A combined love of drawing and acting led Tommy down the path to animated filmmaking. Inspired at an early age by the Fleischer Studios' Popeye Cartoons, Tommy strives to make his projects strong to the finish.
Tommy Simms is an interdisciplinary artist and award-winning filmmaker, specializing in stop-motion animation. Earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, his senior animation was showcased at the Festival de Cannes. For years, he taught classes online and at art camps across the United States, inspiring younger generations with puppetry and stop-motion. Ranging from cartoons to live-action, Tommy's work has been featured in film festivals around the world, on PBS, in theatre productions, and at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. His animated adventures continue through the production of independent films and music videos.
Official Selection
Killing Time
Sin City Horror Fest
Las Vegas, Nevada
2023
Winner - Best Directors, Best Gore, & The Jury Award; Best Cinematography Nominee
Killing Time
Twisted Dreams Film Festival
Milwaukee, WI
2023
Best Short Horror Comedy Nominee
Killing Time
VHS: Vancouver Horror Show
Vancouver, BC
2023
Winner - Best Wisconsin Film
Fuzzysurf - Sheep Shed
Milwaukee International Short Film Festival
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2023
Finalist - Best Rock Music Video
Fuzzysurf - Sheep Shed
International Music Video Awards
Budapest
2023
Official Selection
Fuzzysurf - Sheep Shed
Milwaukee Film Festival
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2023
Semi-Finalist
She Was Crying Sugar
San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival
San Francisco, California
2023
Semi-Finalist
She Was Crying Sugar
Dubai Independent Film Festival
Dubai
2023
Launch Feature
Killing Time
Hobnobben Film Festival
Fort Wayne, Indiana
2022
Official Selection
She Was Crying Sugar
Montreal International Animation Film Festival - ANIMAZE
Montreal, Quebec
2022
Winner - Best Director & Honorary Mention (2nd Place)
She Was Crying Sugar
Milwaukee International Short Film Festival
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2022
Winner - Best Music Video
She Was Crying Sugar
Cannes Shorts
Cannes
2022
Official Selection
She Was Crying Sugar
New Zealand's Vision Feast Film Festival
Auckland
2022
Semi-Finalist
She Was Crying Sugar
AniMate: Australia Animation Film Festival
Sydney
2022
Official Selection
She Was Crying Sugar
Green Bay Film Festival
Green Bay, Wisconsin
2022
Semi-Finalist
She Was Crying Sugar
International Cosmopolitan Film Festival of Tokyo
Tokyo
2022
Surprise Feature
Killing Time
Hobnobben Film Festival
Fort Wayne, Indiana
2021
Winner - Best Mixed Media
She Was Crying Sugar
Los Angeles Animation Festival
Burbank, California
2021
Official Selection
She Was Crying Sugar
#MoStopMo - Stop Motion Shorts Festival
YouTube
2021
Official Selection
She Was Crying Sugar
Hobnobben Film Festival
Fort Wayne, Indiana
2021
Official Selection
She Was Crying Sugar
2D & 3D Animation Film Festival
Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi
2021
Honorable Mention - Best Animated Music Video
She Was Crying Sugar
Rome Music Video Awards
Rome
2021
Honorable Mention - Best Animated Music Video
She Was Crying Sugar
International Music Video Awards
London
2021
Semi Finalist
She Was Crying Sugar
London Indie Short Film Festival
London
2021
Winner - Best Music Video Clip
She Was Crying Sugar
Vesuvius International Film Festival
Campagna
2021
Official Selection
She Was Crying Sugar
Milwaukee Film Festival
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2021
Winner - Best Wisconsin Film
Reanimation of The Imagination
Milwaukee International Short Film Festival
Milwaukee, WI
2021
Official Selection
Killing Time
Milwaukee Film Festival
MIlwaukee, WI
2020
Official Selection
Killing Time
Hobnobben Film Festival
Fort Wayne, Indiana
2020
Official Selection
Killing Time
Rincon International Film Festival
Rincon
2020
Official Selection
Genie Gypsy Woman
Milwaukee Film Festival
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2017
Best Animated Music Video
Genie Gypsy Woman
Rincón International Film Festival
Rincón
2017
Court Métrage Short Film Corner
The Legend of Leatherface Larry
67th Festival de Cannes
Cannes
2014
Official Selection
The Legend of Leatherface Larry
The Grim Natwick Animated Film Festival
Wisconsin Rapids
2012
Winner - Second Place
The Legend of Leatherface Larry
61st UWM Student Film & Video Festival
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2011
College
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Hometown
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Gender
Male
Great-Nephew of Aye Jaye
(Carny Sideshow Magician / Clown / Ronald McDonald / Actor / Comic / Author of "The Golden Rule of Schmoozing")
Learned to draw by watching "Mark Kistler's Imagination Station" and "The Secret City" on PBS as a child. Years later, Tommy taught classes alongside Mark at numerous art camps across the United States.
Studied animation at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under the guidance of animator, Tim Decker (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles / The Simpsons / Disney Interactive)
"Dream it! Draw it! Do it!"
- Mark Kistler (The Imagination Station)
"See you back on the lot!"
- Aye Jaye
"Stay Animated!"
- Tommy Simms
A combined love of drawing and acting led Tommy down the path to animated filmmaking. Inspired at an early age by the Fleischer Studios' Popeye Cartoons, Tommy strives to make his projects strong to the finish.
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