Animators at the acclaimed Aardman film studios in Bristol have drawn on a design style made famous by Monty Python’s Flying Circus to provide a motion graphic for the next Slapstick festival of screen comedy, taking place in Bristol from 26-29 January 2012.

The homage gets it world premiere in Bristol tonight - Monday 5 December (6pm) - during a celebration at which the programme for the 8th annual festival – Slapstick 2012 – will also be unveiled before both go on public view at www.slapstick.org.uk .

Festival Director, Chris Daniels, says: “The main reason for the Monty Python flavour of the trailer is that ex-Python Terry Jones will be one of our chief guests in January, introducing a screening of THE LIFE OF BRIAN, and talking about its making, and the mixed passions it stirs, with actor and fan Sanjeev Bhaskar and the audience. 

But Aardman’s animators also found that the distinctive Python mix of original drawings and doctored vintage images are a great way to introduce many of Slapstick 2012’s other attractions -  including a salute to DAD’S ARMY; visits from Barry Cryer, The Goodies and Griff Rhys Jones; films starring silent comedy heroes such as Chaplin, Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Charley Chase, and our very special visitor – the Oscar-winning Pierre Etaix, now making a much-deserved comeback into comedy’s hall of fame at the age of 83.”

Today’s launch event coincides with the opening of bookings for the full Slapstick 2012 programme which takes place at Arnolfini, Colston Hall and Watershed in central Bristol and features live music, song and talks about film history  as well as film screenings, celebrity guests and chat. In all, more than 5,000 people are expected to attend what is now acknowledged as the biggest event of its kind in Britain, and one of the best comedy film festivals in the world.

Ticket holders will get to see Aardman Animations’ Monty Python-inspired trailer as a curtain-raiser to all events. In addition, it will be on YouTube from Tuesday 6 December and will be shown before some Arnolfini and Watershed film screenings and, it is hoped on the BBC Big Screen in Millennium Square in the run-up to January 26. 

Slapstick 2012 tickets are on sale now from the Colston Hall box office –  0117 922 3686 or www.colstonhall.org.uk – and at the venues where individual events are taking place.  

The festival’s principal sponsors are Aardman Animations (www.aardman.com) and South West Screen (www.swscreen.co.uk).