Pan-African animation pitching competition

25 Apr 2019

As Africa's animation industry continues to develop, and in recognition of the challenges that creators face in being able to reach a market, there will be a strong focus on animated short film and series at DISCOP Abidjan.

Licensed under Creative Commons. Source: Wegmann.

DISCOP Abidjan in partnership with the African Animation Network (AAN) will host the 3^rd annual Animation du Monde pitching competition next month and entries are now open.

DISCOP Abidjan is the second of five preliminary rounds of the Pan-African Animation du Monde 2020. Through the DISCOMICS footprint – an initiative run by DISCOP Markets and AAN – and which includes partnerships with three of Africa’s longest running comic conventions, AAN will be hosting four regional prelims in Johannesburg (at ICON CGC), Abidjan (DISCOP Abidjan), Lagos (at Lagos Comic Con), and Nairobi (Nairobi Comic Con).

Because the partners are always looking to create new opportunities for creators across Africa, AAN has partnered with the Accra Animation Film Festival (AAFFia) to add a 5th regional preliminary round.

The MIFA Pitches are arguably the biggest animation focused pitching forum in the world and take place against the backdrop of the Annecy Int. Animated Film Fest’ & Market/MIFA (Annecy/MIFA). A place where filmmakers can celebrate the craft while building relationships and a deeper understanding of the industry. Contestants have until the 17 May to submit their project and can do so by clicking HERE.

Pitches

Animation du Monde’s mission is to give animation projects in developing animation industries from across the world the opportunity to participate at the highest level internationally during the MIFA pitches.

Video pitches will be accepted for those not able to attend the preliminary regional round at DISCOP Abidjan however, candidates who are able to attend the event will be given preference. The competition regulations can be viewed HERE.

“The value of entering a pitch competition like Animation du Monde goes far beyond winning or losing. Through it you build relationships, your confidence to sell your project, and most of all the insight of industry professionals with years of experience with projects from around the world,” said Nick Wilson, head of projects and content at AAN.

During the 2018 Animation du Monde finals in Annecy, Ingrid Agbo, from Togo, secured a pre-sale for her project L’arbre à Palimpseste, which is currently in pre-production. Agbo qualified with her project through the 2017 regionals run by AAN at DISCOP Abidjan and won one of two places to represent Africa at Annecy/MIFA 2018 via the Animation du Monde 2017 Continental Finals at DISCOP Johannesburg. Through her journey she was able to connect with other African animation filmmakers who were able to help her refine her project through to the 2018 finals in France.

Jerome Soffo Simo, president of Tous'Anime Association and organiser of CANIMAF in Cameroon, had this to say about his about his experience, “Firstly, the Annecy Pitch Contest taught me that you have to write, draw, structure, and then put together your animation project and that story is the most important part, because, a successful animation is a well-told story. The story will guide you in choosing the style to adopt and the rest will follow.”