Mide Kadiri

Thanks to Calgary Arts Development’s Artist Development Microgrant, Kadiri was able to attend both CUFF and AFX, forging important industry connections and bringing back fresh perspectives to his local scene.

“The grant was able to let me have that leeway, space and accessibility to participate,” says Kadiri. “I was able to take a little bit of time off to participate in the festival, watch the films and do interviews as a director.”

Breakthrough is a psychedelic blend of bright, geometric shapes paired with music from Calgarian musicians and producers. The film was created using a style of mixed media that combines digital animation with ink-based physical drawings and explores expansive philosophical questions.

“We’re all ultimately inside of the universe, and we’re taking up not a lot of space. We have our planet, and then we have our house, and our own bodies, where we occupy all of the space,” says Kadiri. “I want to capture these repeating patterns in our reality that are connected to the different scales of things.”

While attending AFX, Kadiri met the festival staff, learned more about their journey in animation and discussed his own work with artists from across the country.

“Being able to showcase my film, talk about it and interact with people — those are experiences I cherish a lot,” says Kadiri. “I’m a first-time director, so I wanted to make sure that I showed up everywhere I could.”

Kadiri is grateful for the opportunity to attend these screenings and for the financial support from Calgary Arts Development that made it possible. “It was really nice that I was able to get the grant to have all of these experiences, because it would not have happened otherwise,” says Kadiri. “I still keep in touch with everyone at CUFF, and I also still keep in touch with the people in Halifax.”

After attending those festival screenings, Kadiri was able to bring back what he learned to Calgary.

“It’s definitely impacted how I see our local film scene, how I see what people can do with film, and the possibilities that are capable with animation,” says Kadiri. “It’s one thing to hear about it, but then it’s another thing to be in that position.”

Months after those screenings, the support and energy generated by attending continue to fuel his work as Kadiri moves forward in his animation journey.

“The Calgary animation scene is still growing, so we need more animators making stuff to show that it is possible to be an animator here and receive financial support to do that,” says Kadiri. “Knowing that people are at these festivals, and they’re looking for new ideas, new images and new concepts to explore, it gives me courage and confidence that what I’m working on next will definitely need to be seen.”