On Sept. 22 and 23 the city of Cortland, long celebrated for apples, barbed wire and the guy who invented the gyroscope, will gain new renown when it hosts the “Duck and Red Octopus Short Funny Stop Action and Animated Film Festival.” Finalists from around the world will compete for awards including Best Stop Action Short and Best Animated Short. There will be workshops, guest speakers, film premieres, director Q&As and more including a stand-up comedy concert by Bobcat Goldthwait on the evening of Sept. 22.
The two-day event will take place at the Ake Gallery, one of the world’s most spectacular semi-serious art venues located in the very heart of the edge of the finger lakes region at the height of fall foliage and deer tick season.
Some of our fine judges
Tom Kenny
Actor and comedian. He is known for the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants. Tom also voiced Heffer Wolfe in Rocko’s Modern Life, The Ice King in Adventure Time, The Narrator and Mayor in The Powerpuff Girls, Carl Chryniszzswics in Jonny Bravo and Dog in CatDog.
Bobcat Goldthwait
Actor, comedian, director and screenwriter, known for his black comedy stand-up act. Bobcat has written and directed a number of films and television series, most notably the black comedies Shakes The Clown, in which he also starred, Sleeping Dogs Lie, World’s Greatest Dad, God Bless America and Willow Creek.
Jonathan Katz
Actor and comedian best known for his starring role in the animated sitcom Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist as Dr. Katz. He also is known for voicing Erik Robbins in the UPN/Adult Swim series Home Movies.
Peter Hannan
Producer, animator, singer-songwriter, author, illustrator, artist, and entrepreneur. Hannan is the creator, executive producer, and show runner of the Nickelodeon series CatDog, for which he also wrote and sang the theme song.