Last July 25th it finished in Valencia the 1st edition of the international animation lab Bridging the Gap (BTG), an initiative focused on generating the knowledge transference and establishing a bridge between the training processes and the industry. With the participation of animated producers, directors and experts from around twenty countries, the event was also a meeting point to facilitate the creation of collaborations and encourage the networks of international contacts.
This first edition of BTG was organized by Bridging the Gap and coorganized by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), across its Program ACERCA, in which FIIAPP participates (The International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies). Its development was possible thanks to the collaboration of CulturArts IVAC of Generalitat Valenciana together with the support of other institutions as 3D Wire, DIBOOS, Women for Africa Foundation, Institut Français Espagne, British Council, Unifrance, Canal + Spain, Pixelatl, Dirac, Prochile, MAI, Barreira Arte + Diseño, U-tad, Rector Peset of Universitat of Valencia, Conflictivos Productions and Blue Dream Studios Spain.
“Thanks to the institutions that bet from the very first moment for this project, we manage to award a scholarship to more than 90 % of the participants, so the economic determinant didn’t suppose a barrier at the time of selecting the biggest talent. This determined support allowed us to be provided with experts of the first level, who transmitted their wide experience to help those that are trying to have a place in the complex universe of the production of audiovisual projects”, Guadalupe Arensburg, codirector of the event, stood out.
The chosen participants took part in workshops, lectures and personal consultancies that allowed them to analyze the keys to produce, distribute and commercialize the animated works at the same time than they could strengthen their projects. The activities were in charge of experts among whom we can stand out the transmedia project “Urbance“ Communication Director, Marcin J. Sobczak; the director and producer of the feature film ‘Animal Crackers’ (produced by Blue Dream Studios Spain); and the consultants Belli Ramírez (Mr. Cohl), specialist in production managing; and Paco Rodríguez (Media Training and Consulting), expert in executive production. Also, there participated the creator of ‘Pocoyó’, Guillermo García Carsí; the person in charge of programming at the Short Film Department Canal + France, Brigitte Pardo; the creative director of Walt Disney Europe, Shamik Majumdar; the producer of the Oscar short film “Logorama“, Nicolas Schmerkin or the Spanish producer Manuel Cristóbal (‘Wrinkles’).
“The bonds that have been created between the participants and the experts are very solid and shortly we will be able to announce projects as a whole that have been generated in the BTG frame”, José Luis Farias, codirector of the event together with Arensburg, mentioned. And he added: “Undoubtedly every participant takes a suitcase full of knowledge and experiences with the commitment to share it in their countries and to be ambassadors of BTG with everything what this means: generation of networks, training, cultural diversity and especially exchange”.
The participants had opportunity to do a pitch of their projects in front of a group of professionals of the industry, among them there was the producer of Convoy Films, Gustavo Ferrada; the producer of El Viaje Imposible and production manager of The SPA Studios, Gerardo Álvarez; the RTVE Head of Children Content, Yago Fandiño; and the programme coordinator of Turner Spain, Mónica Chaves; among others.
Thanks to the support of CulturArts IVAC of Generalitat Valenciana, in parallel to the workshop and with the aim to keep on promoting the art of the animation, we celebrated several activities opened to the public: a meeting with the Valencian animation industry in Conflictivo Productions office; a masterclass on how realizing a good pitch in charge of the producer Paco Rodríguez in the Theater Rialto; and a screening in the MUVIM with the awards BAFTA of animation of last years in collaboration with the British Council.
The organization of the event received 186 projects – between short films, feature films and series – of a whole of 28 countries: Algeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Guatemala, Kenya, Morocco, Mauritania, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Níger, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic, Peru, Senegal, Uruguay and Venezuela.
The committee of selection of BTG chose the feature films “Forest of Fireflies” by Gilberto Amado (Dominican Republic-Guatemala), “Nuna: the Last Myth of the Wamani” by Jimy Carhuas (Peru), “Homeless, the Movie”, of Jorge Campusano and José Ignacio Navarro (Chile); the short films “Cassius“, by Christian Zamora (Nicaragua); “Raíces“, by José Alejandro Yañez (Colombia); and the series “The Artcraft” by Juan Carve (Uruguay); “Cosmic Twins” by Lázaro Hernández (Rich Coast), “Triângulo das Bermudas” by Gabriel García (Brazil) and “The Far West” by Arturo Montero López (Mexico). Also, it was chosen an African project thanks to Fundación Mujeres por África: the short film “My Normal Kenyan Family”, by Ng’endo Mukii (Kenya).
Moreover, the Spanish projects “Street Driver“ by Rocío Álvarez (thanks to Canal +), “Amor de mono” by Trimono (thanks to 3D Wire) and “Wormhole“, by Jezabel Alonso, Diego Martinez de Guereñu and Cesar Peire (thanks to U-tad), and the French project “La 4ème Planéte”, by Titouan Bordeau and Jean Bouthors (thanks to Institut Français Espagne), were the European representatives in the workshop. Being a total of 30 countries those that took part in this first edition.
During the last edition of Cine Court Animé Festival, International animation short film from Roanne (France), we have presented the project selected for the full BTG, Animation Lab scholarship given by l’Institut Français Espagne. The awarded project is La 4ème Planète by Titouan Bordeau and Jean Bouthors, a transmedian sci-fi project.
The scholarship covers course tuition, accommodation, meals and plane ticket from Paris to Madrid, allowing the two French animators to develop and improve over a week, and with the other selected projects, their project through mentoring by experts and decision makers weighty people in animation film industry.
The Cine Court Animé Short Film Festival of Roanne in collaboration with the Institut Français Espagne support the initiative Bridging the Gap, Animation Lab facilitating access to a French student in the course. For this, they have opened a call for projects: animation series, feature films and short films, in its different production stages: in preproduction, in production or finished. Of all the projects received one will be selected.
The Institut Français Espagne will concede the selected project a full scholarship to Bridging the Gap which includes the registration worth 1,200 euros (comprising course, accommodation and meals) plus flight to Madrid from Paris. The selected creator will have to afford the displacement Madrid – Valencia and include the logo of Bridging the Gap in the project once completed.
The course will be taught in English, July 20th-25th in Valencia.
Participation is open only to French nationality creators. And each participant can present a maximum of two projects.
The deadline to submit a project is March 13th.
The selection committee will consist of professionals and specialists of animation. The selected project will be announced in April in www.bthegap.com and www.cinecourtanime.com
You can download the rules and regulations of participation in this link. And the entry form on this other link.
For further information you can write to info@bthegap.com
