This year marks the 20th McLaren Award for the Best New British Animation. Norman McLaren was born in Stirling, but his prolific experimental films flowed from the National Film Board of Canada, establishing him as one of the great filmmakers of the 20th century. It is apt that these programmes, celebrating innovative, brave and challenging ideas are named after him. Within this first programme are some outstanding graduate films, amongst other gems from around Britain. This year's £1000 McLaren Award, supported by BBC Film Network, is chosen by the audience.

Screening with:

The Conservatory

• Matilda Tristram /
• UK /
• 2008 /
• 2 mins

What do you do on a peaceful afternoon when you are upset but don’t know why?

Director: Matilda Tristram
Sound Production: Jeet Thakrar

Goodbye Mr Pink.

• Helen Piercy /
• UK /
• 2009 /
• 10 mins

A little girl conjures up a macabre fantasy when discovering her pet rabbit is dead. With the help of her imagination, she is able to say goodbye.

Director: Helen Piercy
Producer: Purnima Phansalkar
Scriptwriters: Helen Piercy, Christopher Scott
Editor: Hazel Baillie
DoP: Brian Fawcett
Production Designer: Kristine Maj De Neergaard
Sound Production: Susannah Lawrence
Music: Stuart Earle

Laitue

• Nicholas Brooks /
• UK /
• 2008 /
• 9 mins

Two characters are separated by time and space but nevertheless coincide in a series of movements, forming a choreography of anticipation and unrest

Director: Nicholas Brooks
Producer: Nicholas Brooks
Sound Production: Nicholas Brooks, John Wollaston
Music: Nicholas Brooks, John Wollaston

The Owl House

• Jessica Cope /
• UK /
• 2008 /
• 8 mins

An old blind lady comes to terms with her

Director: Jessica Cope
Producer: Donald Holwill
Scriptwriter: Jessica Cope
Editors: Jessica Cope, Chris Holland
Sound Production: Chris Holland
Music: Chhris Holland

Photograph Of Jesus

• Laurie Hill /
• UK /
• 2008 /
• 8 mins

Real-life archives become the stage where fact and fiction collide, beliefs run amok and unruly images have a life of their own.

Director: Laurie Hill
Exec Producer: Basil Stephens
DoP: Laurie Hill
Production Designer: Laurie Hill
Sound Production: Mike Blackwell, Adrian Meehan, Marco Oriunto
Music: Mike Blackwell, Adrian Meehan

Rabbit Punch

• Kristian Andrews /
• UK /
• 2008 /
• 6 mins

Nothing happens where we live, so we do Special Ops...

Director: Kristian Andrews
Sound Production: Kristian Andrews

The Reason I Collect

• Emma Curtis /
• UK /
• 2008 /
• 4 mins

A quirky documentary about one man's joy in collecting almost anything and everything.

Director: Emma Curtis
Producer: Emma Curtis
Sound Production: Bennet Maples & Emma Curtis

Salem Al Fakir - Astronaut

• Anders Jedenfors, Jamie Stone /
• UK, Sweden /
• 2009 /
• 3 mins

A music video showing Salem's return to earth after his visit to Jupiter.

Directors: Anders Jedenfors, Jamie Stone
Producer: Kalle Wettre

Shadows and Dust

• Jon Dunleavy /
• UK /
• 2009 /
• 5 mins

When a greedy young girl follows the Tooth Fairy into the forest in search of riches, a dark and twisted journey ensues.

Director: Jon Dunleavy
Producer: Jon Dunleavy
Scriptwriter: Jon Dunleavy
Editor: Jon Dunleavy
Production Designers: Jon Dunleavy, Chris Dunleavy, Meilee Fitt
Sound Production: Shrooty
Music: Shrooty

The surprise demise of Francis Cooper’s mother

• Felix Massie /
• UK /
• 2008 /
• 7 mins

The story of Francis Cooper and his mother, Emily Maddison and a man's face, and Craig MacKay and his cat.

Director: Felix Massie
Producers: Sarah Cox, Sarah Jex
Exec Producers: Sarah-Jane Meredith, Jude Goldrei, Helen Brunsdon, David Sproxton, Miles Bullough, Peter Lord
Scriptwriter: Felix Massie
Editors: Matt Purgaus, Tom Jobbins, Adam Dymond
Sound Production: Will Norrie
Music: Joe Paine

Today Only

• Toby Jackman /
• UK /
• 2009 /
• 10 mins

A cat may have nine lives, but how many different lives can a cat live today?

Director: Toby Jackman
Producer: Alexander Ronnberg
Scriptwriter: Mahalia Rimmer
Editor: Lawrence Huck
DoP: Vanessa Whyte
Production Designer: Max Berman
Sound Production: Jeet Thakrar
Music: Jon Opstad

Yellow Belly End

• Philip Bacon /
• UK /
• 2009 /
• 9 mins

An enormous cliff top, blue sky, multiple deaths and a man keeping a meticulous note of it all.

Director: Philip Bacon
Producer: Mo Bazazi
Scriptwriters: Mahalia Rimmer, Philip Bacon
Editor: Josh Levinsky
DoP: Leigh Alner
Production Designer: James Morrall
Sound Production: Zhe Wu
Music: Stuart Earl