Jam It An Experimental Animation Film done with Direct Camera less Animation on 16mm Film

“Jam It” is an experimental animation short made by Colorado artist and filmmaker John Dawson in 2022. This short film is 100% hand made and is all done by one person. Drawing, painting and scratching directly onto 16mm stock is the way that this film was produced.
When people look at my film I hope they think of it like a ride at the amusement park or see it the same way you might view fireworks or abstract painting. After seeing it I hope people are entertained, energized, have fun and feel like that they have had color thrown at them or paint splattered on them. “Jam It” has had screenings and won awards in film festivals all over the world. Norman McLaren, Len Ley and Steve Woloshen were all great influences and inspiration for this work.
John Dawson lives just outside of Boulder, Colorado and is the son of Colorado watercolor artist Milly Dawson. His fine artworks have been shown and sold in galleries in Colorado and online as well. He worked on and off for a small commercial animation studio in Denver for seven years in the late 70’s and early 80’s.

Screenings and Awards

Cine Paris Film Festival
Paris, France May 5, 2022
Award Best Experimental Film

WORLD FILM CARNIVAL
Singapore June 1, 2022
Experimental Film Outstanding Achievment

Pune Short Film Festival
Pune, India June 3, 2022
Official Selection

Rome Prisma Film Awards
Rome, Italy June 6, 2022

Walthamstow International Film Festival
London, United Kingdom June 12, 2022
Official Selection

Brazil New Visions Film Fest
Pernambuco, Brazil June 16, 2022
Official Selection

AltFF Alternative Film Festival
Toronto, Canada June 22, 2022

Couch Film Festival
Toronto, Canada June 27, 2022

Calcutta International Cult Film Festival
West Bengal, India July 22, 2022
Award Experimental Film Critics Choice

Knight of the Reel Awards
Telangana, India July 25, 2022
Award Experimental Film Outstanding Achievement

Virgin Spring Cinefest
West Bengal, India August 1, 2022
Finalist

Luis Bunuel Memorial Awards
West Bengal, India August 24, 2022
Award Experimental Film Outstanding Achievement

ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival
Baku, Azerbaijan September 7, 2022
Official Selection

Sea of Art
Stavanger, Norway September 9, 2022
Honorable Mention

Royal Society of Television & Motion Picture Awards
West Bengal, India September 12, 2022
Award Experimental Film

Sipontum Arthouse International Film Festival
Puglia, Italy September 23, 2022
Official Selection

Goa Short Film Festival
GOA, India October 15, 2022
Official Selection

Altered Images
London, United Kingdom October 21, 2022
Official Selection

TOFUZI International Animated Film Festival
Tbilisi, Georgia October 24, 2022
Official Selection

Lugano Animation Days
Lugano, Switzerland October 27, 2022

ArteNonStopFestival /BA2022-International Film & Art Festival
CABA, Argentina October 27, 2022
Official Selection

The Nederland International Film Festival
Nederland , Colorado United States November 5, 2022
Award Best Animation In A Short Film

18 Festival Transterritorial de Cine Underground
Buenos Aires, Argentina November 10, 2022
Official Selection

Experimental Superstars
Novi Sad, Serbia November 17, 2022

West Bengal Short Film Festival
Kolkata, West Bengal India November 19, 2022
Official Selection

Ekurhuleni International Film Festival
Gauteng, South Africa, November 24, 2022

Himachal Short Film Festival
Himachal Pradesh, India December 3, 2022
Official Selection

Alibag Short Film Festival
Alibag, India January 28, 2023
Official Selection

Front Range Film Festival
Niwot, Colorado United States February 18, 2023
Award Best Experimental Short Film

Fisheye Film Festival
Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom April 17, 2023
Official Selection

Under The Radar
Vienna, Austria April 18, 2023
Official Selection

Kerala Short Film Festival
Kerala, India April 26, 2023
Official Selection

NCCC Film & Animation Festival
Sanborn, New York, United States May 6, 2023
Award Finalist