The Oscar-nominated director is set to partake in a Special Guest Q&A session at the festival on Saturday October 22nd, following a screening of his feature ‘Anomalisa.’
This film marked Johnson’s feature debut, which was penned and co-directed by Charlie Kaufman (The Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind, Synecdoche, New York).
‘Anomalisa’ earned the pair an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature Film of the Year. It sees Michael Stone (David Thewlis) crippled by the mundanity of his own life experience something out of the ordinary.
Previous standout work from Johnson includes short film ‘Marrying God’ (2006) and television credits ranging from ‘Mary Shelly’s Frankenhole’ and ‘Community’ and ‘Morel Orel.’
Fionnghuala Ní Néill, Director of the Dublin Animation Film Festival:
“My team and I are delighted to welcome Duke Johnson as our Special Guest Director for DAFF2016. Since we re-located the festival screenings to the Pavilion Theatre in Dún Laoghaire two years ago, our guest animators have included Bill Plympton and Tomm Moore, who have participated in screenings and Q & A sessions. These sessions have been popular with animators, students and film enthusiasts. Special thanks are due to Kristina Yee whose contribution towards this year’s festival has made Duke’s visit possible.”
Duke Johnson, Animator & Guest Speaker:
"I was delighted to be asked to be this year’s Special Guest Director. Dublin was a place I had always been interested in visiting, but I never had the opportunity until now. Ireland’s reputation for producing talented animators is growing and I am looking forward to viewing the short films by the Irish studios and Irish students of animation and meeting them in person.”
Tickets for the festival screening of ‘Anomalisa’ followed by a Q&A with Duke Johnson are on sale at the Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire and are priced at €8.
Screenings of shortlisted films and the awards ceremony are free of charge, but pre-booking is essential.
Dublin Animation Film Festival is sponsored by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Mutiny Sound, Luminosity, Clerky and Blackrock Cellar.