* Thirteen international projects participated in the fifth edition of Bridging the Gap.
* Tenerife consolidates as isla cartoon with its own projects and visits to the studios.
On July 20th, the fifth edition of Bridging the Gap – Animation Lab (BTG), an animation laboratory in which thirteen developing projects from Latin America, Spain and the Philippines participated, ended.
Created with the aim of strengthening and promoting internationally animation feature films and series projects from around the world, BTG is an intensive workshop organized by Bridging the Gap, an initiative promoted by different animation professionals, and which has the main sponsorship of the Cabildo de Tenerife through the Tenerife2030 Area and INtech Tenerife and Turismo de Tenerife and the collaboration of Cooperación Española.
Over the course of a week, the directors and producers of the selected projects shared various training, networking and individual advisory activities from professionals of the sector for the strengthening of their projects and the push for their insertion in the industry. In addition, each participant received private consultancies on their project from the hands of industry experts.
Among the experts that advised the projects were producers, screenwriters, consultants and executive producers such as Belli Ramírez (Mr. Cohl), Carlos Bleycher (The Guy Who Writes), Edwina Liard (Ikki Films), Eva Garrido (MediaPro), Guadalupe Arensburg (Movistar + Spain), Iván Agenjo (Pekaboo Animation), Paco Rodríguez (Media Training Consulting) and Shamik Majumdar (The Walt Disney Company).
The selected works were chosen from a total of 97 proposals received from 16 countries. With eight projects, Latin American animation leads the selection followed by Spain (4) and the Philippines (1). With two projects, Argentina was the most represented Latin American territory, followed by Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela, all with a participating work.
This year’s BTG selection included the feature films “Beyond the Legend”, by Marília Feldhues (Brazil); “Bululú”, by Federico Gutiérrez Obeso (Mexico); “Island of Fire”, by José Miguel Pérez Alonso (Spain) and “Risue”, by Mario Forero (Colombia). Besides, nine series made up the selection: “Alphabesties”, by Neema B. Ejercito (Philippines); “The Call of Mystery”, by Víctor López Aguado (Spain); “Cowbots”, by Alfio D’Antona (Argentina); “Crako & Koshan show”, by Esteban Erazo and Paul Morales (Ecuador); “Hallow Hollow”, by Pablo Cortina (Spain); “Karetabla”, by Carlos Zerpa (Venezuela); “Lily & the Fishboy”, by Niels Andersen Dolmer (Spain); ” Witch’s Bussiness”, by Alejandra Jaramillo (Chile) and “Ori and Gen”, by Javier Ignacio Luna Crook (Argentina).
One of the outstanding activities of the program is the visit that participants made to the animation studios Tomavision, B Water Animation Studios and 3 Doubles. Participants were able to see how they work in each of them, in addition to seeing exclusive content of productions they are carrying out. These three companies, together with Mondo TV, Capcub and La Casa Animada, also from Tenerife, participated both in the presentations and networking day and in the final pitch.
The Tenerife animation was also present in the laboratory with greater participation than in previous editions: in fact, there was a 200% increase in local applications. Of all the requests, “Islands of Fire” and “Lily & the Fishboy” were selected. In addition, the “Space Collapse” projects by Vanin Ceruzzi and “Climate Exodus” by David Baute and Jorge Guimerá were presented at La Dársena in TF CoworkIN space.
This was the third time that BTG was organized in Tenerife, reflecting the determined commitment that the island is making to animation, with support for training activities such as this, as well as hosting reference events such as the Quirino Awards and the Ibero-American Animation Co-Production Forum, attracting new companies and supporting the blooming local sector. As part of this policy, the Cabildo and the Tenerife Film Commission have launched the “Tenerife Isla Cartoon” brand, with which they seek to strengthen the island as a place for the realization of animation works.
Since its first edition in 2015, BTG has strengthened and promoted 61 animation feature films and series internationally from 25 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Ethiopia, Philippines , France, Guatemala, Italy, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Poland, United Kingdom, Dominican Republic, Syria, Uruguay and Venezuela). These include titles such as ” The Other Shape” (Colombia), “Homeless” (Chile) or ” The Artcraft ” (Uruguay).
BTG, has the support of 3D Wire, International Animation, Video Games and New Media Market; DIBOOS, Spanish Federation of Animation Producers Associations; SAVE, Canary Islands Association of Companies and Professionals of the Animation, Video Games and Visual Effects Sector; U-tad University Center for Technology and Digital Art; Casa de América; Proimágenes Colombia FDC; Ventana Sur Animation!; INCAA; and Film Development Council of The Philippines.
Thirteen projects of series and animated feature films from Latin America, Spain and the Philippines have been selected to participate in the fifth international animation laboratory Bridging the Gap – Animation Lab (BTG), which will take place between July 14th and 20th in Tenerife, Spain.
Organized by Bridging the Gap, an initiative promoted by different animation professionals, the event has the main sponsorship of the Cabildo de Tenerife through the Tenerife2030 and INtech Tenerife and Tenerife Tourism Area and the collaboration of Cooperación Española.
Created with the aim of strengthening and promoting internationally animation projects from around the world, BTG is an intensive workshop given by industry experts who will offer the keys to produce, distribute and sell animated works. The initiative also arises with the aim of facilitating the creation of international collaborations and networks.
Since its first edition in 2015, BTG has strengthened and promoted fifty international feature film and animation series from around the world internationally, many of which continue to advance in their production process; while others are already finished, such as the Chilean feature film “Homeless“, whose world premiere will be next week during the Annecy Festival.
The works selected for this new edition were chosen from a total of 97 proposals received from 16 countries. With 8 projects, the animation from Latin America leads the selection followed by Spain (4) and the Philippines (1). With two projects, Argentina is the most represented Latin American territory, followed by Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela, all with a participating project. On the other hand, it should be noted that of the 4 Spanish projects, 2 are from Tenerife artists.
The selected projects are the feature films ” Beyond the Legend”, by Marília Feldhues (Brazil); “Bululú”, by Federico Gutiérrez Obeso (Mexico); “Islands of Fire”, by José Miguel Pérez Alonso (Spain) and “Risue”, by Mario Forero (Colombia). Nine series complete the selection: “Alphabesties”, by Neema B. Ejercito (Philippines); “The Call of Mystery”, by Víctor López Aguado (Spain); “Cowbots”, by Alfio D’Antona (Argentina); “Crako & Koshan show”, by Esteban Erazo and Paul Morales (Ecuador); “Hallow Hollow”, by Pablo Cortina (Spain); “Karetabla”, by Carlos Zerpa (Venezuela); “Lily & the Fishboy”, by Niels Andersen Dolmer (Spain); “Witch’s Bussiness”, by Alejandra Jaramillo (Chile) and “Ori and Gen”, by Javier Ignacio Luna Crook (Argentina).
In total, fifteen directors and producers will meet for seven days on the island of Tenerife and will share various training activities, networking and individual advice from international experts to strengthen their projects and boost their insertion in the industry in areas such as script, production, distribution, how to pitch, character design and new business models, among others. In addition, each participant will have the opportunity to receive private consultations on their project. To finish, participants will have the opportunity to present their projects to industry professionals and decision-makers interested in learning about new projects.
Different companies and institutions have awarded various scholarships that will make possible the participation of those selected for the laboratory.1
In the four previous editions almost fifty students from all over the world with their developing projects have met in this specialized laboratory. Among them, people from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Guatemala, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Spain and Uruguay participated.
This will be the third time that BTG is organized in Tenerife, reflecting the strong commitment that is being made to the animation on the island with the support of training activities such as this, as well as hosting events such as the Quirino Awards and the Ibero-American Animation Co-production Forum, attracting new companies and supporting the flourishing local sector. As part of this policy, the Cabildo and Tenerife Film Commission have launched in March the “Tenerife Isla Cartoon” brand, with which they seek to promote the island as a place for the production of animated films.
In addition, it has the support of 3D Wire, International Animation, Videogames and New Media Market; DIBOOS, Spanish Federation of Associations of Animation Production Companies; SAVE, Canarian Association of Companies and Professionals of the Animation, Videogames and Visual Effects Sector; U-tad University Center of Technology and Digital Art; Proimágenes Colombia FDC; Ventana Sur Animation!; INCAA; and the Film Development Council of The Phillipines.
1. Support Proimágenes Colombia FDC: “Risue”; Collaboration FDCP: “Alphabesties”; 3Dwire scholarship: “The Call of Mystery”; Ventana Sur Animation! scholarship: “Cowbots”; Tenerife scholarships: “Islands of Fire”, “Lily & the Fishboy”; UTAD scholarship: “Hallow Hollow”.
The international animation laboratory Bridging the Gap (BTG) has opened the call for animation projects in development from any part of the world to participate in its fifth edition, which will be held in Tenerife (Spain) between July 14th and 20th 2019
Created with the aim of strengthening and promoting international animation projects from around the world, BTG is an intensive workshop given by industry experts who will offer the keys to produce, distribute and commercialize animated works. The initiative also arises with the aim of facilitating the creation of international collaborations and networks.
The program is open to young creators, professionals and students of animation that have a project in any animation technique of feature film or series in the state of development, preproduction or production. Short films with the potential to become a feature film or series will also be accepted.
Among the projects received, twelve will be selected to participate in this training activity that will include lectures and individual meetings with international experts, who will provide advice to strengthen projects and enhance their insertion in the industry in areas such as development, production , character design, new business models, commercializing and monetization of digital content, among others. In addition, each participant will have the opportunity to receive private consultations on their project. In closing, participants will have the opportunity to present their projects to industry professionals and decision-makers interested in learning about new projects.
The laboratory will grant BTG scholarships for their participation to a maximum of three projects from any territory of the world. Likewise, Colombian projects will be eligible for the automatic stimulation offered by Proimágenes Colombia; while a Spanish project will be supported by 3DWire. Two places will also be reserved for two participants from Tenerife
The first participant project of the next edition of the laboratory is already confirmed. Is the series “Cowboys, gauchos de metal“, an Argentine project that won the BtgLab prize in Animation! of Ventana Sur and has the support of INCAA (National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts) to attend.
The call is open until April 30th, except for Tenerife projects, that the date is extended until May 15th. The participation rules, course content, registration costs, scholarship conditions and the application form are available on the BTG website (www.bthegap.com). The selection will be communicated throughout the month of May.
In the four previous editions almost fifty students from all over the world with their projects in development have met in this specialized laboratory. Among them, young people from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Guatemala, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Spain, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay participated. Some projects that have been developed at BTG are the Colombian “Cárcel”, the Ecuadorian “Chacay”, the Peruvian “The Wacky Adventures of Chico and Darz”, the Uruguayan “The Artistonautas” or the Chilean “Homeless”.
The talents received advice and master classes from industry experts, which included the Chilean screenwriter Carlos Bleycher; US producer and Indie Sales head of acquisitions Eleanor Coleman; and the consultants Belli Ramírez, specialist in production management; and Paco Rodríguez, expert in executive production. Likewise, the creator of “Pocoyó”, Guillermo García Carsí; the director of short film programming for Canal + Guadalupe Arensburg; the creative director of Walt Disney Europe, Shamik Majumdar; the producer of the Oscar-winning short film “Logorama”, Nicolas Schmerkin or the Spanish producer Manuel Cristóbal (“Wrinkles”).
Organized by Bridging the Gap, an initiative promoted by different animation professionals, the event has the main sponsorship of the Cabildo de Tenerife through Turismo de Tenerife and INtech Tenerife (Science and Technology Park of Tenerife) and the support of Cooperación Española.
After successfully completing its fourth edition, the international animation laboratory Bridging the Gap (BTG) has become a platform for international promotion of animation projects in development from the island of Tenerife.
The quality and diversity of the selected animation series and feature films, together with the interest aroused by the laboratory among professionals and decision makers of the sector as a place to discover new talent, consolidate the growth of this initiative organized within the framework of the ACERCA Program of Training for Development in the cultural sector of Cooperación Española. BTG has the main sponsorship of the Cabildo de Tenerife through its Areas of Turismo de Tenerife and Tenerife 2030: Innovation, Education, Culture and Sports with INtech Tenerife (Science and Technology Park of Tenerife).
After holding its first two editions in Valencia, the laboratory landed last year in Tenerife. The new headquarters has been key in the growth registered these two years by the laboratory thanks to the commitment of the island to strengthen the development of the animation and audiovisual industry through the implementation of various initiatives, such as incentives for filming attraction, the Quirino Awards or the Ibero-American Animation Co-production Forum.
A total of twelve talents from around the world participated from July 15 to 21 in this training initiative that has been promoting international animation projects for four years from all over the world and facilitating the creation of international collaborations and networks. “Bridging the Gap is no longer just an intensive workshop but an international recognition. The projects that have gone through this workshop are synonymous with quality after having been immersed in a whole week of consultancies and master classes to take the projects forward and that it can have a place in the international market”, point out its creators, Guadalupe Arensburg and José Luis Farias.
Chosen from more than eighty applicants after an open call, the directors and producers selected received advice and master classes from industry experts, among them the script consultant Carlos Bleycher; the director and animator Jossie Mallis; the art director Maroto Bambino; the producers Paco Rodríguez, Risa Cohen and Manuel Cristóbal; the director of the short film acquisitions department of Movistar + Spain, Guadalupe Arensburg; the creative director of Walt Disney Europe, Shamik Majumdar; the founder and director of the production and distribution company Autour de Minuit, Nicolas Schmerkin; or the head of acquisitions of the French company Indie Sales, Eleanor Coleman.
Among the experts who witnessed the final pitch of the projects were also Iván Miñambres (Uniko), Gerardo Álvarez (U-tad), Francisco Menéndez (Welaw) and Guillermo García Carsí (El Señor Studio); as well as the Tenerife companies La Casa Animada, Salero Animation Studio, 3 Doubles Productions, Mondo TV, Tomavisión and B-Water Animation Studio.
The activities were carried out in the ITER, Technological Institute and of Renewable Energies, in Granadilla de Abona, in the south of the island; and in Tf CoworkIN Dársena Pesquera and Tenerife Auditorium Adán Martín, both in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
A selection aimed to adult and teen audiences
This year’s selection was made up of eleven projects, which were chosen from a total of 84 applicants from America (71%), Asia (4%), Europe (22%) and Africa (3%). Talent from 19 countries was presented to the call: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Spain and Venezuela.
Unlike previous years, half of the selected works are designed for adult and teen audiences, while projects aimed at children and families represent 30% of the total. For the most part, the projects will be made with 2D and mixed techniques; and to a lesser extent, CGI and cut out.
The Bridging the Gap 2018 selection has included the following projects:
Feature films
Series
Un laboratorio expandido en Tenerife
This was the second edition that BTG organized in Tenerife, reflecting the decided commitment that is being made to the animation on the island with the support of training activities like this one, as well as hosting reference events such as the Quirino Awards and the Ibero-American Animation Co-Production Forum, attracting new companies and supporting the flourishing local sector.
In this sense, in addition to the professional space, BTG also offered a series of activities open to the public, including the TLP Innova conference dedicated to animation -organized with TLP Tenerife-, which included lectures and master classes as “Puppies in Progress, a look at the creative development and work in progress of Disney 101 Dalmatian Street” by Shamik Majumdar (The Walt Disney Company); “Animation projects and video games that break barriers” by Risa Cohen (European Film Bonds); and “How to work as a concept designer for USA in a robe from Villaverde” by Maroto (Bambino Monkey).
On the other hand, focused on the field of industry, BTG organized together with Turismo de Tenerife and INTech Tenerife a day of presentations and networking in which BTG participants and experts participated together with companies and professionals from Tenerife.
Since its first edition in 2015, BTG has strengthened and promoted more than 40 animation feature film and series worldwide, many of which continue to advance in its development and production process. Among the projects that have participated in previous editions, we can mention, among others, the Peruvian film “Nuna, the last myth of the Wamani” by Jimy Carhuas and production of Origami Studio (BTG 2015), a film that was presented at the Marché du Film de Cannes ; the Ecuadorian series “Chakay, crossing the bridge” by Daniel Jacome and produced by Alicia Studio (BTG 2016), which received the main recognition in its category in the Animation section! of the Latin American market Ventana Sur.
Eleven animation TV series and feature films projects from Latin-America, Spain, Italy and Philippines have been selected to participate in the 4th international animation laboratory Bridging the Gap – Animation Lab (BTG), that will take place between July 15th and 21st in Tenerife, Spain.
Organized inside the framework of the Program ACERCA of Training for Development in the cultural sector of Spanish Cooperation, this initiative purposes to strengthen and promote, at an international level, animation projects from all over the world and facilitate the creation of international collaborations and networks. Since its first edition in 2015, BTG has strengthened and promoted 40 animation feature films and series from all over the world at an international level, a lot of them continue improving the development and producing process.
The selected projects for this new edition were chosen among a total of 84 proposals, received from 19 countries. With 6 projects, animation from Latin-America leads the selection, followed by Spain (3), Italy (1) and Philippines (1).
The list of the selected projects is:
Series
1. “The Adventures of Eloisa” by Ana Comes & Agustina Comedi (Argentina).
2. “Mechathlon” by Juan Diego León & Milton Guerrero (Peru).
3. “Millennials and How to Identify Them” by Diego Porral Soldevilla (Spain).
4. “Gang Tracking” by Juan Ángel Andino & Nahuel Poggi (Argentina, Chile).
5. “The Pleasefixers” by Ariel Arburola & Carlos Redondo (Costa Rica).
6. “Princess Greta of Kalamata” by Teresa & Salomé Rodríguez Hage (Spain).
7. “Tally Molly” by Marta Gennari (Ecuador, Italy, Poland).
8. “What Would Jesus Do?” by Andrea Cataño & Julián Hernández (Colombia).
9. “Wooden Mirror” by Sergio Sanchez Navarro (Italy, Spain).
Feature films
10. “Capablanca’s Secret” by Álvaro Castellanos, Alejandro Cruz & Irene Fernández (Spain).
11. “You Son of a Bitch!” by David Liongoren (Philippines)
Different companies and institutions, as the event organization itself, have given different scholarships that will make the participation of the selected projects in the laboratory possible.
During the seven days of the laboratory, the people responsible for the projects will get involved in different training activities, networking and individual advisories from international experts for the strengthen of their projects. The activities will end with the final pitch of the participating projects with the presence of producers, buyers and televisions.
Among the confirmed experts are the producers Nicolas Schmerkin (Autour de Minuit, France) and Manuel Cristóbal (Dragoia Media, Spain); the directors and animators Jossie Malis (Zumbakamera, Spain) and Maroto (Spain); the script-writer and adviser Carlos Bleycher (Chile); the consultant Paco Rodríguez (MTC, Spain); the sales agent Eleanor Coleman (Indie Sales, France); representatives of TV channels and VoD platforms such as Guadalupe Arensburg (Movistar+, Spain) and Shamik Majumdar (The Walt Disney Company, United Kingdom) and production executives like Risa Cohen (European Film Bonds, Denmark).
This will be the second time BTG is organized in Tenerife, reflecting the decided bet that it’s been made for the animation in the island for the support of training activities such as this one, as well as embracing referent events such as the Quirino Awards and the Ibero-American Animation Coproduction Forum, attracting new companies and supporting the blooming local sector.
BTG is an initiative organized inside the Program ACERCA of Training for Development in the cultural sector of Spanish Cooperation and with the collaboration of the International Latin American Foundation for Public Administrations and Public Policies (FIIAPP). The project has as its main sponsor the Cabildo de Tenerife through Turismo de Tenerife and its Are Tenerife 2030: Innovation, Education, Culture and Sports with Intech Tenerife (Scientific and Technological Park of Tenerife).
In addition, it counts with the collaboration of TLP Tenerife and the support of 3D Wire International Animation, Video Games and New Media Market; DIBOOS, Spanish Federation of Associations of Animation Production Companies; SAVE, Canarian Association of Companies and Professionals of the Animation, Video Games and Visual Effects Sector; U-tad University Center of Technology and Digital Art; and the Film Development Council of The Phillipines.
The international animation laboratory Bridging the Gap (BTG) opens the call for projects to participate in its fourth edition, to be held from July 15th to 21st in Tenerife, Spain.
BTG is organized by Bridging the Gap, with the main sponsorship of the Cabildo de Tenerife through Turismo de Tenerife and INtech Tenerife (Science and Technology Park of Tenerife), the collaboration of TLP Tenerife and the support of Cooperación Española, through the Program ACERCA of Training for Development in the Cultural Sector.
The laboratory aims to strengthen and promote international animation projects from around the world and facilitate the creation of international collaborations and networks.
The program is open to young professionals and students with an animation project of a feature film or a series in state of pre-production, development or production. Short films with the potential to become a feature film or a series would also be accepted. Among the received projects, twelve will be selected to participate in this laboratory that will include activities like conferences and personalized consulting meetings, given by several prestigious professionals of the sector.
Once selected, the participants will be able to obtain their definitive vacancy in BTG through one of the three scholarships offered by the organization to candidates from the following countries of Latin America and the Caribbean: Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and the Dominican Republic; North Africa and the Middle East: Mauritania, Morocco, Western Sahara and Palestinian Territories; Sub-Saharan Africa: Mali, Niger, Senegal, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea and Mozambique; and the Philippines. These scholarships include the course registration, accommodation and meals during the days of the course, as well as the flight to Tenerife.
BTG will also offer a full scholarship for one participant from the countries not included in the list above and the festival and market 3D Wire one for a Spanish participant. Moreover, two scholarships will be granted to participants from Tenerife
The other participants can participate by paying a registration fee of 1.500€ that will include the course, accommodation and meals during the workshop.
For the second consecutive year, colombian applicants will be able to aim to receive financial assistance from the Colombian Film Development Fund (FDC) through the official promotion supports (‘estímulos automáticos’), offered by this institution for the participation in training workshops and international counselings.
“Las aventuras de Eloisa” Argentine project winner of the BTG scholarship in Ventana Sur Animation! it’s the first project confirmed for this edition.
The deadline of this call is May 3rd and the rules and regulations are available in the website of BTG.
The International Documentary Film Festival and Market of Guía de Isora and the International Animation Laboratory Bridging the Gap (BTG) have selected four projects to participate in the first edition of the Animation Documentary Project Development Laboratory BTG DOC. The workshop is of international scope and will be developed from next Friday, January 26th until the 29th, in Guía de Isora, as a formative activity of MiradasDoc.
BTG DOC is a workshop specialized in animated documentaries, in which conferences are combined with individual tutoring. Participants will obtain the necessary tools to bring their project come to fruition thanks to their direct work with renowned animation professionals, focused on the business perspective and production. The workshop will be taken over by Charlotte de la Gournerie, Paco Rodríguez and José Luis Farias.
Charlotte de la Gournerie is producer and partner of the Danish studio Sun Creature Studio (creators of the transmedia project The Reward-Tales of Alethrion), expert in production and crowdfunding. One of her projects currently in development is the featurefilm animated documentary Flee, winner of the Disney Channel Award at the pitch event of Annecy / MIFA in 2016.
Paco Rodríguez is expert in international distribution, in co-productions’ financing and in the executive production of several animation series. Directs Media Training & Consulting, a company dedicated to training and consulting for the audiovisual and cinematographic sector.
José Luis Farias is the creator and codirector of Bridging the Gap – Animation Lab (Tenerife, Spain), among other initiatives. It also has its production company Paramotion Films, dedicated to animation films, digital postproduction and audiovisual training since 2002.
In addition, the event will count with Raúl de la Fuente, codirector of Another Day of Life, that will give a conference.
At the end of the call process the selected projects have been The First Women, by Bambú Orellana (Typpo, Chile); The Tormentors, by Felipe Rugeles (Saki Cine, Colombia), Flesh, by Camila Kater (Doctela, Brazil) and Crow, by Robin McKenna (Canada).
The First Women aims to show children in an entertaining way the contribution of women in Latin-American history who faced the social and political difficulties of their time and, in achieving their goals, helped to open the way for an endless number of women. The Tormentors recreates the trial of 1913 against the Peruvian Amazon Company, which caused the death of more than 30.000 indigenous people of the Amazon region subjected by a regime of slavery and torture for the production of rubber. In Flesh, five women tell their relationship with their own body from different perspectives. Finally, Crow is the story of a “doula of death” who discovers her vocation through the loss of her older sister. It explores the relationship between death, dying and the process of letting go.
The last day of the workshop, on Monday, January 29th, the pitch of projects will take place, an activity open to the public and professionals.
The collaboration between Bridging the Gap and MiradasDoc allows us to unite the experience of each teamwork in its field to promote the development of animated documentaries within the framework of the documentary film festival. In this way, BTG provides the consultants responsible of facilitating the workshop, while MiradasDoc opens to directors and producers of the projects the doors of an international market of consolidated documentary film and become in a reference for producers, distributors and television channels looking, in Guía de Isora, for a production recognized for its excellence, for the original gaze of the authors and for offering a vision of the social panorama of the planet.
New for 2018, MiradasDoc is launching the BTG DOC animated documentary project development lab. Applications to participate in this workshop are open from 13 October to 15 November. The initiative has been launched thanks to the collaboration between the International Documentary Film Festival of Guía de Isora and the International Animation Lab Bridging the Gap (BTG).
The workshop is of international scope and will be held in Guía de Isora (Tenerife, Canary Islands) from 26 to 29 January 2018, as an educational activity within the framework of MiradasDoc Market. Both one-off projects and animated documentary series can be entered, as well as short films. Project registration is managed through the MiradasDoc website.
The selection decision will be announced on 20 November. The entrants representing the five selected projects will have to pay a registration fee of 200 euros, which includes accommodation in the MiradasDoc Alberge (in a shared room) and registration to participate in MiradasDoc Market.
BTG DOC is a workshop specializing in animated documentaries, combining presentations with individual tutoring. Through direct work with renowned animation professionals, focused on aspects of business and production, participants will be given the training required to take their projects to fruition.
The collaboration between Bridging the Gap and MiradasDoc combines the experience of each team in its field in order to promote the development of animated documentaries within the framework of the documentary film festival. Thus, BTG brings the consultants responsible for facilitating the workshop, while for project directors and producers, MiradasDoc opens the doors to a recognised international documentary film market which has become a point of reference for producers, distributors and television channels seeking in Guía de Isora a production which is recognized for its excellence, for the original viewpoint of the authors and for offering a vision of the planet’s social panorama.
After successfully finishing its third edition, the international animation lab Bridging the Gap (BTG) has established itself as a platform for the international promotion of animation projects in development. The quality and diversity of the selected animation shows and feature films, along with the interest shown in the lab as a place to find new talents by professionals and decision makers of the sector, confirm the growth of this initiative, organized in the frame of ACERCA Training Program for the Development in the Cultural Sector of Spanish Cooperation. BTG also has the collaboration of the International Latin American Foundation for Public Administrations and Public Policies (FIIAPP); thanks to the main sponsorship of Cabildo de Tenerife through Turismo de Tenerife and INtech Tenerife (Science and Technology Park of Tenerife) and the collaboration of TLP Tenerife.
After celebrating its first two editions in Valencia, the lab came this year to Tenerife. The new city has been a key to this year’s growth thanks to becoming the epicentre of the animation and the audiovisual sectors, which the island has been strengthening with the implementation of several initiatives like the incentives to attract shootings or the training programs like Animate. Along this line, island authorities recently announced the celebration of the Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards for the first quarter of 2018.
A total of fourteen talents from all over the world participated from the 16th to the 22nd of July in this formative initiative which aims to strengthen and promote internationally animation projects from all around the world and facilitate the creation of international partnerships and networks.
Selected from more than a hundred applicants after an open call for submissions, the selected directors and producers received consulting meetings and lectures from industry experts for the strengthening of their projects. Some of these experts were Guadalupe Arensburg (Director of Short Film Acquisitions at Movistar + Spain), Shamik Majumdar (Creative Director of Walt Disney Europe), Nicolas Schmerkin (founder and director of the production and distribution company Autour de Minuit), Eric Goossens (producer and founder of Walking The Dog), and the Head of Acquisitions at the French company Indie Sales.
Additionally, among the experts that attended the final pitch for the projects were Yago Fandiño (Director of Children’s Content at RTVE), Manuel Cristobal (Executive Producer at Dragoia Media) and the consultants Paco Rodríguez, from Media Training and Consulting, and Belli Ramírez, co-founder of Mr.Cohl and line producer at Zinkia Entertainment.
In this new edition BTG’s activities spread to different places of the island like the Integrated Center ITER of Granadilla de Abona, and Santa Cruz de Tenerefie’s spaces: TFcoworkIN in Dársena Pesquera, Taburiente Hotel and Tenerife’s Auditorium Adan Martín.
This year’s selection was comprised of eleven projects that were chosen from a total of 105 applicants from America (74%), Asia (7%), Europe (14%) and Africa (5%). Talents from 29 countries applied to the open call: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Spain, Ethiopia, the United States, the Philippines, France, Greece, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Macedonia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Niger, Panama, Peru, United Kingdom, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.
Half of the selected works are aimed at children and families while the projects for young people and young/adults represented 25% of the selection respectively. For the most part, the projects will use mixed techniques and 2D and, to a lesser extent, CGI and stop motion.
As for the themes, the films and shows present crazy adventures, ancestral myths and legends, mysteries of the Earth and other galaxies, and fantastic stories starring aliens, immortal heroes, mythological characters, animals, robots and children.
Besides the professional space, BTG also offered a series of activities to Tenerife’s audience. Among them, there is one day dedicated to animation co-organized with TLP Innova in which several experts will give lectures and presentations.
TLP Innova also included a round table about Youtube and animation held by Nikotxán, creator of the first Spanish webseries “Cálico Electrónico”, and Enrique Vázquez, manager at Átomo Network, a community for Spanish-speaking artists and creators that has a total of 20 million views and 250 thousand Youtube subscribers; a presentation by Guillermo García Carsí, creator of “Pocoyó”, about how to create a successful animation project; a case study of The Reward, about how to build an online community and a successful kickstarter campaign with Charlotte de la Gournerie; and a conference by Hernán a Greca, Senior Director of Creative Services at Cartoon Network Latin-America, who will speak about CarTube Network: Cartoon Network linear and non-linear.
Focused on the industrial sphere, BTG, along with Turismo de Tenerife and INTech Tenerife, organised a day of presentations and networking in which participants and experts from BTG took part alongside companies and professionals of the Canary Islands.
Since its first edition in 2015, Bridging the Gap has strengthened and internationally promoted around thirty animated feature film and series projects from all around the world. Among the projects that have participated in previous editions, we can stand out, among others, the Peruvian feature film “Nuna: The Last Myth of the Wamani” by Jimy Carhuas and the production by Origami Estudio (BTG 2015), recently presented in the Marché du Film de Cannes as part of Annecy Goes to Cannes program; and the Ecuadorian series “Chakay, the Master of the Two Worlds” by Daniel Jacome and the production by Alicia Studio (BTG 2016), which received the main recognition in its category in the section Animation! of the Latin American market Ventana Sur.
This new edition of BGT has counted with the collaboration and participation of Tenerife’s institutions and professionals like Intech Tenefire, Tenerife’s Tourism, TLP Tenerife, SAVE Association, 3 Doubles, La Casa Animada, Salero Animation Studio, Mondo TV and Promineo Studio, as well as participants from the Anímate program, and professionals like Diego Navarro, Carlos Roca, Miguel Ángel Fuertes, Argentina Oliva o Carlos Miranda.
From July 16th to the 22nd, the island of Tenerife welcomes fourteen talents from all over the world to the third international animation lab Bridging the Gap (BTG). Created in 2015, this initiative aims to strengthen and promote internationally animation projects from all around the world and facilitate the creation of international partnerships and networks.
Organized in the frame of ACERCA Training Program for the Development in the Cultural Sector of Spanish Cooperation and the collaboration of the International Latin American Foundation for Public Administrations and Public Policies (FIIAPP); thanks to the main sponsorship of Cabildo de Tenerife through Turismo de Tenerife and INtech Tenerife (Science and Technology Park of Tenerife) and the collaboration of TLP Tenerife.
The fourteen participants, selected by the organization from more than a hundred of applications, are talents from all around the world that come to the Spanish island with theiranimation series or feature films projects in development. Among them, there are directors and producers from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Philippines and Peru, as well as several Spanish talents.
The ones who are selected will receive one week of consulting meetings and lectures from industry experts for the strengthening of their projects. Some of these experts are Guadalupe Arensburg (Director of Short Film Acquisitions at Movistar + Spain), Shamik Majumdar (Creative Director of Walt Disney Europe), Nicolas Schmerkin (founder and director of the production and distribution company Autour de Minuit), Eric Goossens (producer and founder of Walking The Dog), and the Head of Acquisitions at the French company Indie Sales. Additionally, Yago Fandiño (Director of Children’s Content at RTVE), Manuel Cristobal (Executive Producer at Dragoia Media) and the consultants Paco Rodríguez, from Media Training and Consulting, and Belli Ramírez, co-founder of Mr.Cohl and line producer at Zinkia Entertainment, will also attend.
Besides the professional space, BTG also offers a series of activities on Friday 21th and Saturday 22nd of July to Tenerife’s audience (previous application). Among them, there is one day dedicated to animation co-organized with TLP Innova in which several experts will give lectures and presentations.
TLP Innova will include: a round table about Youtube and animation held by Nikotxán, creator of the first Spanish webseries “Cálico Electrónico”, and Enrique Vázquez, manager at Átomo Network, a community for Spanish-speaking artists and creators that has a total of 20 million views and 250 thousand Youtube subscribers; a presentation by Guillermo García Carsí, creator of “Pocoyó”, about how to create a successful animation project; a case study of The Reward, about how to build an online community and a successful kickstarter campaign with Charlotte de la Gournerie; and a conference by Hernán a Greca, Senior Director of Creative Services at Cartoon Network Latin-America, who will speak about CarTube Network: Cartoon Network linear and non-linear.
Focus on the industrial sphere, BTG, along with Turismo de Tenerife and INTech Tenerife, organises a day of presentations and networking on the afternoon of Friday 21st in which participants and experts from BTG will take part alongside companies and professionals of the Canary Islands.
The last day, Saturday July 22nd, the final pitch for the Bridging the Gap projects will take place. This day will also be open to everyone who is interested and has previously applied. Here experts will give direct feedback to every participant.
During seven days, Tenerife becomes the epicentre of the animation and the audiovisual sectors, which the island has been strengthening with the implementation of several initiatives like the incentives to attract shootings or the training programs like Animate. Along this line, island authorities recently announced the celebration of the Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards for the first quarter of 2018.
