Named School of the Year at CG Student Awards for third year in a row
June 1, 2012 – Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Film School (VFS) has been named School of the Year for the third straight year at the CG Student Awards, formerly known as the Computer Graphics Student Awards (CGSA).
The annual competition features the best in student-created computer graphics from around the globe. The 2012 awards saw 359 entries and included many of the world's top schools, but VFS's 3D Animation & Visual Effects alumni dominated the field, sweeping the Canadian Studio Internship category and racking up dozens of finalist nods. Combined, these honours are what led to the school's third straight School of the Year award.
"What an honour," says Marianne O’Reilly, Head of Animation & Visual Effects at VFS. "While we know the extent of our students' dedication to their work and VFS faculty's efforts to deliver a strong program, it's moments like these that allow us to reflect on everyone's tremendous achievements. VFS will continue to tie industry to students, students to industry, and evolve with the ever-changing medium. It's great to hear we're on the right track!”
This year’s VFS winners are Woong Park for his modeling reel Oh My Grandma and Leonardo Bonisolli for his short animated film Drink Drunk. They will now have the opportunity to begin internships at leading visual effects studios Prime Focus and the Moving Picture Company (MPC).
The 2012 CG Student Awards' judging panel included industry luminaries from companies like Pixar, Double Negative, and DreamWorks. The win also marks yet another achievement for Vancouver's visual effects industry on the global stage.
Alumni of Vancouver Film School’s 3D Animation & Visual Effects program have amassed a stellar track record of success in recent years, having been honoured everywhere from the Oscars to the Golden Globes. All ten of the highest grossing films in history have had VFS alumni behind the scenes.
Watch the winning student reels:
Woong Park, Oh My Grandma –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t90YAshlUnQ
Leonardo Bonisolli, Drink Drunk – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cagXD7Xg9sc
About Animation & Visual Effects at Vancouver Film School
Founded in 1987, Vancouver Film School is Canada's premier post-secondary entertainment arts institution and one of the most distinguished in the world. With 13 production-oriented programs and a world-leading one-year education model, VFS prepares students to join the creative economy. The Animation & Visual Effects department at VFS includes three programs: 3D Animation & Visual Effects (one year), Classical Animation (one year), and Digital Character Animation (six months). If you've seen a blockbuster lately, chances are there were VFS graduates helping bring it to life. Their recent and upcoming credits include The Avengers, Men in Black 3, Prometheus, The Dark Knight Rises, and countless others.