Registrations for the Animation Incubator: The largest community of teenagers dedicated to animation and digital art

4 years ago, Animest launched the Animation Incubator – the program that encouraged high school students from Romania and the Republic of Moldova to put their imaginations in motion. Hundreds of teenagers have enjoyed, over time, the chance to take their first steps in the world of animated film, and some of them got to see their films projected on the big screen at the International Animation Film Festival Animator Today, the Animation Incubator is the largest Teen Community dedicated to animation and digital art.

The workshop dedicated to high school students turned into Animate the Festival, a 5-day workshop supported by professionals in the field. Interested high school students can register for free participation until September 12. Until then, young people who are passionate about film criticism can apply for a place in the Animest Teen Jury, which will this year designate the winner of the Teen Award in the international feature film competition. Details and registrations at: incubatoruldeanimatie.ro.

“Spending time with the teenagers who attended the workshop over time, I realized how much they would benefit from a community to belong to and create in throughout the year. We built the Animation Incubator Community together with the most talented and creative young people who wanted to join us in this joint mission. Here they form friendships, give each other advice and artistic help and grow together. We encourage collaboration and spontaneous creativity, supporting members to adopt interdisciplinary methods in their work. We want to present new technologies and digital art in ways accessible to any teenager, regardless of background. I am incredibly proud to have contributed and to be a part of it. Everyone who joined us inspires me every day through their work, and I think the world would be a better place if we all had the opportunity to live such experiences”, emphasizes Kar Bălan, coordinator of the Animation Incubator.

A safe, diverse and inclusive space built with the purpose of non-formal animation and digital arts education, the Animation Incubator continues Animest’s mission to encourage new voices in the domestic industry by providing resources and facilitating connections. Through a variety of workshops and educational activities, the community creates a training context that teenagers from Romania and the Republic of Moldova can access for free, by joining Discord server  which includes content about animation and art, but also information about  registration calls over the year.

Animate the Festival!

The intensive animation workshop dedicated to high school students has opened its call for applications, valid until September 12. Teenagers from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, passionate about illustration and drawing, who want to take their first steps in the world of animation, can apply for free participation in the Animate the Festival workshop. Under the guidance of Laura Pop and Cristian Radu – multi-award winning animators, the selected participants will work on their first animated film, which will be screened at the closing Gala of the 18th edition of Animest.

The workshop will be held in Bucharest, with free access, between October 8-15, and all the costs of participation, accommodation, meals, as well as all the necessary technical equipment, will be provided by the Animation Incubator. In addition, all selected teenagers will receive a festival pass that will grant them access to all Animest.18 screenings.

Each application must include 3 works in different styles (can be in the same technique) in .pdf format, and an animated gif with the MOONWALK theme, in .gif or video format. Artists who participated in previous editions can apply as seniors, applying with 3 works in different styles (can be in the same technique) in .pdf format, and with an essay answering the questions:

• How do you imagine that you can support those who are at the beginning of their journey in animation (the juniors of the workshop)?
• What is your biggest takeaway from the in-person workshop you attended and what would you do differently if you could turn back time?
• What does the Animation Incubator Community mean to you and what motivates you to be part of it?

Details here.

Teen Jury @ Animest

Animest.18 also brings new opportunities for high school students interested in developing their skills in film criticism. Until September 12, they can apply to be part of the Teen Jury, which will award this year’s Teen Prize in the international feature film competition.

The selected jury will be guided by Ligia Soare, audiovisual translator and festival organizer. The project will start with a workshop supported by Ligia, during which the participants will learn the basics of film analysis. The selection of participants will be made following an application, which consists of two questions:

• Why do you think you’re the right person for the @Animest Teen Jury?
• Choose a movie that you liked and give reasons why other people should see it. You can refer to theme, characters, social impact, artwork, visuals, etc.

Details here.