The Pioneers
A FILM BY SIMON COTTEE
Short Film – Canada and Australia – 2021 – 10 min
Color | No dialogue | 16:9 | 5.1
SYNOPSIS
A surreal animated documentary based on historical records, The Pioneers is a mesmerising rhythmic experience honouring the animal passengers aboard their 59 rocket test flights prior to the first human voyage to space. This film aims to remind us of the sacrifices, experiences and tragedies of these forgotten and overlooked pioneers.
Directed by auteur Australian animator Simon Cottee and scored by renowned Canadian composer Kid Koala.
Crew
DIRECTOR : Simon Cottee
WRITER : Simon Cottee
PRODUCERS : Simon Cottee
CINEMATOGRAPHY : Simon Cottee
ART DIRECTION : Simon Cottee and Malcolm Sutherland
SOUND DESIGN : Simon Cottee
SOUND MIXING : Simon Cottee
EDITING : Simon Cottee
MUSIC : Kid Koala
Rocket animation and backgrounds by Malcolm Sutherland.
DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY
Simon Cottee is an Australian 2D animator and director living in Montreal with his wife, 3 kids and an anxious golden retriever.
In 2021, he finished his 3rd animated film The Pioneers, collaborating with renowned musician Kid Koala.
His previous two films The Duck (2014) and The Wedding (2012) have received multiple international festival awards.
He has worked on 8 animated films with the National Film Board of Canada and was animation director on the 2017 CBC First Nations documentary Run as One.
In 2019 he co-founded Studio Tortu with his longtime collaborator and mentor, 2D animator auteur Malcolm Sutherland. They are currently in production on their most ambitious animation project, Dragon Hunter.
FILMOGRAPHY
THE PIONEERS | 2021
THE DUCK | 2014
THE WEDDING | 2012
FESTIVALS & AWARDS
Gala Prends Ça Court!, 2022 *Animation Award – Amazon Web Solutions + Nimble Studi
Les Sommets d’Animation, 2022
Bucharest Short Film Festival, 2022
Odense International Film Festival, 2022
Fantasia International Film Festival, 2022
DC Shorts, 2022
Grosse Lanterne, partenariat avec Plein(s) Écran(s), 2022
Mill Valley Film Festival, 2022
AnimaDoc, 2022
FIN Atlantic, 2022
Animest Film Festival, 2022
SPARK Animation Film Festival, 2022
Piccolo Festival dell’Animazione, 2022 *HONOURABLE MENTION
Animateka International Animated Film Festival, 2022
Cinema on the Bayou, 2023
Rendez-Vous Québec Cinéma, 2023