International Festival of Animated Objects
The International Festival of Animated Objects is an annual festival which promotes the arts of puppetry, mask, and animated objects  in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The FAO was produced by Xstine Cook as a project of the non-profit group Calgary Animated Objects Society from 2002-2016.  It was formed as its own non-profit society, the International Festival of Animated Objects Society in 2015 by Xstine Cook, Bob Davis, and Peter Balkwill.  It was originally produced biennially by Xstine Cook from 2002-2016, then by Gwen Murray in 2017 and 2019, and Amelia Newbert in 2021. Newbert transitioned the FAO to an annual event during the pandemic era in 2022. Cosmo Christoffersen took the helm in 2023, and is the current Managing Producer.
The FAO features high calibre local, national, and international artists working in the realm of animated objects.  Programming includes live performances, screenings, lectures, workshops, and exhibitions for all ages, and adult audiences, including the ever-popular late night Dolly Wiggler Cabaret.
Past programming has included Canadian marionette superstar Ronnie Burkett, The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, BC spectacle artists Three on the Tree, Tsimphisan carver Victor Reece, Cirque du Soleil artist Mooky Cornish, Phillip Huber (of Being John Malkovich marionette fame), Frank Meschkuleit (Bride of Chucky, The Left Hand of Frank), Calgary's The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, Red Smarteez, and Czech group Buchty a Loutky, amongst others.
The March 2024 edition of the Festival of Animated Objects included programming support from a number of partner organizations: Calgary Animated Objects Society produced the Exhibitions, curated by Tia DeLauria and Claudia Chagoya, Animovies short film packages, which were curated by Kes Lefthand and Kelsey Two Young Men of the Stony Nakoda AV Club, and the Dolly Wiggler Cabaret which was curated by Xstine Cook, and hosted by Xstine Cook and Mooky Cornish. WP Puppet Theatre produced the Learning Component, in concert with Sparrow Arts Society. The Canadian Academy of Mask and Puppetry produced Wunderbriefs, a series of short pop-up works, as well as a residency with Brazilian artist Nina Vogel. Seton YMCA and Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge produced Splish Splash for young audiences. The FAO was sponsored by Street Characters.
Animovies is the screening portion of the International Festival of Animated Objects.  Submissions for the film portion may be made through FilmFreeway.
Supporting the IFAO are the following organizations:Canadian Heritage
Human Resources Development Canada
Alberta Lotteries
Alberta Foundation for the Arts
Alberta Human Resources
Calgary Arts Development
== External links ==
Official WebsiteFAO Website
CAOS Website
CAMP Website
Nakoda AV Club Website
WP Puppet Website
Sparrow Art Space Website
Street Characters Website
cSPACE Website
YMCA Seton Website
Shane Homes at YMCA Rocky Ridge Website
Glenbow Museum
Golden Sheaf Awards
VTape
Prairie Tales
Phillip Huber
Frank Meschkuleit
Cirque du Soleil Varekai
The Old Trout Puppet Workshop
The Red Smarteez
Ronnie Burkett
Buchty a Loutky
Press LinksCTV News 2024 Calgary Set to Host Festival of Animated Objects
Calgary Herald 2024 Wild and Wonderful: Anything Goes at the Festival of Animated Objects
The Guantlet 2024 The Festival of Animated Objects Brings Whimsy and Magic to the Arts in Calgary
CTV News 2024 The Festival of Animated Objects
Calgary Herald 2024 'Let's Have a Good Time': Annual Dolly Wiggler Cabaret offers short and often surreal performances
TheYYScene 2024 What to Do in March
CTV News 2024 Festival of Animated Objects starts Friday
To Do Canada 2024 One for Sorrow, Two for Joy
CBC 2023 Teacher's dream of Blackfoot language 'Sesame Street' inspires art exhibit
My Lethbridge Now 2023 Animation project makes learning Blackfoot accessible online
CBC 2023 Teacher's dream of Blackfoot language 'Sesame Street' inspires art exhibit
Lethbridge News Now 2023 Blackfoot language project to be screened at Calgary’s Festival of Animated Objects
Livewire Calgary 2023 Frankenstein production uses masks, puppetry to draw audiences closer to original Gothic novel
Avenue Calgary 2023 Check Out This Festival Celebrating All Things Puppetry
Airdrie City View 2022 Springbank puppeteer spearheads theatrical production
Swerve 2017 Puppet Masters: Festival of Animated Objects a labour of love for co-artistic directors
The YYScene 2019 Festival of Animated Objects brings Calgary to life with puppetry, performance, film and arts installations
The Calgary Herald 2023 Frankenstein is back, this time with puppets
The Calgary Herald 2015 The Old Trouts offer something new (and old) at the International Festival of Animated Objects
CBC 2017 Interview with Xstine Cook and Peter Balkwill
Nanton News 2021 Drive In Film Festival
the Calgary Herald 2019 Ghost River Theatre's GIANT
CBC interview with Xstine Cook
CBC 2019 Animated Objects
CBC 2019 Puppet show pulls back curtain on family's experience with Alzheimer's
The Calgary Herald 2016 Five facts about Dolly Wiggler Cabaret
The Calgary Herald 2016 Mooky Cornish headlines Dolly Wiggler Cabaret
The YYScene 2019 Ghost River Theatre's GIANT
AMMSA 2010 Film project inspired by the tragic death of a stranger
Calgary Herald
Canadian Theatre Review
FFWD 2009 Festival Preview
FFWD 2009 Crawdaddy Review
Calgary Herald 2009 Les Voisins Review Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine
Calgary Herald 2009 Alice Nelson Review