Company News: Page (1) of 1 - 02/07/13

Director Timothy Reckart's Academy Award-Nominated "Head Over Heels" Wins 2013 Annie Award; Earns Praise from Nick Park

(February 07, 2013)

Los Angeles, CA, Feb. 7, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Director Timothy Reckart's
Academy Award^®-nominated short animated film,
"Head Over Heels" (headoverheelsfilm.com), won a
2013 Annie Award (annieawards.org) on Saturday
night, February 2^nd, at the 40^th
Annual Annie Awards--internationally recognized as the
most prestigious animation awards in the world--in Los Angeles, CA.
Reckart, 26, is a student at the UK's world-renowned
National Film And Television School
(NFTS), which is continuing to uphold its track
record of producing animation projects that garner Oscar
recognition. The school has also turned out successful
graduates, including cinematographer Roger
Deakins and composer Dario
Marianelli (both are also Academy Award-nominated this
year), and the Academy Award-winning Nick Park (Aardman
Animations).

Nick Park, who created his famous "Wallace and
Gromit" characters for his graduation film at the NFTS 30
years ago, said, "'Head Over Heels' is one of those stand-out
little gems that doesn't come around that often. It's a
cleverly conceived but simple idea--a clear and inventively told
story--very poignant and full of heart. I'm not surprised
Timothy Reckart is winning awards with 'Head Over Heels'--much
deserved."

In his acceptance speech, Reckart said, "It's
really an honor to get this Annie Award from ASIFA
Hollywood, from all the voters who watched the films,
because you are so passionate about animation. I've been
really proud of the last decade of work that animation artists have
been doing, especially this past year in stop motion--I'm really
proud to be a part of that."

Reckart was referring to the fact that 2012
marked the first time that three stop motion animated feature
films--"Frankenweenie," "Paranorman" and
"The Pirates! Band of Misfits"--were released in
one year. The fact that all three are also Oscar-nominated
sets an all-time record.

The prize was presented by legendary voice actor
Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh, Tigger)
and "The Simpson's" creator Matt
Groening. In attendance were the directors of
"Paranorman," "Wreck-It Ralph," "Rise of the
Guardians," as well as independent New York animator
Bill Plympton.

NFTS director Nik Powell says,
"For one of our graduation films to receive an Annie, the pinnacle
of animation awards, we hope this win gives 'Head Over Heels' the
momentum to get their extraordinarily human and humorous film
noticed by Academy voters. Tim and Fodhla richly deserve the
success and credit their film is receiving."

The film has also been nominated for an Academy
Award, alongside major studio films from Disney and Fox, for
Best Animated Short Film.

Reckart is currently in development on two
animated feature films and an animated television series.

Reckart wrote and directed
"Head Over Heels," along with producer and fellow student
Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly. The two enlisted a
large crew of students to bring Reckart's vision to life, which was
inspired by a Rembrandt painting.

The short, which captures the emotional distance
between a long-married husband and wife, illustrated by one living
on the ceiling and one living on the floor, is the third NFTS film
to be nominated in the animated short film category since 2005.

The film can be seen at select theaters as part of the Shorts
Program being distributed by ShortsHD The Short
Movie Channel and Magnolia
Pictures. "The Oscar Nominated Short Films
2013" is showing in more than 260 theaters across the
U.S., Canada, and Europe. A key fixture of the awards season,
the theatrical release featuring Live Action, Animation, and
Documentary short films is the only opportunity for audiences
around the country to watch the nominated shorts prior to the 85th
Academy Awards ceremony on February 24.

To see the "Head Over Heels" trailer, please
visit: http://headoverheelsfilm.com/.
The film also can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HeadOverHeelsFilm
and on Twitter: @HOHfilm.

Editor's Note:

Online Press Screenings are available upon request.

About The National Film and Television
School

The National Film and Television School (NFTS)
is the UK's centre of excellence for graduate film and TV
training. It selects the most talented people to enter the
film, games and television industry at a professional level and is
ranked as one of the top film schools in the world by The
Hollywood Reporter in its annual survey of Film Schools.
Interesting factoids include: NFTS has averaged just shy of one
Oscar or Bafta nomination every year for the past 40 years; NFTS
has had three short films nominated for an Academy Award in the
past seven years; NFTS students have won over 200 awards in the
past year alone (2012); 10 NFTS graduates have been nominated in
this year's 2013 Oscars and Baftas, and 127 other graduates are
credited in Oscar and Bafta nominated films; the NFTS Animation
department is part of the main school, not separate as it is in
most schools; the NFTS is a Skillset Film Media Academy and its MA
courses are recognized by the Royal College of Art.
Visit www.nfts.co.uk for more
information or join us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Timothy Reckart

Timothy Reckart is an animator and director
specializing in stop motion animation. He has a BA in history
and literature from Harvard University and an MA in directing
animation from the National Film and Television School. His
debut short, "Head Over Heels," has been nominated for an Academy
Award. A native of Tucson, Arizona, Reckart lives in New York
City.

###

CONTACT: US Media Contact:
Heather Burgett, The Burgett Group
310.633.4801 or heather@theburgettgroup.com

UK Media Contact:
Petra Coveney, National Film and Television School
07590831966 or pcoveney@nfts.co.uk

Page: 1

Related Keywords: CONSUMER, EDUCATION, ENTERTAINMENTMovies & Music, Animation, Canada, Business Services, Theaters, Film, Television, Literature, Lifestyle, Business, Other,