18 Oct Exciting Animation focus for local and regional animators
For the past 14 years, the annual Animae Caribe Festival has expanded on many new and exciting horizons. This year is no exception as the public and all stakeholders in the local illustration and animation industry can look forward to an exciting and opportunity-packed week at the 2015 Animae Caribe – Animation and Digital Media Festival. The Festival starts runs from October 27 – 31st.
Animae Caribe Festival has been designed to propel the Animation and Digital media industry of Trinidad and Tobago. The Festival works to provide a holistic forum for the discussion, promotion and strategic development of this industry throughout the Caribbean.
As is customary, Animae Caribe provides a platform for local animators to interact with some of the top international animation professionals and will continue to focus on international partnerships as well as local and regional support structures.
AC Festival Director Camille Selvon-Abrahams is committed to the development of this industry. “Over the last decade, Caribbean animation professionals have collaborated through the festival in order to make an impact. We have proven that animations can be created and consumed right here in our region. Animators are also film makers and we stand ready to play a valuable role in helping Trinidad and Tobago access a piece of the world’s multi-billion dollar animation and VFX (visual effects) industry.”
As a testimony to this success, in 2015, the ASIFA Caribbean Elections will take place during the festival. Selvon-Abrahams stated “For ASIFA – this festival provides a melting pot of Caribbean animators, those who are learning and those who are working in the field to stand up and be counted as leaders in the field of Caribbean Animation. We’re excited about the possible outcomes.”
Festival Poster
The 2015 Festival Poster was created by Richenel Rine Piemoe from Suriname. The 22 year old has always had a passion for drawing, he stated that “Drawing always took me to a place where I can experience total freedom. Able to be myself and dream of big things. My ambitions is to become the best visual artist of Suriname and create my own cartoon series.”
The home for AC 2015 is One Woodbrook Place, and the Big Black Box (BBB) on Murray Street, Woodbrook. One Woodbrook Place will be the centre for most conferences and interactive sessions while BBB will be the venue for the screenings of local, regional and international animation submissions.
On Opening Day, October 27, the festival heads straight into the topic of opportunities for the region, as it presents Caribbean Roundtable – Boot Camp. The second session for the day – a workshop – allows registered participants come face to face with mentors. The evening ends with the screening of the Battledream Chronicle at IMAX Cinema. The film is the first Sci-Fi animation for PAGOD of Martinique. The director will be present at the screening for Discussions after the screening.
FESTIVAL GUESTS 2015
From October 28 onward the festival is packed with workshops and interactive sessions. A key session on Creature Design will be led by Omz Velasco. His work has been seen in the Harry Potter movie series, Star Wars, Hulk, Van Helsing and The Mummy. Returning “home” for another festival is Trinidadian, Caiphus Moore who works with EA Games in Los Angeles. He will discuss the intricacies of creating art for the animated world.
Other key elements of Animae Caribe 2015 are the screening of Nigerian painter and animator Ebele Okoye’s “The Legacy of Rubies” at the German Embassy; Caribbean network talks; an opportunity for regional animators to pitch their projects before an international panel.
Finishing off the festival, Animae Caribe will feature its ever popular – Dark Night which will highlight international animations from the dark side – guests are invited to dress for this Halloween event with a prize for the Best Local Super hero.
