Womanimation! at Red River Theatres on March 28

[Received this press release from MergingArts Productions.]

MergingArts Productions and the Red River Theatres are proud to present the debut edition of the Womanimation! film festival on March 28 at the Red River Theaters at 11 South Main Street in Concord, NH. As the name implies, the festival showcases animated films, both shorts and features, created by women from the US and Europe.

The festival takes place in conjunction with the second international SWAN Day (Support Women Artists Now), an event designed to highlight the contributions of women artists of all kinds, on the last weekend of Women’s History Month (March).

There will be two programs, one of short films, and one highlighting the first feature film from Nina Paley, Sita Sings the Blues, which blends music from 1920s jazz singer Annette Hanshaw with an animated interpretation of the Indian epic myth The Ramayana.

Each program will be presented as an afternoon matinee and an evening show. Details on show times can be found at http://www.redrivertheatres.org or http://www.mergingarts.org.

New England Womanimators! will also be highlighted, including Karen Aqua, a thirty-year veteran of the industry, and newcomer Kara Nasdor-Jones. The films run the gamut of styles, from traditional hand-drawn to stop-motion to 3-d.

A number of the films are comic explorations of women’s issues, such as Streetcar Named Perspire, a seven-minute flash animation about menopause by Portland animator Joanna Priestly. Others are more universally-themed, such as award-winning animator Signe Baumane’s Veterinarian, a look at job burnout and inspiration.

The festival will conclude with an evening reception with DJ Madame B spinning music from women across the globe, as well as refreshments courtesy of local sponsors, and mingling with filmmakers.

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For more information on the festival, contact Toni Pennacchia, Director of MergingArts Productions at tonip@mergingartsproductions.com , or visit http://www.mergingarts.org.