Tag Archives: Lagos Comic Convention

Annecy teams with Discomics to target Africa

News, , , , , , , , , ,

The Annecy International Animated Film Festival & Market (MIFA) has reunited with the African Animation Network (AAN) and Discop for its pan-African pitching competition.

Nick Wilson

The Annecy/MIFA Pitches Animation du Monde competition will this year expand its reach in Africa by also partnering with Discomics, which will ensure the competition takes place in three markets (Discop Abidjan, Zanzibar and Johannesburg) and three comic conventions.

These events are the ICON Comic & Gaming Convention, Nairobi Comic Convention (NAICCON) and Lagos Comic Convention (LCC). The grand finale will take place at Discomics Johannesburg.

“This expanded footprint is exciting because it allows us to reach unique animation talent from more territories and countries in Africa which ensures greater diversity and representation,” said Geraldine Bache, head of education and projects at MIFA.

“This embodies Animation du Monde’s core mandate of assisting in building talent in developing animation territories.”

Participating animators will be given a chance to pitch their content to media professionals at Discop, Abidjan (May 29-31); ICON CGC, Johannesburg (June 29-July 1); Discop Zanzibar (July 11-13), NAICCON in Nairobi (August 11-12) and LCC in Lagos (September 15).

Entries for the competition will open in Abidjan (April 11-May 11), Johannesburg (May 8-June 8), Zanzibar (May 20-June 20), Nairobi (August 11-12) and Lagos (July 24-August 24).

According to Nick Wilson, head of projects at AAN: “There’s going to be a lot of conversation around African animation at Discop. They’re allowing the African animation industry to market itself to the greater broadcast industry in Africa. That’s a massive spotlight.”

Two projects will be selected from each event to compete at the Grand Finale at Discomics Johannesburg (November 14-17). Participants who make it to the finale will be given an opportunity to compete at the Animation du Monde event in 2019 in France.

“Perhaps the biggest value for entrants who proceed to the Grand Finale is the Annecy/MIFA Animation du Monde Skills Programme, which includes pitching workshops, training sessions and one-on-one meetings with industry experts ahead of the Grand Finale. Last year, we saw a number of talents develop exponentially through this experience,” added Wilson.

The annual Annecy International Animation Film Festival, held in France, is one of the four international animated film festivals sponsored by the International Animated Film Association. This year’s edition will be held from June 11 to June 16.

Last year’s inaugural pan-African pitching competition saw two projects selected to represent Africa at Animation du Monde 2018: Mumue, a short film by Wendy Spinks and Clea Mallison (South Africa) and The Tree of Palimpsest, a TV series from Ingrid Agbo (Togo).

tagged in: , , , , , , , , , ,

Lagos Comic Con is back and bigger

News,

The Lagos Comic Convention (LCC) is set to take place this weekend, and organisers say the event is bigger than ever.

Ayodele Elegba

On Saturday, September 15, the seventh edition of the LCC will be hosted at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Popularly known as Africa’s biggest geek and pop culture event, the annual convention will be attended by over a thousand guests, exhibitors and buyers.

The one-day event features a number of activities, from master classes to pitches and costume (cosplay) competitions, as well as exhibitions and networking opportunities.

This year’s convention focuses on the theme; Aspire, Dream, Prosper. Attendance is free but one must register to have access to the various master classes from different sectors of the creative industry.

“Being the seventh edition this year, we want to give every attendee the experience of a lifetime. The fun will be seven times bigger. At the end of the event all who came will leave without a doubt they were in truly the biggest gathering of geeks and pop culture fans in Africa,” said LCC founder Ayodele Elegba.

Other aspects of the event include: Nollycon (a film plenary), Comiccon (for artists, animators, illustrators to showcase their projects), Gamezone (for gaming enthusiasts), Rendacon (plenary and seminars discussing the business of comics) and Bookicon (access to author signings and publishing workshops).

Kids aged between six and 12 also get a chance to learn about animation and illustration at dedicated workshops at the Kids Zone.

Speakers include: Niyi Akinmolayan, Mbuotidem Johnson, Osas Asemota, Toke Makinwa, Juliana Oloyede and Jeanne Blasberg. Click here to purchase tickets for the master classes and Kids Zone.

tagged in: ,