LYNDON — The 10th annual Vermont Animation Festival is set for March 28-29 at the Lyndon campus of Vermont State University (VTSU). This milestone event will feature screenings, workshops, and artist talks, highlighting work of animators from Vermont and beyond.
The Vermont Animation Festival is hosted annually by VTSU Lyndon in partnership with Catamount Arts. It includes a schedule of workshops and peer-reviewed animation. Prizes for animated films will be awarded in Best Student Film, Best Supershort, Best Film from a Vermont Animator, Best Use of Traditional Media, and Best Overall.
“The Vermont Animation Festival is a fantastic opportunity to elevate student work and connect with animation professionals from across the industry,” stated festival director Kate Renner. “Over the past decade, we’ve seen incredible growth and innovation in the projects showcased here. We’re excited to celebrate our 10th anniversary and look forward to many more years of fostering creativity and collaboration in the animation community.”
This year’s keynote speaker will be Hayley Morris, an artist and animation director based in Vermont, working under the studio name Shape & Shadow. Specializing in mixed media and stop-motion animation, Morris creates visually captivating stories through intricate textures, handcrafted details, and inventive storytelling. Her work spans commercials, music videos, projection design and more.
“I am honored and excited to be a part of the Vermont Animation Festival this year, and to see the innovative work being produced in our animation community,” said Morris. “As a Vermont-based animation director, I’m especially excited to meet and connect with local animation lovers. I’ll be sharing my stop-motion and mixed media process from my body of work and show some sneak peeks of work in progress.”
Morris’ approach to animation is deeply rooted in experimentation with physical materials – paper, clay, fabric, fibers, found objects, and natural elements – blending character-driven and abstract elements with a tactile, sensory quality.
For more information and a full schedule of events, visit vtanimationfestival.org.
