we're doing really means something to the people of this community. It's both humbling and very exhilarating.

Contributing to this year's success was also the sold-out theater screening in New York City at 92Y Tribeca. That particular show gave us an awesome article on the New York Times.

"We're so proud of this year's festival. Now we're set to take a few deep breaths and jump right in getting plans started for Animation Nation in Singapore (Dec 1st to the 8th 2010). That's right. We were invited to the biggest animation festival of the East.

Another sold out show, three years in a row. Thank you everyone!

The G.I. Joe Stop Motion Film Festival is the nation's first festival dedicated to screening works by stop-motion artists who use G.I. Joe figures main characters or actors.

The line-up for this year's fest will boast screenings of such treats as the Taiwanese film "Race of Evil" a second world war flick with an unexpected twist, "Cobra's Prom Night Crush" where Cobra Commander falls madly in love and the naughty British film "Rick's Battle Shock" a Vietnam deliverance tale. It seems nearly impossible that the 2010 selections could disappoint. The innovative festival of stop motion shorts featuring America's last action hero will be held in Denver at:

In addition to our show at the BUG THEATRE on June 24th, we will be hosting a Stop Motion Workshop Sunday June 20th. Equipment and class provided by ASIFA Colorado.
The Stop-Motion Workshop will offer the opportunity to develop both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to create a piece of stop-motion animation. The course aims to stimulate students' abilities to generate an overall perspective of a project - from concept to final product. All films will be screened at the GI JOE Stop-Motion Film Festival. Tuition is $65 dollars.

Sign up here: www.asifa-colorado.org/register.gijoeworkshop

Pack a lunch, don't forget an imagination and willingness to work in a group. Bring your own G.I. JOE dolls if you want, otherwise we'll have some on hand. Space is limited.

The Stop Motion Workshop will offer the opportunity to develop both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to create a piece of stop-motion animation. The course aims to stimulate students' abilities to generate an overall perspective of a project - from concept to final product. Tuition is $20 dollars.

Due to unfortunate circumstances, we decided not to screen the feature length film "VIVA THE NAM" during our 2010 Tour. But it is with great pride that we announce our new line up for this years Festival. The selected films are:

Film Fest Opener - Adam Odell and Eduardo Sandoval Jr.

Lost - David Stebenne

Toys will be Toys - Harry Hendriks

Roll Call - Becky Oxborrow

Cobra's PromNight Crush - Patrick Kulas & Brendan Wilcox

Race of Evil (REDUX) - Nick Hsu

Ode to G.I. Joe - Gregory P. Grant

Storm Cloud 1.5 - Philip Lane

G.I. Bender - Jack Bannon & Team Safari

Jennifer vs. Bigfoot - Christy Lynn Pruitt

Pastrami on Rye - Anthony Ilacqua

Just in Time (music video) - Lenny Stote

Palitoy Express - Paul Rowley

Signal Strength - Jonathan Kratz

On Any Other Day (music video) - Hutt Wigley

Rick's Battle Shock - Lee Hardcastle

Awards will be announced Oct. 20th 2010 at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin, TX during our last show of the season.

The GI JOE Stop-Motion Film Festival is back in 2009, and like the return of a dear friend, we couldn't be happier about it. The Festival offers filmgoers a wealth of international cinematic fare all in stop-motion fashion. The 3rd Edition of the GI JOE FEST will present an exciting array of contemporary narrative, documentary and short films from emerging and veteran filmmakers, as well as a few classic films.

"With everything looking down in the ... economy, we're really, really happy attendance was so strong," said Legrand. "We definitely had more people coming for the duration including a growing number of filmmakers."

Two films really raised the bar this year:

Tom Walker and his UK Partners will take home:

• 1 Custom Glass Award Plaque,
• 2 Certificates of Achievement,
• 1 GI Joe International Collectors Club Jeep (2000)
• 1 GI joe Masterpiece Edition Action Soldier
• 1 Cotswold Gift Certificate ($50)

Best Stop-Motion Film using 3 3/4" Action Figures:

Cobra Secret Weapon - USA
(part 1 and part 2) by Lyle Whitsett

Lyle Whitsett will take home:

• 01 Custom Glass Award Plaque
• 1 $50 dollars gift certificate from Darryl's Collectibles
• 3 Rare Action Soldiers (1994) 3 3/4
• 1 case of "Valor x Venon" Figures (about 10 figures)
• 2 The 25th Anniversary Box Sets (Cobra and GI JOE)
• 2 First DVD Battles (25th Anniversary).

Honorable Mentions and winning filmmakers in the Achievement Categories will receive a Commemorative Certificate.

GI JOE FEST TOUR 2009

GI JOE FEST's national tour has become a very important part of the festival and started this year. The tour takes the main competitive programmes and some Special sessions to many regional and metropolitan areas, which rarely have an opportunity to view this collection of the best of animated short films. The difference between GI JOE FEST and other film festivals is that GI JOE FEST is acknowledged as a quality arts event. Each year we screen Award nominated films plus many other internationally award-winning films.

As the festival director for the past 2 years it has been my great pleasure to see the festival embraced so enthusiastically by audiences around the United States and even Canada. After our Denver festival we will tour our award winning short film programmes to several venues around the US in 2009, including Los Angeles and Seattle for the second time, bringing audiences all across the continent an inspiring look at the world of stop-motion animation and of course, along with GI JOE.

Thank you for all the support,

Gio Toninelo
Festival's President

GIJOEFILMFESTIVAL.COM announces the winners of the 2nd GI JOE STOP MOTION FILM FESTIVAL.
The winning films were selected from nearly 110 submissions created by Action Figure enthusiasts from around the world, who responded to the opportunity to help promote stop-motion through short film. The 2008 festival and today's announcement of the winners wrap up the second edition of the GI JOE STOP MOTION FILM FESTIVAL, which will continue throughout next year with new touring dates to be announced. The winning submissions are:

Best Stop-Motion Film using 12" Action Figures: Bloody Revenge II by Tom Walker, Lyndon Ogbourne and Jon Harvey (UK)

Best Stop-Motion Film using 3 3/4 Action Figures: Cobra Secret Weapon by Lyle Whitsett (USA)

The skills displayed by the participants in the following categories are also worth mentioning. We salute their spirit and innovation:

Best Action Scene: Bloody Revenge II by Tom Walker, Lyndon Ogbourne and Jon Harvey (UK)
Best Drama: Storm Cloud by Philip Lane (USA)
Best Vintage Film: Aloha Means Goodbye by Carl Piermarini and Jack Celli (USA)
Best Gory Film: Bloody Revenge II by Tom Walker, Lyndon Ogbourne and Jon Harvey (UK)
Best Comedy: Die Leiden des Action Werther by Bernt Popp (Germany)
Best Photography: Driving this Road until Death sets you Free by Simon Gesrel and Xavier Ehretsmann (France)

AUDIENCE AWARD: Cobra Secret Weapon by Lyle Whitsett (USA)

Honorable mentions to: Die Leiden des Action Werther by Bernt Popp (2nd Place), Driving this Road until Death sets you Free by Simon Gesrel and Xavier Ehretsmann (3rd Place), Let's do it by Hutt Wigley (4th Place), GI JOE Dance Off by Patrick Kulas and Brendan Wilcox (5th Place).

ONLINE TICKET SALES NOW CLOSED. Tickets will only be sold at the Bug Theatre's box-office starting at 7:00PM (Oct. 9th). PRICE: $12.00. If you already purchased your tickets online or at St. Mark's Coffee House, come directly to the box-office. We will also have your name in the "will call" list.

We are very excited to see you tonight!
(for directions, please read post below)

The 2nd GI JOE STOP MOTION FILM FESTIVAL will happen this Thursday, October 9th at 7:30PM. Doors will open at 7:00PM. The Bug Theatre is located at 3654 Navajo Street, just north of downtown Denver. The theater is on the same block as Patsy's Restaurant, Pirate: A Contemporary Art Oasis, the Edge Gallery and Zip 37.

Directions:
Take I-25 to the Park Ave. West/38th Ave. exit. Go west on 38th Ave. to Navajo, and south one block to 37th and Navajo. OR Drive northwest on either 15th or 20th Street from downtown Denver across I-25 to Central Street, northeast to Navajo Street four blocks.

Bug Theatre Map or Directions through Map Quest

Two things we'd like to address to people attending the festival:

1. AGE LIMIT - The Festival is rated "PG-13". (Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13). A few of the films we are showing contain violence, nudity (of dolls) and mildly foul language. Please be advised.

2. TICKET PRICES - We'll accept credit cards for online ticket sales only. Ticket Price is $12. The online ticket sales feature will be available till 2:30PM, Oct. 9th 2008; be advised that 1/3 of the seats are already sold. If you have a large group, please contact us for discount prices. Obviously, admission is free for all filmmakers participating.