Biidaaban (the dawn comes) by Amanda Strong and Cattle Call by Mike Maryniuk and Matthew Rankin have both been named on the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF)’s list of 50 Canadian animated shorts that have shaped the festival’s first 50 years.
Drawn from more than 700 Canadian films screened since 1976, the list reflects the perspective of OIAF’s programming team and highlights works selected for their lasting impact, originality and ability to resonate over time. The initiative marks the first time the festival has undertaken a retrospective of Canadian animation across its full 50-year history.
Biidaaban (the dawn comes) by Amanda Strong premiered at OIAF in 2018 and Cattle Call by Mike Maryniuk and Matthew Rankin screened at the festival in 2008. Both titles are distributed by the WFG.
Biidaaban (the dawn comes) by Amanda Strong (18:15, 2018)
“For 50 years, OIAF has watched Canadian animation change, break apart, reinvent itself and keep surprising us. This retrospective isn’t about creating some final, fixed canon,” says OIAF artistic director Chris Robinson. “It’s a way of looking back at the incredible range of voices, techniques and risks that have come through the festival since 1976. These films remind us that Canadian animation has never been just one thing. It’s personal, political, funny, strange, handmade, experimental and quietly influential.”
As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, OIAF will unveil its top 10 selections during the 2026 festival in September, each accompanied by a short essay from the programming team. The “50 in 50: OIAF’s Favourite Canadian Animation Shorts” films will be presented during the festival, offering audiences an opportunity to revisit the influential works and rediscover new favourites.
Cattle Call by Mike Maryniuk and Matthew Rankin (3:30, 2008)