HaZimation, a global animation studio based in the UK, announced that their latest film will screen at the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) for their 2023 film festival.
RIFT is a bold and high-concept animated feature film produced by the visionary team at HaZimation, led by Founder and Director Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull (The Beyond; Disney’s Fast Layne), and produced by Co-Founder Paula Crickard (Jolt; The Protege). Kicking off the festival as one of the first films for attendees to watch, RIFT will have its online screening on February 13, 2023 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Executive produced by Yariv Lerner (Expendables; The Hitman’s Bodyguard), Amy Gardner (Identicals), and Jason Potter, RIFT showcases stellar performances from BAFTA award-winning actor, Jane Perry (Cyberpunk 2077; Returnal), Cade Tropeano (Blackbird), and Dave Fennoy (Walking Dead), with motion capture performances from Ace Ruele (Marvel’s The Eternals) and Alex Kong (Marvel’s What If…?). The film was graded by colourist Vanessa Taylor (The Northman) and has a runtime of 93 minutes.
Written by Stavros Pamballis, based on an original concept by HaZ, the film tells the story of Max, a young boy held captive in a research facility, who uses his ability to create rifts in the fabric of spacetime, across parallel universes, looking for the one in which his brother Leon, a former marine, manages to rescue him. With attempt after attempt ending in Leon’s death, the strain starts to take its toll on both brothers. When Max discovers his captors are using his power against him, he realises he must stop focusing on how the story ends and instead, rewrite the story from the beginning.
Screening RIFT at TAAFI 2023 Film Festival at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema is a momentous occasion for us at HaZimation. We’ve poured our hearts and souls into the making of this film and to have it showcased at such a prestigious festival is a true honour. TAAFI is not just a platform for us to showcase our work, it’s also an opportunity for us to be a part of an incredibly talented community of animators, storytellers and filmmakers from around the world.
The festival is a celebration of the animation art form and the incredible talent it holds. We are thrilled to be a part of this festival and to have the opportunity to share our unique vision with audiences.
RIFT is a film that pushes the boundaries of animation and storytelling and we hope that it will be an immersive and thought-provoking experience for the young adult audiences.
HaZ Dulull, Founder of HaZimation
RIFT immerses its audience in a genre-bending plot that explores themes of love and redemption through a diverse cast of characters set in a futuristic world that reflects the diversity of today’s society. The film’s visual storytelling, driven by a cinematic score, pulls the viewer into the story, which deals with sci-fi elements of time and multiple dimensions. The emotional depth of the film adds a layer of complexity to the already captivating narrative.
The TAAFI team is ecstatic to have RIFT as a part of our film line-up for the 2023 festival. The film’s unique concept and visually stunning animation make it stand out among the competition.
We are eagerly looking forward to the audience’s reactions to the film and the impact it will have on the animation community. It’s not every day that a film comes along that pushes the boundaries of the medium, and we are honoured to be able to share RIFT with our audiences.
Karen Jackson, Chair of TAAFI
The Toronto Animation Arts Festival International is a premier animation festival that brings together the best and brightest in the animation industry. The festival will take place from 13-18 February 2023, starting with online programming before switching to in-person screenings at the Hot Docs Cinema, located at 506 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1Y3.
For more information about the film and to purchase tickets, please visit www.taafi.com. Watch the RIFT trailer below.
