ANIMATORS DON & BILL EXPLODE IN LA

Carol Crowe, President of LA-based Apollo Cinema, a company that exclusively distributes short films – has created a unique showcase that will give moviegoers the rare opportunity to see a retrospective of the works of the high profile cult animators Don Hertzfeldt and Bill Plympton on the big screen dubbed “The Don and Bill Show: slightly bent.”
“This is the first showing ever of Don Hertzfeldt’s and Bill Plympton’s work in one program.” Ms. Crowe pointed out. “We, along with Laemmle Theatres, are very excited and thrilled to bring these ten animated short films to the moviegoing public.”
The Apollo showcase opens Labor Day Weekend and will begin showing Friday August 31st at 12 midnight, Saturday September 1st at 11:00 am and 12 midnight, Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd at 11:00 am and will continue to play weekends at the Laemmle Sunset 5.
Rejected – Don Hertzfeldt – 2000 Academy Award Nominee, Best Animated Short – A fictional collision between art, commercial culture, and madness. ^ Eat – Bill Plympton – 2001 Cannes Film Festival – International Critics Week – Best Short A quaint, charming French restaurant quickly becomes the scene of culinary mayhem. ^ Billy’s Balloon – Don Hertzfledt – Slamdance -Grand Jury Prize – A darkly hilarious and unbelievably twisted look at a little boy and his balloon. ^ 25 Ways to Quit Smoking – Bill Plympton – Annecy Film Festival– Prix du Public Wear a heat-seeking missle hat, hire a sumo wrestler to jump on your head, and use a flamethrower as a lighter. Don’t delay, give them a try today! ^ Ah L’amour – Don Hertzfeldt – Grand Prize – World Animation Celebration – A bitter tale of love in the modern age. A stick figure experiences not only the joys of newfound love, but also the woes of losing it – along with his head, arms and legs. ^ Your Face – Bill Plympton – 1988 Academy Award Nominee, Best Animated Short. A disturbingly surreal portrait of a man whose head distorts and contorts as he sings about his beautiful lover. ^ Lily and Jim – Don Hertzfeldt – USA Film Festival – Grand Prize. An extremely quirky, yet oddly charming film that plays with the overly melodramatic struggles of dating and heartbreak. ^ Surprise Cinema – Bill Plympton – Imagine if Candid Camera’s Allen Funt were an incredibly evil bastard. ^ Genre – Don Hertzfeldt – Silver Plaque – Chicago International Film Festival – A cartoon rabbit is dragged through a bizarre spectrum of cinematic situations by his frustrated animator. ^ More Sex and Violence – Bill Plympton – Best Short Film, Festival de Cinema Fantastic de Stiges, Spain Gags that push the limits of good taste and decency. Fun.
Don Hertzfeldt’s animated short films have collected 102 awards, four Grand Prizes, and a rather spooky cult following. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 2001. His cartoons have been featured at the Cannes Film Festival, Sundance, Slamdance and several hundreds of film festivals in between. Don is currently in production on a 6th animated short while developing larger studio projects.
Bill Plympton‘s film “Your Face” garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Short Film in 1988. His work started appearing with more frequency on MTV and showing in touring animation festivals. After a string of highly successful short films (“One of Those Days,” “How to Kiss,” “25 Ways to Quit Smoking,” and “Plymptoons”) he began thinking about making a feature film. The result was “The Tune” which was created in sections, including “Push Comes to Shove,” which won the 1991 Prix du Jury at the Cannes Film Festival. His most recent effort has been the feature animation “Mutant Aliens” which can be seen at festivals across the country.
For more info, visit the official Apollo Cinema web site.
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