Just a quick note regarding an upcoming event that was brought to my attention from the folks at the Ottawa International Animation Festival:
On April 30th, the Bytowne Cinema will be showing Lotte Reiniger's film "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" with a live musical score composed by Mike Dubue and Holger Schoorl.
The Bytowne Cinema is located at 325 Rideau Street in Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5Y4 and is the site of many screenings every Fall during the Ottawa International Animation Festival.
Directions and additional information regarding this screening can be found on the following facebook event page: "The Adventures of Prince Achmed"
For those who don't know, "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" was the first feature length animated film created by a woman--started when Ms. Reiniger was 23 years old (1) and both completed and screened in 1926. (2)
When it was screened for the first time, there was no music on the film itself, but rather an orchestra played the muscial score while the film was projected on the screen. (3) So what the Bytowne is doing is a rather unique tribute to Ms. Reiniger and in the spirit of the original screening at the Volksbühne on Bülowplatz. (4)
Additionally, Lotte Reiniger created the oldest feature length animated film that we still have copies of. (5)As the original negative for this film was destroyed in World War II, we are fortunate that others have taken the time to restore this classic film and preserve an important piece of the history of animation.
(6)
Below, you can view a clip from her masterful silhouette animated film.
Footnotes:
1. p9, Women & Animation: a compendium, Jayne Pilling, British Film Institute, 1992.
2. p11, Women & Animation: a compendium, Jayne Pilling, British Film Institute, 1992.
(originally from an interview with Lotte Reiniger by Alfio Bastiancich in 1980).
3. the original score was composed and conducted by Wolfgang Zeller.
p11, Women & Animation: a compendium, Jayne Pilling, British Film Institute, 1992.
(originally from an interview with Lotte Reiniger by Alfio Bastiancich in 1980).
4. p11, Women & Animation: a compendium, Jayne Pilling, British Film Institute, 1992.
(originally from an interview with Lotte Reiniger by Alfio Bastiancich in 1980).
5. Wikipedia Entry: "The Adventures of Prince Achmed"
URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Prince_Achmed
6. p13, Women & Animation: a compendium, Jayne Pilling, British Film Institute, 1992.
(originally from an interview with Lotte Reiniger by Alfio Bastiancich in 1980).
