Four finalists to represent Nigeria at Annecy film festival
The pair of Mbuotidem Johnson and Ukpeme Uwakwe has been selected as the winner of the renowned Annecy International Film Festival, which holds in France.
Egbelughe Philip and Stanlee Ohikhuare, OyikanOdunlami and Temidayo Odunlami, Brian Wilson and Eseme Joseph, Oluwayomi Samson and Omotunde Akiode, were also among the top five finalists with the best creative animation projects to pitch their works as part of the Nigerian focus during the 2021 edition of the festival.
Annecy International Film Festival is regarded as the world’s top reference for animation films. It gathers every year in the city of Annecy in the French Alps with over 13, 000 industry professionals from around the world in attendance.
In the wake of its 2021 edition and its focus on Africa, Annecy and the Annecy International Animation Market expressed their interest in Nigeria by offering young talents the opportunity to develop their projects. This focus on supporting creatives within Nigeria is hinged on the growing impact of the animation sector in the job market and the Nigerian economy.
Ahead of the festival, in partnership with Animation Nigeria, the French Embassy in Nigeria, organised a pitching workshop in a competitive format for seven selected Nigerian animation studios to stand a chance to win an all expense flight and accommodation trip to participate at the international festival while the other finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their projects at the international event as part of a focus on Nigeria, in front of an audience of international professionals.
Meanwhile, the official responsible for MIFA Pitches, Géraldine Baché, noted that they had been following animation works in Africa for some time. She said: “For several years now, we have been closely following what is happening in animation on the African continent and had noticed the energy that was particularly evident in Nigeria.
The workshop co-constructed with local players confirms the presence of talented and promising directors on the territory, but also the need to accompany them in a demanding and competitive sector, so that their projects are strong enough to face the market. We therefore bring them to question themselves so that they can find aesthetic and narrative solutions themselves and come out of this experience stronger.”
