Coyote Confidential: A Taos New Mexico Blog

Governor Richardson Announces Winners of the 2008 Governor’s Cup Short Animation Competition

Winning animated shorts will be produced in New Mexico this summer

SANTA FE - Governor Bill Richardson today announced the two winners of the 2008 Governor’s Cup Animation Documentary Competition: Jeff Drew of Albuquerque and Frederick Aragon of Taos. The two winners will each receive $10,000 towards their short animated projects which will be produced in New Mexico this summer.

“These filmmakers represent some of the best of New Mexico’s media talent,” said Governor Bill Richardson. “The film industry is growing rapidly in our state and I’m pleased to support the animation community.”

Funded entirely by Pangea Pictures Corporation and the National Geographic All Roads Film Project, each winner will receive a $10,000 budget toward the creation of their short animated project, use of software, trainees and equipment from state schools and Pangea Pictures.

Eric Witt, Director of Media Arts & Entertainment Development for Governor Bill Richardson, noted the ongoing success of the Governor’s Cup competition. “Bringing the work of New Mexicans to a larger audience remains a top priority,” he stated. “This competition has repeatedly discovered some of the most promising media artists in the state.”

The winner of the Pangea Pictures prize is ONE SQUARE MILE OF EARTH, by Jeff Drew. Jeff is an animator, director and illustrator who has developed a signature moving-collage style, seen in many commercials and in illustrated covers for The Weekly Alibi. Working with the Albuquerque-based comedy duo The Pajama Men (Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez), Drew describes ONE SQUARE MILE OF EARTH as “a cut-and-paste moving collage world filled with an array of furry, scaley and sometimes slimy characters.”

The winner in the National Geographic All Roads category is COYOTE TALES: MYSTERY’S NIGHT by Frederick Aragon. This short animation tells the tale of Coyote, who has never been able to make someone love him – and his journey to change that. Aragon is a musician and storyteller with a background in graphic design, illustration and animation. He has created two CD’s of original stories and music, and expands his animating career with COYOTE TALES.

The winners were chosen by a five-member selection panel.

The All Roads Film Project is a National Geographic initiative, which provides a global platform for indigenous and minority-culture storytellers to bring their lives, experiences, and cultures to new audiences, through seed grants, film festivals and a photography program. “We're excited to work with Frederick Aragon for the All Roads category of the Governor's Cup,” stated Francene Blythe. “Telling traditional stories in new ways is one of our priorities at All Roads."

Learn more about this and other state film events visit:
http://www.nmfilm.com/
Learn more about National Geographic All Roads Film Project visit:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/allroads/