The ANIMARKT Stop Motion Forum that has been organized in Łódź for the last 5 years is the only industry event in the world that integrates the stop motion film community. It is here that business relations and international cooperation are established, and young artists have a chance to present their own projects to a wide audience including their masters. It is here where films appreciated by critics and audiences are born.
The MOMAKIN team who organizes ANIMARKT decided to perform the event on a virtual platform, thanks to which the forum will strengthen its power, but not lose momentum.
– We didn't want to resign from our mission of integrating the stop-motion movie industry. That is why we have taken the challenge of creating an online alternative, allowing participants to maintain the atmosphere of closeness despite remaining geographical distance – says Paulina Zacharek, forum organiser. – Online platform gives the opportunity to participate in the forum for those who would not come to Łódź, for example due to geographic limitations or restrictions related to COVID-19. Attendance to the Forum was confirmed by participants from 34 countries around the world. Central Europe, Latin America and the United States have a large representation, but there will also be industry representatives from China, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
The program consists of three main sections: MASTERS, PITCHING and BUSINESS. MASTERS are master workshops for puppets makers, operators and animators. The organizers managed to invite artists who contributed to the success of the award-winning films by Wes Anderson and Tim Burton, who also have extensive experience in commercial projects. Distinguished guests of the forum are: Andy Gent – puppets creator also known as Wes Anderson’s right hand, Kim Keukeleire – director of "My Life as a Zucchini" who worked also for "Chicken Run", Tobias Fouracre – animation supervisor in "Isle of Dogs" and key animator in "Fantastic Mr. Fox". Last but not least Malcolm Hadley – British Cinematographer with 20-year-old stop motion experience including "Corpse Bride" and "Frankenweenie" who will supervise workshops for cameramen.
As ANIMARKT is an intersection of film art and business, a highlight of the program is the BUSINESS segment, which enables industry networking meetings with the participation of the most decision-making people in the animation world. This part includes the recruitment for the positions of experienced storyboard artists and puppet builders for the legendary LAIKA Studio in the USA, consultations "Ask the Expert" with among others representatives of Miyu Distribution, Maur Film, New Europe Film Sales and presentations of full-length films and series at "Show me your project". Moreover, in the BUSINESS section there is a "Meet your partner" event, which focuses on the dialogue between Argentinian and Chilean representatives and European producers.
The list of finalists of the PITCHING section, which is the presentation of ideas for a film, at the stage of the first script and outline of the visual concept, is closed. This year, 15 stop motion projects from around the world will compete for valuable prizes. The best of them will receive vouchers with a total value of PLN 100,000 to be used in the Audiovisual Technology Center in Wrocław, an artist-in-residence in Cordoba, Argentina, or accreditation for the MIFA International Film Market in France in 2021. The final fifteen featured new projects by already recognised young artists, including "Electra. A Poem" by Daria Kashcheeva, who was nominated for an Oscar in 2019 for her diploma film "Daughter". The pitching winners will be announced this friday - on October 9th. All presentations will be available online, so that every stop motion enthusiast can learn about global animation trends and follow the early stage of films, which may be on Oscar-winning lists in a few years. In addition, the creators of the animation can prepare to participate in next year's pitching by attending this year's presentations.
The masterclass will also be open to the participants without registration. All the following: conference and discussion panels as well as the much less formal "Breakfasts with Animation" will be available for participants to join within Facebook. During "Breakfasts with Animation" participants will talk about, among other things, how to operate on the Chinese animation market. All forum events are free of charge. Detailed information on the conditions for participation can be found at www.animarkt.pl/en.
ANIMARKT Stop Motion Forum is co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland from the Cultural Promotion Fund, International Visegrad Fund and co-financed by the Polish Film Institute. The main partners of ANIMARKT Stop Motion Forum 2020 are EC1 Łódź - City of culture and Lodz Film Commission.
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MOMAKIN connects the world of animated film makers with the international production, distribution and promotion market. It specializes in stop motion projects and it supports animations at each stage of their creation: from planning and financing all the way to distribution. It runs a talent agency and initiates and carries out film projects in Poland and abroad. It engages in the education and professionalisation of the film industry. MOMAKIN organises the ANIMARKT Stop Motion Forum – the world’s only industry event dedicated to the stop motion animation.
