ASIFA-Hollywood, an American non-profit organization in Los Angeles, California, is a branch member of the International Animated Film Association. Its purpose is to promote the art of film animation in a variety of ways, including its own archive and an annual awards presentation, the Annie Awards. It is also known as the International Animated Film Society.[1]

ASIFA-Hollywood
Formation1957; 67 years ago (1957)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
FoundersBill Scott
Stephen Bosustow
Ward Kimball
Bill Littlejohn
William T. Hurtz
Les Goldman
TypeNon-profit organization
President
Sue Shakespeare
Websiteasifa-hollywood.org

Many branches of ASIFA exist throughout the world; in the U.S. there are chapters in San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, Seattle, the Detroit area, and others, while internationally, organizations exist in Annecy, France, Italy, and Japan. ASIFA also sponsors several animation film festivals throughout the world, including the ASIFA-Hollywood Student Animation Festival.[2] It includes a virtual archive, museum, library and research facility, containing the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Project.[3]

History and projects of ASIFA-Hollywood

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ASIFA-Hollywood was founded in 1957, by Bill Scott, Stephen Bosustow, Ward Kimball, William T. Hurtz, Les Goldman, and Bill Littlejohn.[4] June Foray was another early member, and recalled that she joined "a year or so" after the organization was chartered.[5][6]

As of 2022, its board of directors includes Sue Shakespeare (President), David Derks (Vice-President), Jerry Beck (Vice-President), Brooke Keesling (Vice-President), Jeff Wike (Treasurer), Jeannette Bonds (Secretary), Paul Husband (General Counsel), J.J. Blumenkranz, Tom Caulfield, Dori Littell-Herrick, Jennifer Klein, Todd Kurosawa, Bob Kurtz, Aubry Mintz, Charles Solomon, William Turner, Danny Young, and Frank Gladstone (Executive Director).[7]

The Annie Awards

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Since 1972, ASIFA-Hollywood has hosted an annual awards ceremony to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the art of animation.[6] Originally designed to honor the lifetime achievements of veterans of the field, the Annie Awards now recognizes the year's best animated productions and individual achievements in the field of animation. Qualified members participate in the nomination process and final voting.[6]

Film preservation

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Prior to 1950, motion pictures were shot and printed on unstable, flammable nitrate film stock that decomposed over time, placing many early animated films in danger of being lost.[8] Through the Animation Preservation Project, ASIFA-Hollywood seeks out to save endangered cartoons, and raises funds to preserve them on safety film stock and digital film.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "About Us". ASIFA-Hollywood. Retrieved December 16, 2012. The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood is a California non profit organization ...
  2. ^ "The Annie Awards Again Welcomes Student Films", on asifa-hollywood.org
  3. ^ Details on AnimationResources.org
  4. ^ a b Crane, Dave (November 1997). "ASIFA-Hollywood as a Resource". Animation World Magazine. 2 (8). Archived from the original on June 16, 2002. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  5. ^ Dorf, Shel (January 1988). "June Foray". Comics Interview. No. 54. Fictioneer Books. pp. 57–58.
  6. ^ a b c "The 50th Annie Awards 'Call for Entries' Commence Today!". Cision PR Newswire. September 12, 2022. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  7. ^ "Board of Directors". ASIFA-Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  8. ^ "Restoring Treasures". Keyframe Magazine. 2018. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
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