Atlas9’s inaugural Cinemorphia Animated Film Festival celebrates next wave of visual voices on Feb. 21

Courtesy of Atlas9

As Kansas City seeks to make its mark in cinema, the Cinemorphia Animated Film Festival aims to fuse homegrown talent with local creative innovation. The minds behind the acclaimed interactive narrative attraction, Atlas9, are welcoming local students eager to redefine animation.

Bona Bones, assistant professor of animation at KU, is the event chair for Cinemorphia. Bones worked with educational institutions across the region to encourage budding artists to submit a complete work – anything animated goes. The main difference? Showcasing the talent in our backyard.

Bones explains, “For this inaugural event, we really wanted to focus on local talent for both the films and judges, to highlight how many skilled creatives live in the Kansas City area. All of our judges are industry professionals who live in the area. We really hope to foster a sense of community here within the film industry.”

Courtesy of Atlas9

The judges meticulously selected 15 finalists from over 50 animated short submissions to be screened on Saturday, February 21. Guests can expect a range of styles, from claymation to 3D rendering, hand-drawn cartoons, and more.

“Animation has a history here with Walt Disney and UB Iwerks back in the day, and the Laugh-o-gram studios. That’s not the sole reason, but we definitely have that homage going,” says Randall Statler, Executive Creative Director for Atlas9. The attraction, which draws on the area’s history, intends to bring movie magic back to KC.

Statler goes on to talk about what brought the idea for an animated film festival about.  “We knew Covid took a toll on film festivals at large, especially many animated film festivals,” Statler says. “Kansas City is also ascending in its dialogue with the greater film communities, not just locally but nationally, with more and more shoots coming here.” The area can add yet another annual film fest to its ever-growing movie scene. 

The festival’s venue inside Atlas9 lends itself to the themes of creativity, innovation, and local pride.

“We felt we had an aesthetic that lends itself to animation, whimsy, intrigue, and custom narratives that don’t require huge budget shoots—giving people with unique ideas a chance to showcase their work as part of their career pursuits or major in college. It’s an invitation for students to have a showcase they might not otherwise have,” explains Statler.

This could serve as the first time a student’s work is displayed on the big screen — and it isn’t just any old movie screen. “I want this venue and platform — what I call the chassis — to invite people to make it their own.”

The ‘chassis’ Statler refers to is Atlas9’s a 240-seat theater, which features a 180-degree projection-mapped screen and five digital projectors. The result is a space that can present — and, as Statler puts it, ‘enhance’ — traditional films.

Hexagonal displays spreading from the main screen and crafted sculptures hanging from the ceiling will accompany the traditional festival screening for the 15 animated shorts. The winners will not only receive laurels to add to their résumés, but their films will be shown daily at the Atlas9 venue for the next year.

Beyond the unique immersive experience, attendees and the festival’s filmmakers will participate in a panel-led Q&A session. The group will have the opportunity to hear directly from local professionals about their process and the state of the industry.

The team behind Cinemorphia hopes that the event can take on a life of its own. Born from a desire to keep Atlas9 adapting to the changing landscape of media, Statler is ready to give control to the artists. “Give them enough momentum and support to get it in motion, but let it shape-shift and become an extension of the people interested in making the art.” 

Get tickets to the Cinemorphia Animated Film Festival to support the next wave of local filmmakers and experience Atlas9 on February 21.