'I AM DYSLEXIC' & 'HANGING'

DRAWTASTICON seeks to cover topics that represent the whole of the human experience. Consequently two films of a more serious nature are 'I AM DYSLEXIC' and 'HANGING', by filmmakers Mads Johan Øgaard/Katie Wyman and Nick LeDonne respectively

The Film: The animated short film I AM DYSLEXIC expresses what it feels like to have a learning difference in our current school system. Those with learning differences should be proud of who they are and should never be made to feel alone. The film uses strong metaphors to portray these emotions, as we follow a little boy in his journey to climb a mountain in a world made of books.

The Filmmakers: Mads Johan Øgaard: Mads is a Norwegian born in 1993. He has recently graduated Falmouth University with a first class honors degree in Animation and VFX. Since then Mads has started his Masters degree in special education at Exeter University. He is currently illustrating a book in collaboration with the Norwegian Dyslexia foundation titled 'Dyslexi Norge' (Dyslexia Norway). This book is an informative book about Dyslexia and is aimed for children and teenagers and features the characters in his student film I AM DYSLEXIC. His dream is to help as many as possible with and without a learning difference, to find there best way to help them learn learning! Mads Is proud to be a Dyslexic and Dyscalculic individual!Katie Wyman: Katie Wyman is a film maker born in London 1994. As a teenager she drew comics, and rarely spent much time outside. At age 19 she animated a stop motion project which now has over 25,000 views on YouTube. She has recently graduated Falmouth University with a first class honours degree in Animation and VFX. Katie is proud to be associated with 'I AM DYSLEXIC' which she co-directed and co-produced with Mads Johan Øgaard in their final year of university.

The Film: An abstracted animated documentary based off of Nick LeDonne's personal struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts after a near attempted hanging in November 2014. His feelings of depression are personified through a dark luring fog and a loving mother desperately trying to keep her son alive.

The Filmmaker: Nick LeDonne will be an animation senior this fall of 2016 at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Growing up in South Jersey Nick would travel to Philly to spend his free time sketching at zoos, museums, parks, and beyond with a love for art. Falling into animation his passion allowed him to create award winning films, inspiring murals, and spread his love of art to his local community.