13th Edition of Waterloo Festival Features Premieres, Rare Screenings of Animated Films

KITCHENER-WATERLOO, CANADA – The 13th edition of the Waterloo Festival for Animated Cinema brings four days of animated feature film premieres and activities to Kitchener-Waterloo November 14-17, 2013.

The Waterloo Festival is the only film festival in the world dedicated entirely to long length feature animation, with a mission to showcase and increase awareness of animation from around the world.

The Waterloo Festival includes premieres of films from Japan, Brazil, Israel, France, Belgium and Italy, including THE ART OF HAPPINESS, which opened the prestigious Critics Week at the 2013 Venice International Film Festival; RIO 2096: A STORY OF LOVE AND FURY, which won the Cristal at the 2013 Annecy International Animated Film Festival; TIL SBORNIA DO US PART, audience award winner at the 2013 São Paulo International Film Festival; and ANINA, Uruguay's official entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards in 2014.

Other notable selections include Ari Folman's THE CONGRESS, featuring Robin Wright playing herself in an alternate reality as an out-of-work actress whose final performance will be to digitally capture herself to be used in films in the future; charming French children's film MY MUMMY IS IN AMERICA, AND SHE MET BUFFALO BILL, Jung Henin's autobiographical APPROVED FOR ADOPTION, and a strong selection of Japanese anime anchored by EVANGELION 3.0, BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE trilogy and the reboot of the classic 009 CYBORG franchise, 009 RE:CYBORG.

A panel discussion and film screening on Sunday on Mamoru Oshii (GHOST IN THE SHELL) - one of the true enigmas and mavericks in the animation industry - is free to the public. Preeminent Oshii scholar Brian Ruh, the author of "Stray Dog of Anime: the Films of Mamoru Oshii" will lead the panel.

The festival will also look back at master Canadian director Richard Williams (WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT) and his attempt to craft the best animated feature film of all time, with the premiere of the lauded documentary PERSISTENCE OF VISION and a special presentation of the film THE THIEF AND THE COBBLER, in its most complete available form, restored by a dedicated fan from numerous sources and contacts over the Internet.

MIDNIGHT MADNESS are presentations of films not for the faint of heart. This year's edition features the premiere presentation of the BERSERK: GOLDEN AGE trilogy, a magnificent fantasy that explores the meaning of personal will and the price of ambition.

Animation isn't just for grownups! The Saturday afternoon programme is family-friendly, and a great way to check out foreign films for kids.

Last and definitely not least, the Festival will be opening with a very special live performance - a circus and variety act extravaganza of fire, aerials, dance and burlesque in tribute to the career of the legendary animation director Miyazaki Hayao, who has brought the world such films as SPIRITED AWAY, PRINCESS MONONOKE and MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO.

Attending the Festival

The 13th edition of the Waterloo Festival for Animated Cinema runs November 14-17, 2013. All screenings will be held at The Chrysalids Theatre, 137 Ontario Street North in Kitchener. The theatre is conveniently located near rail and bus services, and there is plenty of parking nearby.

Festival passes and admissions are available for purchase online at http://www.wfac.ca, and by phone to Brown Paper Tickets at +1 (800) 838-3006. Festival passes and admissions will also be available for purchase at the Chrysalids Theatre during the Festival.

SINGLE ADMISSION TICKETS ($12 adult, $8 children) are good for admission to any one single Festival screening.

The OPENING GALA ($20-$48 depending on seating) is separately ticketed, and includes the Opening Night film and the Miyazaki tribute performance.

MIDNIGHT MADNESS ($20) - one low price for all three films in this programme.

FULL FESTIVAL PASSES ($80 adult, $50 children) are good for admission to all Festival screenings and activities, including the Opening Gala and Midnight Madness. Save more than 70% over purchasing tickets separately! Pass holders receive priority entry to all Festival screenings until 15 minutes prior to each screening. The number of Full Festival Passes available is limited.

For prices, ticket purchases, show times, film ratings and more, please visit the Festival website at http://www.wfac.ca.

About the Festival

The Waterloo Festival for Animated Cinema (WFAC) is an international film festival for animated feature films, founded to promote appreciation for animation as a narrative medium for mature cinematic storytelling, and to review and celebrate animated feature films in the venue they were meant to be seen in: a theatre. The Festival is community-based, non-profit, and run by volunteers for the love of the art of animation.