A showcase of the animation world’s most “boundary-pushing, mind-blowing” animation will return to Baltimore City for the third year.
The Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival will open in person at the SNF Parkway Theatre on Nov. 12.
As a name like Sweaty Eyeballs would suggest, the festival leans towards quirky and experimental animation.
This year’s festival features a variety of animated shorts, from films about the magic of grandmothers to cannibals who sing.
Individual screenings will take place in person from Nov. 12-14, and online from Nov. 12-19.
On opening night, Sweaty Eyeballs will showcase a juried collection of work exclusively from Baltimore artists.
Sweaty Eyeballs was started by Phil Davis, an animator and professor of animation and film at Towson University, in 2012.
It began as a one-night-only show of animation programming and live performances.
In 2019, the organization partnered with the Maryland Film Festival to launch a 3-day festival.
Last year’s festival was virtual due to the pandemic, which allowed for more people across the country to participate, Davis said in a statement.
“We were awestruck by last year’s virtual turnout,” said Davis.
“We have always had crowds in Baltimore, because Sweaty Eyeballs’ programming is sort of wacky and unique on the east coast – but adding the virtual component let us connect students and fans together from across the country last year,” he said.
This year’s festival includes 95 animated short films from 22 countries and 5 continents.
The festival is supported by area universities and organizations like the Maryland Institute College of Art and the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
In-person and virtual tickets are now available online. Virtual passes cost $30-$50, and in-person tickets are $12 per program.
