DISCOP Abidjan Hosting Animation du Monde Prelim Contest

DISCOP Abidjan, in partnership with the African Animation Network (AAN), is set to host the third annual Animation du Monde pitching competition next month.

Entries are now open for Animation du Monde at DISCOP Abidjan, which is the second of five preliminary rounds of the Pan-African Animation du Monde 2020. Video pitches will be accepted for those not able to attend the market. The other regional prelims take place at ICON CGC in Johannesburg, Lagos Comic Con, Nairobi Comic Con and the Accra Animation Film Festival. The MIFA Pitches finals will take place against the backdrop of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and Market. Contestants have until May 17 to submit their projects.

Nick Wilson, head of projects and content at AAN, said: “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.”

Ingrid Agbo, who secured a presale during the 2018 Animation du Monde finals, said: “My Annecy experience was so unexpected. Winning the opportunity to pitch my project there was a huge pleasure but also a real challenge for me. This festival was like a gauge for my project. There were so many and different great projects coming from all around the world.”

Jerome Soffo Simo, president of Tous’ Anime Association and organizer of CANIMAF in Cameroon, added of 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.”