Distinguished Artists

Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby

2023

  • Film
  • Calgary, Alberta

Three-time Oscar nominated Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis are much-celebrated contributors to the art of film animation. Their unique visual style has captured the hearts and the imaginations of audiences worldwide in ground-breaking short films exploring themes of human connection, environmentalism, and the fragility of life. Their art is beautiful, thoughtful, kind and uplifting. Their process is extraordinarily meticulous. By way of example their 2023 Oscar nominated, eight-minute-long film The Flying Sailor took the two of them five years to create.

This dedication has garnered their films multiple international awards including the Palme d’Or for best short film at the Cannes International Film Festival (When the Day Breaks, 1999), Best Short Animated Film at the Sundance Festival (The Flying Sailor, 2023), three Oscar nominations (When the Day Breaks, 1999; Wild Life, 2012; The Flying Sailor, 2023) and numerous other awards.

From their home in Calgary, they work on their projects and collaborate on commissioned works including theatrical projections for Alberta Ballet as well as EMMY-nominated TV commercials. In 2018, they received ASIFA’s Winsor McCay Award for their “exceptional contribution to the art of animation.”

Tilby and Forbis are both active in the international animation community with teaching, presentations, and festival juries. They founded the Bleak Midwinter Film Festival (2007-2018) in Calgary as a way of sharing their love of short animation with their neighbourhood.

  • The Flying Sailor Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby
  • The Flying Sailor Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby
  • The Flying Sailor Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby
  • The Flying Sailor Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby
  • The Flying Sailor Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby
  • The Flying Sailor Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby
  • When the Day Breaks Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby
  • When the Day Breaks Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby
  • When the Day Breaks Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby
  • When the Day Breaks Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby
  • Wild Life Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby
  • Wild Life Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby
  • Wild Life Amanda Forbis & Wendy Tilby

NEWS AND OTHER WORK

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