Nick Cross is one of the few local competitors at this year's Ottawa International Animation Festival. His short film, The Waif of Persephone, tackles the legend of the Greek goddess. (Errol McGihon/Sun)

Nick Cross' animated short film The Waif of Persephone starts out light and imaginative, all little fairies and woodland elves.

Then, as Ottawa International Animation Festival artistic director Chris Robinson puts it, "it kind of goes to hell in the middle."

The innovative 12-minute piece will open the five-day festival, kicking off tomorrow and running until Sunday, and is one of a very few local films in recent years to screen in official competition.

The award-winning Cross spent five years working on the project in between freelance gigs from Ottawa for the likes of Nelvana, BBC and New Line Entertainment. Somewhere along the line, he became captivated by the mythical goddess of the underworld.

"This was about the great legend of Persephone," he explains, "wrapped in modern issues."

Cross, 36, studied at Sheridan College and later honed his craft in the capital region under old-fashioned, meticulous animation guru John Kricfalusi on Ren and Stimpy.

Kricfalusi has termed Cross a "genius."

Cross's provocative, bug-eyed, flat-headed characters and scenery are hand-drawn and assembled with Flash software. Though one might think the process would require supreme patience, the low-key Cross doesn't really see it that way.

"It's kind of like a hobby," he said. "If you don't actually think about how much work it is, it's not so bad."

There is a chance Cross -- one of the capital's few independent animators -- might have his film picked up for distribution at the festival. But unlike the frenzied trying-to-sell vibe at the Toronto International Film Festival, the OIAF is more about exposure than doing business.

"I suppose that does go on, but it's not something I'm really motivated by," he said.

Robinson calls Cross' work "ambitious" and said he has enjoyed watching the animator's work progress as he has gained confidence over the years.

"I think it's actually one of the strongest films we've ever had from Ottawa," said Robinson. "I think it has a good chance to win."

Cross is thrilled his film was chosen, though as he pointed out on his blog, it also makes him slightly uncomfortable.

"Now I'm all nervous for some reason ... Even though I have no chance of winning anything, I still get all anxious about these things, especially since I'm going to be at this festival."

The Waif of Persephone screens as part of the festival's first shorts competition, airing during the opening gala 9 p.m. tomorrow and again Saturday at 11 a.m., at the Bytowne Theatre.