“Persistence of Vision” to premiere at VIFF

August 31, 2012 by Barry Walsh

The Vancouver International Film Festival will host the world premiere of Persistence of Vision, director Kevin Schreck’s examination of the tumultuous story behind the animated film The Thief and the Cobbler.

Canadian-born, UK-based animator Richard Williams, who enjoyed great success as director of animation for Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, had worked on what he considered to be his masterpiece for 28 years, only to have it wrestled from his control when production went over budget. Two versions of The Thief and the Cobbler, radically re-edited and under different names, were then released internationally in 1994 and 1995, some 30 years after Williams had begun production. Schreck’s film, which made use of a Kickstarter campaign for some funding, features unreleased scenes from the film and goes behind the scenes to tell the story of what’s been called “the greatest animated film never made.”

The festival, taking place from September 27 – October 12, will also host the world premiere of the music documentary Griot, from director Volker Goetze. International premieres include Mark Meatto’s music doc How to Grow a Band, which looks at the formation of critically acclaimed, progressive bluegrass band Punch Brothers; Eva Solte’s Lou Harrison: A World of Music, which tells the story of the American microtonal music composer; and Nuala, a documentary from Marian Finucane about the life of documentary filmmaker, novelist, newspaper columnist and memoirist Nuala O’Faolain.

For more information on the festival and its program, click here.

Tags: Griot, How to Grow a Band, Kevin Schreck, Nuala, Persistence of Vision, Punch Brothers, Richard Williams, Vancouver International Film Festival