Here's a news release about my animator friend Jeff Chiba Stearns.
Jeff is cool.  Check him out, and his short animated film 
"What Are You Anyways?"  I have featured the film at the Vancouver Public 
Library for the Joy Kogawa book launch for Emily Kato, and also at the
2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year
Dinner.



Above is a picture of two stills from "What Are You Anyways?"
For more stories about Jeff on www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com  click on:
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog?cmd=search&keywords=jeff+chiba+stearns



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 17, 2006

KELOWNA ANIMATOR WINS BEST ANIMATED SHORT AT NATIONAL ANIMATION AWARDS SHOW

Animation filmmaker and Kelowna resident, Jeff Chiba Stearns, took home the 
award for Best Animated Short Subject for his film, “What Are You Anyways?” 
at the first annual Canadian Awards for Electronic and Animated Arts 
(CAEAA).  The awards show, described as the Oscars of the Canadian video 
game and animation industry, was hosted by actor William Shatner of Star 
Trek fame on Thursday night, September 14th, at the world class River Rock 
Show Theatre in Richmond, BC.   Awards were presented in 37 categories in 
three sectors of the Electronic and Animated Arts industry: talent 
development (New Media and Animation Art Schools), animation, and video game 
development.  Each winner was presented with an Elan – a statuette similar 
to an Oscar but constructed of a majestic man and a woman resembling Greek 
gods holding up the world.

The evening was complete with red carpet, limousines, and Hollywood 
treatment.  The Gala event, with over 700 guests, was similar to the Golden 
Globe Awards with an Oscar-like glitzy reception and black-tie dinner at one 
of the best new theatres in North America with industry sponsors 
participating in the development of the show and celebrity guest presenters. 

It is expected that the Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts 
will become the standard by which Canada and the rest of the World recognizes 
the amazing talent and product that this country is delivering to 
an enormous and ever-growing market.

Chiba Stearns attended the event with faculty from the Centre for Arts and 
Technology Kelowna where he instructs classical hand drawn animation 
courses.  His classically animated short film, “What Are You Anyways?” is an 
autobiographical recollection of Chiba Stearns’ life experiences growing up 
in Kelowna being a Hapa – a world-wide term used to describe someone of 
mixed Asian decent.  In Chiba Stearns’ case, he is half-Japanese and 
half-Caucasian. The film, released in 2005, has experienced incredible 
international praise winning over 7 awards and screening at over 35 
international film festivals to date.  Chiba Stearns has since become an 
international spokesman for Hapa advocacy by writing articles and lecturing 
at conferences, universities, and workshops about mixed-race identity and 
issues.

“I am extremely honored and excited to receive an Elan for Best Animated 
Short Subject at the 2006 CAEAA Awards.  It means a great deal to be 
recognized by my peers in the Canadian animation industry for the work I am 
doing in independent classical animation.  So many people from around the 
world respond to how much they relate to my film and in turn share their own 
stories with me.  I can only hope for continued success with all my future 
projects and that my work will continue to touch the lives of people around 
the world.”  - Jeff Chiba Stearns

Currently, Chiba Stearns is in pre-development of two short animated films 
and a documentary on Hapa children.  Look for new work by Chiba Stearns to 
be released in 2007.  Check out www.myspace.com/jeffchibastearns for current 
updates.  DVD copies of “What Are You Anyways?” can be purchased in Kelowna 
at Komatsu Japanese Market and in Burnaby at the Nikkei Centre Museum gift 
shop.  Educational sales and private sales are available through the NFB at 
www.nfb.ca

CONTACT:

Jeff Chiba Stearns
website: www.meditatingbunny.com