CHANNEL 4 ANNOUNCE NEW DIGITAL DIRECTOR

LAST year, Channel 4 launched a nation-wide search for the best new talent in digital animation, to follow in the footsteps of those behind cult shows such as South Park and recent blockbuster movies like Shrek, Toy Story, Bugs Life and Antz.
Four directors made it through to the final of MESH, the UK’s first national scheme to identify and nurture new talent in computer-generated digital animation. At an event at the Edinburgh International Film Festival Stephen Cavalier from London was announced as the overall winner with his short film, Daddy.
Digital animation is an area of rapid growth and the UK’s film animators are regarded as amongst the most cutting-edge in the world. Through its Arts & Animation department, Channel 4 established MESH, with Blackwatch Productions in Glasgow as the production base, to nurture new talent and create a strong community of innovative groups and individuals working in this field.
Four animators - Campbell McAllister from Glasgow; Max Crow from Nottingham; and Stephen Cavalier and Edwin Holdsworth, both from London - were selected to put their script ideas into production. The resulting short films – Wrong Turn, The Tourist Trap, Daddy and King Pylon – were premiered at this evening’s event before Cavalier was announced as the overall winner.
(GB)