Oscar-winning Australian animator, cartoonist and social commentator, Bruce Petty, will hold a seminar on ‘Films, Creativity and Ideas’ at the Shanghai University Film School on Friday 5 November.
Mr Petty’s visit coincides with the launch of the ANZ Bank Australian Film Festival, which will be held at the Cathay Theatre from 11 – 14 November an
d 19 – 21 November. Mr Petty’s participation in the seminar at the Shanghai University Film School is sponsored by ‘Study in Australia’.
“Bruce Petty is a multi-media artist with many years of experience as a writer, director, animator and cartoonist. He also works in sculpture, script, assemblage, film and printmaking,” Australia’s Consul General in Shanghai, Mr Sam Gerovich, said today.
Mr Petty has been an eyewitness to the politics, turmoil and change of the 20th Century, much of which he has documented in his cartoons. He is one of Australia’s most influential political artists, who captures the humour and irony in political and social events and brilliantly translates this into his work.
While in Shanghai, Mr Petty will also undertake research for a future documentary on the history of East and West.
“Friday’s seminar will be a wonderful opportunity for Shanghai’s future film-makers to learn from a highly-experienced and critically acclaimed film-maker,” Mr Gerovich added.
In 1977, Mr Petty won the Academy Award for animation for the short film “Leisure”, which he wrote and directed. Other animated films include, ‘Australian History’ (1970), ‘Marx’ (1981), ‘Money’ (1998), ‘This Mad Century’ (1999) and ‘Human Contraptions’ (2002).
“We are delighted to have Bruce Petty in Shanghai at this time, when he can observe the exciting artistic developments in China’s most vibrant city and also share his experience and views on film, creativity and ideas with Shanghai’s young film students,” Mr Gerovich said.
“‘Study in Australia’ is proud to have an opportunity to sponsor this film-making seminar. Around 45,000 Chinese students are currently studying a wide range of subjects in Australia. Film-making is an area where Australia and China can share skills and learn from each other. We hope there will be more opportunities in future to share expertise in film-making with China, both through visits to China by Australian film-makers and by Chinese students choosing to study in this exciting and innovative field at film schools in Australia,” said Australia’s Consul (Education) in Shanghai, Ms Cathryn Hlavka.
