CEE Animation Forum, the event for pitching, financing, and co- production in the animation industry, is thrilled to unveil the official project selection for its upcoming edition, set to take place
in Pilsen, Czech Republic, on 8-9 November. "Every year, we witness a growing number of ambitious and high-quality projects being submitted to our event. We recognize the importance of helping them gain visibility and capture the interest of decision makers," Marta Jallageas, managing director of CEE Animation Forum said. "That's why we made the strategic decision to introduce the Market as a new feature. The objective is to create a dedicated showcase for animated projects that are still seeking partners - regardless of the stage."
The CEE Animation Forum will take place on 8 and 9 November in Pilsen (Czech Republic). Accreditations for the CEEA Forum Market will be available for purchase on the website from September 2023. The event is financially supported by Czech Film Fund, Ministry of Culture Czech Republic, Audiovisual Producers´ Association (APA, Czech Republic) and Pilsen Region.
The project selection for CEE Animation Forum 2023 boasts a lineup, featuring a diverse range of animated content across various categories. The total budget of all 28 pitching projects reaches €29 million, showcasing the ambitious scale and potential impact of these productions. In addition, this year's event will introduce a new platform called the Market, which aims to provide visibility to animated projects at any stage and facilitate one-to-one meetings between industry professionals.
The selection includes 8 projects for children up to 10 years old, 6 projects for teenagers, 8 projects for young adults, and 7 projects aimed at adult audiences. Hungarian animation is the most represented with a total number of 5 projects, followed by Czech Republic (4), Estonia (3), Germany, Italy, Poland Spain (2 each), Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Slovakia and Ukraine (1 each). In terms of animation techniques employed, the projects demonstrate a blend of artistic approaches. Drawing emerged as the most popular technique, utilized in 16 projects, followed closely by 2D animation in 14 projects. Additionally, the selection highlights the creative use of 3D animation in 7 projects and the distinct charm of stop motion animation in 7 projects, showcasing the versatility and craftsmanship within the industry.
The new Market offers a dedicated space within the event for professionals to engage in one-to-one meetings with decision makers, and grants film professionals the chance to secure their participation in Market by purchasing the accreditation (opening in September) for their project(s) at any stage of development, production, or distribution, including completed works. Early access to a reservation system allows participants to schedule meetings in advance with esteemed European professionals, including producers, sales agents, distributors, broadcasters, scriptwriters, festival programmers, and market event representatives.
The design for this year's edition has been created by visual artist Vera van Wolferen, an animation director and set designer. "We were delighted to discover Vera's exceptional talent during our CEE Animation Workshop. Her playful and meticulously executed paper artwork immediately appealed to us," Jallageas said. "One of our primary objectives at CEE Animation Forum is to provide visibility to emerging talents, and I hope that featuring Vera's work can be the start of a wonderful tradition."