FRANCE has strengthened its commitment to support the development of the creative industries of the Philippines and of Southeast Asia by organizing the first “Animation du Monde” workshop in Manila in February.
Initiated by France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the Annecy International Animation Film Market (MIFA), Animation du Monde is a series of workshops led by French experts that seek to provide young talents with further knowledge in acquiring funding, coproduction deals and collaborations for their projects, while preparing them for their participation in international film markets.
Emphasizing the strong cooperation between France and the Philippines in the audiovisual sector, Manila has been chosen to host the first-ever Animation du Monde workshop in Asia from February 18 to 22. It was organized by the embassies of France in the Philippines and in Singapore, as well as the Alliance Française de Manille, with the support of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Animation Council of the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Management Bureau (DTI-EMB), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
Six animation producers from the Philippines (Avid Liongoren and Cris Dumlao), Indonesia (Diandra Pramestisari Pololessy) and Singapore (Irwan Junaidy, Jerrold Chong and Irvin Tan) were selected to participate in one-on-one and group sessions on storyboarding, storytelling, production and financing, as well as pitching, led by French experts Géraldine Baché, Claire Fouquet and Ron Dyens.
One of the group’s projects was chosen by the panel of French experts to participate in this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Market for pitching to international coproducers and investors.
Economic growth contributor
“THE Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market is the biggest and most prestigious in the world, which is why it was a priority for the French Embassy to bring it to Manila,” Ambassador of France to the Philippines Nicolas Galey said during the opening ceremonies of Animation du Monde at the Alliance Française de Manille.
“Animation is commonly regarded as an artform. But by bringing Annecy to Asia, we also want to [point out] that the animation sector can be an important contributor to economic growth, as is the case in France,” Galey added.
In 2017 animation was the top audiovisual export of France, amounting to €130 million (P7.8 billion). About 8,000 individuals are currently employed in the French animation sector. France also benefits from a strong market demand for French animated content: 36 animated films were released in theaters in 2017, while French television networks aired 14,674 hours of animated programs.
According to the Accelerate PH Roadmap 2020 commissioned by the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, the country’s animation industry recorded $29.7 million in revenue and directly employed 2,189 persons in 2016.
Support assured
“ANIMATION DU MONDE seeks to enable more animators from the Philippines and the rest of Asia to compete in the global film market,” Galey assured. “By launching it in Manila this year, we also reiterate our message that France remains a possible coproducer, investor, partner for the creative industries in the Philippines and in other countries in Asia.”
The opening ceremonies of Animation du Monde in Manila was also attended by Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairman Mary Liza Diño, Animation Council of the Philippines President Miguel del Rosario, DTI-EMB Assistant Chief Luz Medialdia, DICT Director Rior Santos III, and French Regional Audiovisual Attaché Charlotte Déflassieux. Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia
Image credits: EMBASSY OF FRANCE TO THE PHILIPPINES AND MICRONESIA