Animation Mentor: Can you share the story of Volatility Nights New York?
Yvonne Grzenkowicz: I founded Animation Nights New York (ANNY) on September 9th, 2015. Little Water Radio invited me to use their old space at 207a Front St in the when of Fulton Stall Market for the premiere “NY Independents” screening. I curated the first program with Robert Lyons (ASIFA East). We had well-nigh 45 attendees. We soon outgrew the space! (Thank you, Little Water Radio and Fulton Stall Market!)
Jan-April 2016 ANNY was in residency with the Third Yearly Out to See Festival at 192 Front St (Jan-Apr) in the South Street Seaport. We were the premiere event for this winter festival hosted by Little Water Radio and sponsored by the Howard Hughes Corporation. Volatility Nights New York unfurled to grow.
In May 2016, Volatility Nights New York relocated to the trappy 180 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038 with support from Anderson Contemporary, MHP, Clarion Partners, and Maiden Lane Hospitality. We could finally unbend our growing regular attendance!
We have had over 18k films submitted from all virtually the world. The work is trappy and inspiring and the events have fostered a sense of polity and exchange.
We have had support from ASIFA EAST, NYC ACM SIGGRAPH, NYWIFT, Women in Animation, and the volatility polity at large. Volatility Nights New York programs have included work by ribbon winning animators such as Bill Plympton, George Griffin, Joanna Quinn, John Dilworth, Signe Baumane, Michael Sullivan, Dustin Grella, Athanassios Vakalis and Tiny Inventions among many others.
Since 2015, Volatility Nights New York has held screening events virtually NYC. Besides 180 Maiden Lane, we’ve held screening events at the One World Trade Observatory, the Arts Brookfield Terrace at Brookfield Place, and The Gutter Spare Room in Williamsburg Brooklyn. We’ve held workshops and VR pop-up events at The Capitale, The Hideaway Seaport, Pier 17, WeWork, and the Arts Brookfield Terrace.
When the pandemic struck we moved our events online. We built a Video on Demand solution and widow a web-based virtual platform.
Now, our ANNY Virtual Events (VOD and webXR) platform gives our international regulars a way to participate ONLINE! We have presented online monthly screening programs of in-competition films since Dec 2020. Films are misogynist for limited VOD access.
Animation Nights New York had our First Yearly ANNY Weightier of Fest on September 29-30, 2016. Our panel judges selected 20 films from the 200 screened Sept 2015-July 2016. The ANNY Weightier of Fest featured Volatility Screenings, VR Volatility Experiences, Art Installations, Industry Events, Versifier Booths, and Professional Panels at 180 Maiden Lane and venues virtually the Seaport District of NYC.
Nov 13-20, 2021 we held our 5th ANNY Weightier of Fest online, in collaboration with Alamo Drafthouse On Demand and VIVEPORT, in the ANNY Virtual Events Space.
Our goal is to strengthen the volatility polity and ensure filmmakers are rewarded for their efforts. We are looking to partner with companies who are naturally aligned with our mission to promote the arts. A huge thanks to everyone who helped us get this started.
Keep supporting self-sustaining animation. We hope to see you at our next event!
AM: What crush you to create this organization?
YG: I never intended to wilt involved with events. I was working as a freelance animator in NYC and a friend of mine said he had a space they were trying to “activate” and asked if I had any interest in holding volatility events. It was such an wondrous opportunity I couldn’t say no. We had a packed house for the first event and it was well-spoken we were doing something NYC wanted, so we kept going. As the regulars grew for our screening events I realized we should probably cap off the season with a yearly festival. That’s how it started.
Eventually, I felt a sense of responsibility to try and build something useful from a production perspective. It’s the reason we have rolling deadlines and no project submission fee. So many people have lent their expertise to build the organization. You start to finger as though you have inadvertently picked up a flag for your tribe and you need to alimony it held high. At Volatility Nights New York we are trying to create real opportunities for animators. I am trying to create the kind of opportunities for others I might want for myself, as an artist.
AM: What’s the weightier way for AM students to participate in ANNY?
YG: Join us for our online events! If you have a short film, xr project, or game project you would like to submit, you can find the link on our website. We are moreover on FilmFreeway. Sign up to our mailing list for up-to-date information on screenings and events or join our Discord!
AM: What is ANNY Mart Talent Connect?
YG: ANNY Exchange is a Talent Connect Initiative for Volatility Nights New York. We hold both in person and online events and have a diverse Talent Database of Volatility Talent from all virtually the world.
Interested in participating? Got to the Talent Portal to sign up!
Looking to build your team? Send us an email or sign up through the Studio Portal.
AM: How can animators largest prepare for the volatility industry and job market?
YG: It depends on what route you want to take. If you are interested in working at a studio, try to familiarize yourself with the studio structure. Find out what hierarchy and roll structure exists. LinkedIn is a good tool for this.
If you are looking to strike out on your own, be prepared to educate your client. One of our fundamental goals for the ANNY Mart Talent Connect Initiative is to take superintendency of some of the early project legwork. We have a project calculator on our ANNY Mart site we are constantly trying to improve. We want to connect creators to opportunity in a seamless way.
AM: What is the weightier translating you’ve overly received from a mentor?
YG: I don’t think I could select one bit of advice. I received a river of translating and undivided as much as I could. I love how AM is focused on the task at hand.
Sometimes your mentors are folks who have worked on volatility all day and then take the time to rip untied your assignment. That kind of critique is invaluable. I think the online platform lends itself to this kind of efficiency of purpose. It’s all well-nigh the work.
AM: What is your favorite memory from Volatility Mentor?
YG: Volatility Mentor was a life waffly wits for me. I remember first signing on noticing how excited everyone was. I felt like I had found my tribe.
Animation Mentor was a life waffly wits for me.
AM: Do you have any tips for someone who is hoping to create their first turned-on short film?
YG: Alimony going!
AM: What opportunities would you like our students to know about?
YG: If you would like to be a part of the ANNY Volunteer team, let us know! We’d love to have you on board!
About Volatility Nights New York & Its Programs
Animation Nights New York is a curated monthly screening event and yearly festival started in NYC. We show turned-on short films and virtual reality volatility experiences from all virtually the world. Screening events are free. Project Submission is free.
ANNY Exchange connects people to people. We connect volatility talent to opportunity using our festival as a vehicle. Sign up to participate.
The ANNY Cannes Program is an spare opportunity for our in-competition filmmakers. We bring together filmmakers from virtually the world to join us at the Cannes Mucosa Festival. Participants in the ANNY Cannes Program goody from our unique partnership with the festival, which allows us to hand select 20 turned-on short films for exhibition as part of the ANNY Cannes Program. Films are misogynist for viewing on the ANNY waterworks in the Short Mucosa Corner, and during a special screening in the Marché du Film. We host industry events in Cannes as part of ANNY Exchange.
The ANNY Weightier of Fest is a priming and festival featuring Volatility Screenings, Fine Art Installation, an XR Showcase, Professional Panels, and Industry Events.
ANNY Virtual Events is our online VOD solution and webXR platform. We present our monthly screening event online! Join us in the ANNY Virtual Events space! Sign up to our mailing list for up-to-date information.
Follow ANNY on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord to learn well-nigh our next event!
About Yvonne Grzenkowicz
Yvonne is an alumna of Volatility Mentor. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Volatility Nights New York and co-owner of the UK/US based volatility news site & podcast, Volatility for Adults. She has a preliminaries in narrative/figurative painting & drawing, weft animation, and full stack development. She is a curator of Film, VR, and Games for Volatility Nights New York and involved in minutiae and build of the ANNY Virtual Events Space platform. Yvonne is a frequent panelist, guest lecturer, program curator, and event producer.
Our professional mentors teach students everything they need to know to wilt an animator, from the 12 fundamental principles of volatility to creating heartfelt moments between characters.
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