Biography
After attending the Academy of Arts, Utrecht he at first set out to be an illustrator and pitched to several magazines to become a cartoonist. However while searching for work he landed a job at the Cine Cartoon Center in Hilversum, Holland where learned about animation and did TV commercial animation. He was then spotted by director George Dunning to work on Yellow Submarine. Afterwards he’s spent time at his personal studio in Holland & the Canadian NFB working of solo and collaborative projects.
Family and early life
Driessen’s father was an ambassador to Russia after WWII so he followed him all throughout the world traveling from his homeland of Holland to Russia, London, and Montreal. He also traveled to France, Spain, and Japan now and then. Married Diane Dauphinais, the daughter of Florence and Henri Dauphinais. They had two children Anouk and Kaj.
Career outline
1964 Graduated Academy of Arts, Utrecht Illustration / Graphic Arts 1964 Begins working at Cine Cartoon Center in Hilversum, Holland working on Animated TV Commercial (Also trained in animation at this time) 1967 Invited to work by George Dunning on Yellow Submarine in London 1970 immigrated to Canada and began work as a freelance animation mainly for the National Film Board of Canada
Personal style
Driessen is noted for his loose gestural style in his drawings he has an abstract sense in his animation. He often employs multiple storylines in his animations. Well known for his sense of timing and subtle use of sound. Has a sense for experimentation
Influences
Jim Hiltz, George Dunning
Honors and awards
- 1981 Silver Berlin Bear @ Berlin International Film Festival Category: Best Direction of a Short Film for: Ter Land, ter zee en in de lucht (1980)
- 1982 OIAF Award @ Ottawa International Animation Festival Category: Best Film Under 5 Minutes for: Belle et la Boite, La (1982)
- 1984 OIAF Award @ Ottawa International Animation Festival Category: Films Longer than 5 Minutes for: Scheppen van een koe, Het (1984)
- 1986 Merit Award @ Ottawa International Animation Festival Category: Film Between 5 and 15 Minutes for: Elephantrio (1985)
- 1987 Annie Awards for: Distinguished contribution to the art of animation
- 1988 Grand Prix @ Annecy International Animated Film Festival for: David (1977)
- 1995 First Prize @ Montreal World Film Festival Category: Short Films for: The End of the World in Four Seasons (1995)
- 1996 FIPRESCI Prize @ Cracow Film Festival for: The End of the World in Four Seasons (1995)
- 1996 Won OIAF Award @ Ottawa International Animation Festival Category: Best Production between 10 and 30 Minutes in Length for: The End of the World in Four Seasons (1995)
- 1997 Fipresci Prize @ Annecy International Animated Film Festival for: The End of the World in Four Seasons (1995)
- 2000 Buster’s Short Film @ Buster International Children’s Film Festival Award for: 3 Misses (1998) Saw the Iceberg (2000)
- 2000 Silver Dove @ Leipzig DOK Festival Category: Animated Films and Videos for: The Boy Who Saw the Iceberg (2000)
- 2000 Won Mike Gribble Peel of Laughter Award @ Ottawa International Animation Festival for: 3 Misses (1998)
- 2001 Silver Dragon @ Cracow Film Festival Category: Best Animated Film for: The Boy Who Saw the Iceberg (2000)
- 2001 Fipresci Prize @ Annecy International Animated Film Festival for: The Boy who saw the Iceberg (2000)
- 2001 Silver FIPA @ Birarritz International Festival of Audiovisual Programming Category: Short Programs for: The Boy Who Saw the Iceberg (2000)
- 2002 Genie @ Genie Awards Category: Best Animated Short Film for: The Boy Who
- 2002 Special Jury Award @ Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films for: The Boy Who Saw the Iceberg (2000)
- 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award @ Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films
Filmography
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