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PhillSimmonds

  • Animator
Phill-Simmonds-Key-Profile.jpg

Alongside his brother Jeff, Phill Simmonds has created a run of quirky short films, which utilise traditional animation to retell real-life stories. The films from the SPADA 2006 New Filmmaker of the Year (shared with Jeff) include family history tale A Very Nice Honeymoon and bickering band chronicle The Paselode Story. His latest project is an animated feature film based on Parihaka.

Screenography

2008 Director, Writer, Animator Short film
2006 Director, Writer, Producer, Animator, Composer, As: Storyteller Short film
2004 Producer, Director, Animator Short film
2004 Director, Animator, Producer Short film

Biography

Phill Simmonds’ love affair with drawing and animation began as a child in the Hawkes Bay. Thanks to a mother who was involved in musical theatre, Phill and his brother Jeff were introduced to the magic of theatre “at a very early age. When we were animating we combine sound and pictures and when you put music and images together you have theatre [...]. We also grew up watching Walt Disney movies and always dreamed of animating and making movies ourselves.”

Awards

2008 Show Me Shorts Film Festival (New Zealand)
Best Film (shared with Jeff Simmonds): Noise Control

2007 Show Me Shorts Film Festival (New Zealand)
Best Film (shared with Jeff Simmonds): A Very Fine Honeymoon

“When we are animating we combine sound and pictures and when you put music and images together you have theatre. It’s coming at you through your ears and your eyes and that makes it potentially very, very powerful. ”

Jeff Simmonds in Onfilm, February 2007