At the 4th edition of the Sisterhood of Young Animation Auteurs (SYAA), Animest continues its partnership with the Animation Festival Network and opens the mentorship program dedicated to female animation filmmakers to two more countries. In addition to Romania, the Republic of Moldova, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia, in 2024 SYAA will offer development opportunities to artists from Bulgaria and Ukraine.
Until May 15, female creators from the region who are working on their own animated short film project, as the main author (director, screenplay), are invited to register for free participation in the program by filling out the form available online, in English: syaa.animest.ro. The activities within the program are carried out in Bucharest.
An initiative through which the Animest International Animation Film Festival encourages and promotes female talent in the field, SYAA consists of an intensive program of work that facilitates the meeting of the new generation of artists with the professionals of the European animation film industry.
For 7 days, the mentors will offer the 10 selected participants support in the development of scripts, as well as professional advice regarding the directorial concept, artistic vision and production itself, as well as behind-the-scenes secrets of this field, sharing their own experiences. Creating a community of women to act as a support network against discrimination in the industry is among the main goals of SYAA. The program consists of a series of lectures, presentations, practical workshops, 1:1 meetings, screenings and networking events, during which the participants can develop their animated short film projects. They also learn how to build their art portfolios, what tools to use in developing an idea, what the levers are for developing an independent art career, and what the process of starting an animation studio can look like.
Eligibility criteria for enrolling in the program do not include an age limit, and participation by female students is more than encouraged. The program will be held in English, the language in which the necessary materials for registration will also need to be written. Following their analysis, 10 creators will be invited to the workshop organized in Bucharest between August 17-23, 2024.
Among the professionals from the industry who will join the program again this year as mentors is screenwriter Raluca Mănescu, the author of some scenarios that were the basis of films presented or awarded at international film festivals such as Karlovy Vary IFF, Cottbus IFF, Sarajevo IFF, Thessaloniki IFF, Namur IFF. For her part, Polish filmmaker Katarzyna Gromadzka accepted the challenge of returning to the program as a SYAA mentor for the fourth consecutive year. Co-founder of Momakin and co-organizer of Animarkt Stop Motion Forum, Katarzyna is an executive producer and coordinator of stop-motion artists, collaborates with producers from all over the world, is a member of the Association of Polish Filmmakers (SFP) and the Association of Polish Animation Producers ( SPPA).
“Over the past year we have reunited with SYAA alumni at international workshops, project competitions and other landmark film events, which shows us that our goal has already been partially achieved. The fact that these wonderful artists have found the strength to continue their artistic journey as filmmakers (and that they have performed exemplary on every occasion!), is the greatest satisfaction for us,” emphasizes Helga Fodorean, Head of Studies.