Pepperidge Farm Launches Goldfish Tales Animation Contest with New York Children's Film Festival

Pepperidge Farm announced today on Good Morning America, the Goldfish Tales Animation Xperience Contest, in partnership with New York International Children’s Film Festival. The contest encourages families across the country to create and submit stop motion animation videos starring Goldfish crackers, through February 27.

With help from tutorials created by the Goldfish team and the New York International Children’s Film Festival, and inspiration from the co-hosted “Get Animated! Workshop” in September, families will come together in the spirit of creativity to shoot their own stop motion videos. Parents can enter their families’ creations for a chance to be recognised nationally and receive prizes.

For the first time, Goldfish Colors is a lead sponsor of New York International Children’s Film Festival, the nation's largest film festival for children and teens. As part of its sponsorship, Goldfish will provide on-site activities and free samples during the March Festival, and present the online filmmaking contest encouraging families to get creative with stop-motion animation.

“The partnership was built on a desire to bring families together through the art of filmmaking, by using the very thing that is often a distraction to family-time: our phones,” said Chris Foley, SVP/CMO, Pepperidge Farm. “By using accessible technology, and a bit of creativity, Goldfish and New York International Children’s Film Festival will provide families all the tools they need to become master animators and create something new, together.”

To enter the contest, participants will create a 60-second animated video starring Goldfish crackers and upload it to YouTube. To complete the submission, participants must then visit www.goldfishsmiles.com and complete the entry form by providing their birth date, the YouTube link to their film and their contact information. Parents and guardians over 18 are eligible to submit their creations. During the month of March, all submissions will be reviewed by an independent judging committee including a member of the New York International Children’s Film Festival and a Goldfish brand representative.

Entries will be evaluated in four categories:

· “Best Use of Goldfish” - This award will go to a film that showcases our little smiling movie stars in the most creative or amusing way.

· “Best Story” - This award will go to a film with the most compelling storyline whether it be funny, dramatic, thrilling—or all three.

· “Best Film by Up-and-Coming Animators” - This award will go to a film that might not be the most polished, but shows incredible enthusiasm all the same!

· “Best Overall Film” - This award will go to a film that combines multiple elements (technique, originality, and effort, etc.) resulting in the best overall final product.

On April 21, Goldfish will host an online awards show, in which the winners in each category will be announced. There will be four grand prizes in which each recipient will receive $5,000.00 and twelve nominee prizes in which each recipient will receive a gift bag consisting of an Animation Xperience cinch bag, Goldfish® Colors crackers, an octopus style portable and adjustable tripod and a Stoopid Buddy Stoodios DVD.

“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Festival, which presents the best new films from around the world to kids and teens,” Nina Guralnick, Executive Director, New York International Children’s Film Festival. “We are excited to have Goldfish Colors as a partner this year as we recognise that Goldfish shares our appreciation for celebrating connecting families through creativity and imagination. We are excited to see the films families create through the Goldfish® Tales Animation Xperience Contest.”

Each year, the Festival provides an exciting experience that cultivates an appreciation for the arts, encourages active, discerning viewing, and stimulates lively discussion among peers, families, and the film community.

Y&R developed the integrated campaign for the Goldfish® Tales Animation Xperience Contest consisting of stop-motion workshops, how-to videos, homemade animation and the film contest, all designed to inspire parents and kids to create stop-motion movie magic together.

For more information and to enter the contest, visit www.goldfishsmiles.com.