NEWSLETTER
JUNE-OCTOBER 2018
ISSUE 01
EDITORIAL ASIF A HELLAS - HELL
ENIC ANIMATION ASSOCIATION
ASIFA HELLAS - Hellenic Animation Association was founded in 2008 with a view to promote the art of animation in Greece. In 2015, the association became a non-for-profit one and, later on, in 2016, launched the campaign #GreekAnimationRocks, aimed at showcasing the work of Greek animators and promoting Greek animation abroad. Today ASIFA HELLAS has a vibrant community and is present at numerous animation events worldwide, including international animation festivals and fora. With this newsletter, we aim to present ASIFA HELLAS activities in Greece and abroad as well as all the news related to the -Greek and non- animation universe. We will host reports from our members along with interviews with prominent animation professionals and key-players of the Greek animation industry. In this way, we are looking forward to building a dialogue between the Greek animation community and the "makers and doers" of the Greek animation industry.
KONSTANTINOS K AOURAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In this edition, we interviewed the Deputy Minister of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Media Dr. Lefteris Kretsos on the governmental support to the Greek animation industry, Thessaloniki Animation Festival TAF Founder & Director Mr. Dimitris Savvaidis, ATHENS ANIMATION AGORA Coordinator Mrs. Marineta MAK Kritikou and CHANIARTOON International Comic Animation Festival Director Mr. Marios Ioannidis on this year’s events editions as well as ATHENS GAMES FESTIVAL Head Mrs. Elina Roinioti on the relation between video games and animation. Last but not least, we host reports on ASIFA HELLAS visits to ANNECY International Animated Film Festival 2018 (FR), LINOLEUM International Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival 2018 (UA) and the 28 th CARTOON FORUM in Toulouse (FR). Let’s #GreekAnimationRockIt!
MIFA, ANNECY 11-16 JUNE
LINOLEUM, KIE 06-09 SEPTEM
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CHANIARTOO
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14-23 SEPTEMB N ER
ASIFA HELLAS-A SIFA IRAN 2 4 SEPTEMBER
ATHENS GAME S FESTIVAL 20-21 OC TOBER
GCF, ODESSA
05 SEPTEMBER
CARTOON FOR UM, TOULOUSE 10-13 SE PTEMBER
ATHENS ANIM ATION AGORA 22-24 SEPT EMBER
ASIFA HELLAS ADMINIST RATIVE BOARD PRESIDENT VASSILIS C. KA RAMITSANIS VICE-PRESIDENT PANAGIO TIS KYRIAKOULAKOS SECRETARY ANASTASIA DIM ITRA MEMBERS MARIA ANESTO POULOU, ELENI MOURI
TAF, THESSAL ONIKI 18-21 OCTOBER
ASIFA HELLAS NEWSLE TTER ISSUE 01 JUNE-OCT OBER 2018 PUBLISHER ASIFA HELL AS | HELLENIC ANIMATION AS SOCIATION EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KONS TANTINOS KAOURAS CREATIVE ART DIRECTIO N ARISTARCHOS PAPADANIE L | SYLLIPSIS
What’s the role of the animation industry in the new digital era? Animation is about communication and narrative. Is about giving life to an inanimate character. We live in a visual world in which everybody seeks to tell a story using digital technologies, to express a feeling, to make a political statement, to use a vision and shape the future; animation can truly become a mean to that end. What’s the future of the Greek animation industry and how does the Greek State support audiovisual productions? Greek animation is alive and kicking. From the first Greek animated short film released back in 1945 to date, Greek animation has taken great steps and we have remarkable works to prove it. I believe, for example, LOVING VINCENT is an excellent example of our local talent pool. From a governmental point of view, our goal is to support their efforts and create a sustainable environment of opportunities. Our cash rebate scheme is much competitive (35% no cap) and is already available and running in Greece, waiting for ambitious and promising animated movies from all over the world. How the local animation community will be brought together with the global audiovisual industry?
LEFTERIS KRETS OS DEPUTY MINISTE R
Well, there is no magic recipe, but we act as fire fighters in multiple fronts. We provide secured funded production incentives, we recently imposed new credit lines to deal with cash flow issues, we provide generous financial incentives for the establishment of postproduction and animation studios and we are in a process of setting up the first ever venture capital for audio-visuals in Greece. Further, because of ANIMASYROS International Animation Festival + Agora thriving, we participate in relevant international fora and exhibitions as well as we recently organized our own B2B Event for animation. We are confident that we will bear the fruits of our efforts in the near future. A few words for ASIFA HELLAS and its members. ASIFA HELLAS is doing great job and the only thing I would like to say is "Keep up the good work, continue to create beautiful stories for the Greek and European animation community. Sky is the limit for animation".
GOVERNMENTA
L SUPPORT TO
THE GREEK AN
INTERVIEW
IMATION INDUS MINISTRY OF DIG TRY ITAL POLICY, TEL ECOMMUNICATIO NS AND MEDIA | GREECE
ASIFA HELLAS - ASIFA IRAN MEMOMRANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING On September 24th 2018, Vassilis C. Karamitsanis, on behalf of ASIFA HELLAS - Hellenic Animation Association, and Maryam Kashkoolinia, on behalf of ASIFA IRAN, signed a memorandum of understanding, committing to establishing and developing a bilateral cooperation with strong emphasis on the exchange of screening content, information, ideas and networking as well as coproduction possibilities between Greece and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Among the aims of this agreement are the promotion of Iranian and Greek Animation internationally, with mutually agreed actions, the development of exchanges, cooperation and transfer of good practice between the organizations, the rising of awareness about challenges of international teamwork and partnership, the provision of methodological tools for professional development and intercultural approach, the reinforcement of the quality of ongoing projects, the encouragement of a better consideration of the animated cinema and the broadening and developing of knowledge about the Greek & European Animation in Iran and Iranian Animation in Greece & Europe. In the period to come, both parties agreed to exchange trips so as to share experience and knowledge, to exchange audiovisual works, to develop online information about the art and industry in English and/or Persian and/or Greek languages, to promote events, festivals and animation artistic and industry news in websites and/or animation festival & market catalogues.
ASIFA HELLAS -
ASIFA IRAN ME M
ASIFA HELLAS ORANDUM OF U
ABROAD
NDERSTANDING
GREEK ANIMATION ROCKS @ MIFA 2018 For the second consecutive time, ASIFA HELLAS presented the Greek Animation scene to the International Marketplace of the International Film Festival of ANNECY. With double pavilion space and more delegates than the previous year, Greek Animation was well noticed by the international attendees at the Market. The following projects were presented during the Festival, both to the Greek Pavilion and to the dedicated by the organisers Videotheque Space, to enable discussions and transactions with potential partners: FEATURE FILMS: MARKOS by Thomas Künstler THE NIGHT WITH THE KALIKATZAROUS by Spyros Siakas WALLIE WALNUT AND THE CHRISTMAS CAKE by Tassos Ioannides TAG! YOU’RE IT by Mikaela Kakaridi Deligianni
PANAGIOTIS KYR IAKOULAKOS ASIFA HELLAS VIC E-PRESIDENT
TV PROJECTS: MENTOR by Angelos Rouvas FUTURE POSTMAN by Sergio Kotsovoulos & Dimitris Savvaidis both projects selected at CARTOON FORUM 2018 THE TREASURE AT THE ROOTS OF THE TREE OF EARTH by Vaggelis Karadimas SAVE YOUR PLANET by Tassos Kotsiras SAVE YOUR PLANET-BABY by Tassos Kotsiras MONTHS by Anastasia Dimitra MYTHLAND by Kleitos Kyriakides SHORT FILMS: MAN WANTED by Irida Zhonga KARIM & HERCULES by Taxiarchis Deligiannis & Vassilis Tsiouvaras SAME LIFE DIFFERENT DAY by Konstantinos Economou THE ANIMATED STORY OF BREAKING BAD by Antonis Smirniotis INTERACTIVE PROJECTS: A LETTER - A STORY by Aristarchos Papadaniel & Sophia Madouvalou TELIS flipbooks, Pocket Cinema series by Aristarchos Papadaniel Two #GreekAnimationRocks events were organised in the beginning and at the end of the Market: EMILE AWARDS 2018: EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW..., in presence of the Greek Secretary General for the Information and Communication Dr. Lefteris Kretsos, and #GREEKANIMATIONROCKS RECEPTION, in presence of the members of ASIFA HELLAS - #GreekAnimationRocks Delegation.
ASIFA HELLAS MIFA - ANNECY 2 018
ASIFA HELLAS
@ANNECY #GR | FRANCE
ABROAD
EEKANIMATION
ROCKS
ANNECY 2018 poster illustration: PASCAL BLANCHET
ASIFA HELLAS MIFA - ANNECY 2 018
ASIFA HELLAS
@ANNECY #GR | FRANCE
ABROAD
EEKANIMATION
ROCKS
ANNECY 2018 poster illustration: PASCAL BLANCHET
ASIFA HELLAS @ UKRAINE ASIFA HELLAS traveled around Ukraine; new friendships and collaborations were built. In its suitcase, ASIFA HELLAS packed the GREEK ANIMATION RETROSPECTIVE, a collection of contemporary Greek animation films. On September 5th, Anastasia Dimitra, member of the Governing Council of ASIFA HELLAS, presented at the Greek Cultural Foundation of Odessa the GREEK ANIMATION RETROSPECTIVE on the occasion of 70 YEARS OF GREEK ANIMATION. The theatre was full and the audience exited. Mrs. Dimitra introduced this era of Greek animation to the Ukrainian audience and encouraged the Ukrainian animation studios to collaborate with relevant Greek ones. The local press fully covered the event.
ANASTASIA DIMIT RA ASIFA HELLAS BO ARD MEMBER
ASIFA HELLAS
After Odessa, the delegation of ASIFA HELLAS moved to Kiev and participated at the LINOLEUM International Animation and Media Art Festival 2018. There, on September 8th, Anastasia Dimitra presented in front of the festival’s audience the contemporary Greek animation scene and stressed that the new generation of animation artists has created cartoons that have been internationally recognized. Later the same day, Irida Zhonga, ASIFA HELLAS member and animator, gave a lecture on how to produce and direct a short animation film. The audience was enthusiastic and participated at both events.
ASIFA HELLAS
ABROAD
@UKRAINE #GR EEKANIMATION ODESSA - LINOLE ROCKS UM 2018, KIEV | U K RAINE
LINOLEUM 2018 poster illustration: VARVARA PEREKREST
FUTURE POSTMAN @ CARTOON FORUM 2018
SERGIO KOTSOVO ULOS "FUTURE POSTMA N" DIRECTOR
From 11 to 14 September we were honoured to pitch FUTURE POSTMAN at the CARTOON FORUM 2018 that took place in the French city of Toulouse. The new animated series is directed by Sergio Kotsovoulos in a concept and production of Dimitris Savvaidis and ADDart. The 28th CARTOON FORUM began with a welcome dinner for 950 professionals from 40 countries. During the Forum, 82 new European animation films from 23 countries were presented in an event with over 250 worldwide investors. The screening of trailers in front of all participants during the traditional breakfast "Croissant & Coffee Shows" gave a taste of the projects and encouraged people to attend the pitching sessions. The Greek and Cypriot presence (FUTURE POSTMAN, MENTOR, MAGIC MOLLY), for the first time in a CARTOON FORUM, after 20 years, proved in a worldwide audience that we are on the right track and on par with the global production values. Our thirty-five-minute presentation on the crowded Purple Room ended with a standing ovation by our viewers and led us to new strategic partnerships and meetings. I was informed on day one from colleagues around Europe, that CARTOON FORUM is not over until you are in the last bus leaving the closing party, with the Italians singing on the back seats. And so it happened, only this time Italians sang together with Croats and Greeks, who were all brought together by animation. During CARTOON FORUM 2018 we also made appointments with future partners and investors for MIP at Cannes. As for the result of said meetings you will be informed on a later date.
FUTURE POSTM
ASIFA HELLAS
AN @ CARTOON
CARTOON FORUM 2018, TOULOUSE | FRANCE
ABROAD
FORUM 2018
FUTURE POSTMAN poster illustration: CHRISTOS PAPANDREOPOULOS
DIMITRIS SAVVAID IS "FUTURE POSTMA N" PRODU CER
What did the 4 th Thessaloniki Animation Festival [TAF] program include? Apart from the screenings program, what else did the festival’s program include? TAF returned for its 4th consecutive year and this year it expanded on every aspect and presented a competitive section of animated film screenings, masterclasses, workshops, games and international collaborations in the form of Special Screenings, Tributes, full feature films and much more.
DIMITRIS SAVVAID IS TAF FOUNDER & D IRECTOR
This year, we collaborated with the Best of KAFF 2017 from the trienal Kecskemét Animation Film Festival and LINOLEUM International Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival from Hungary and Ukraine respectively. TAF had the pleasure to present ΤΗΕ OX which was a full feature film by Giorgos Nikopoulos, LUZ ANIMA AÇAO/BETWEEN FRAMES - THE ART OF BRAZILIAN ANIMATION and STORYTELLING WITHOUT BORDERS by ADDArt. It also presented THE UNIVERSE OF MAVKA, an exclusive presentation of IP content by Oleksandra Lutsenko from Animagrad Animation Studio which is set to hit the theaters in 2020. A Human Rights animated tribute with the support of the HeinrichBöll-Stiftung Foundation GR, including selected animated short films, highlighted human rights issues through the art of animation. Additionally, we were proud to announce the world premiere of GAIA - WORLD IN (STOP) MOTION series, whose episode RUINED PICTURE was filmed at TAF last year with the aid of participants in a two-day stop motion workshop. Last but not least, this year, for the first time in its history, TAF hosted a special animation unit on the environment titled ANIMEARTH | ANIMATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, as part of the 4 th Thessaloniki Animation Festival. This tribute was implemented with the support of the Operational Program "Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning" and was co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund) and Greek National Funds. What are the festival’s top priorities content-wise and industry-wise? The festival’s top priorities, content-wise, is to raise awareness on social issues such as LGBTQ rights, human rights and the environment as well as to focus on every possible positive effect animation can have as an instructive medium. We as TAF strongly believe that the strongest messages can be found in the most obscure films. Animation can be a captivating medium so as not only to help us avoid repeating the same mistakes but also remind us of what makes us human. Additionally, we aim to promote Greek animators and encourage them to pursue their careers by inviting accomplished personalities from as many fields related to animation as possible. As we have seen in the past few years, the animation scene is certainly booming and TAF wishes to be a positive factor towards it. Our guests are renowned stop motion animators, composers, professors, storyboard artists, creators, animation journalists and more.
THE 4 th THESSA
LONIKI ANIMAT I
TAF 2018, THESS ALONIKI | GREECE
INTERVIEW ON FESTIVAL [
TAF]
Does the festival interact with the city of Thessaloniki and in which way? How much has the local animation community evolved during the past years? The festival takes place in the heart of our beautiful city and you can see that by our choice of venues, the historical central cinema MAKEDONIKON and the Municipal Central Library of Thessaloniki. Cinema MAKEDONIKON operates for more than 30 years and from the moment it opened, it has presented the best independent movies from small countries, always searching for quality content. It was a perfect match for TAF since we aim at showcasing the best of each year’s animated films produced and directed by professionals, amateur and students alike. The Municipal Central Library, which happens to be one of the most beautiful and distinctive buildings of the city of Thessaloniki, was founded back in 1932 and has been a beacon of education ever since. Through the years, it has introduced various events, conferences, exhibitions and now TAF!
The local animation community has expanded tremendously these past few years as we see more conferences, events and festivals embracing animation as a form of art. We are very delighted that we see more and more young creators popping up and offering a new perspective and fresh ideas. We have seen a great rise in independent creators producing their own animations and gaining the attention of international production houses, which form alliances between countries which have never collaborated before.
What are the expectations for the future editions of the festival? TAF has become the second biggest animation festival in Greece within a very short time and our wish is to grow bigger every year and include more art forms, introduce as many artists as possible and encourage our audience to love the art of animation as much as we do.
TAF 2018 photos: NOPI RANTI
Our hope is to familiarize our audience with the art of animation, comics and communication through various art mediums.
TAF 2018 poster illustration: KLAIRI KOSTOGLOU
We want to give a platform to young animators to showcase their work and adopt tips and tricks from experienced instructors, in order to improve their skills and enter the international competitive scene. We have seen the development of some incredible projects and we look forward to the bright future that lies ahead.
How did CHANIARTOON International Comic & Animation Festival begin and which was your initial motivation? It all started in 2012 when one of the most active schools in Chania, the 2nd High School of Chania, and its manager Antonis Athanasakis, made an excellent exhibition, a tribute to 6 cartoonists from Chania. Elias Skoulas, Spyros Ornerakis, Andreas Petroulakis, Grigoris Niolis, Vangelis Eleftherios and Babis Kiagias decorated the school with their cartoons. After the exhibition, a series of meetings with the illustrator Nikos Repoulios were held for students of the school, followed by courses by Spyros Ornerakis and Marios Ioannidis in 2013. The meetings continued, while beside young pupils, a group of adults was also interested. So "+anima" team was formed. An amateur group with no experience and relevant knowledge began to learn animation and performed weekly meetings to create and express through this art. This is how we came to 2014, where in the area of the 2nd High School of Chania, an event was held in which the first short film of the "+anima" team was presented. The event was accompanied by the talented Giorgos Pogiantzis with a special stand-up performance.
MARIOS IOANNID IS FESTIVAL DIRECTO R
And while the company of "+anima" continued its films, in 2014, the "Sketch Workshop of Chania" was being created, which was full of people participating in the sketch, comic and cartoon lessons. While the lessons of the workshop continued, there were a series of exhibitions where workshop’s students and "+anima" films were presented. A new group of young and old people, sketched, made cartoons, comics, and small animation films. At the same time many awards were coming. In 2015, the 2nd High School received the 1st prize in a nationwide competition, while in 2017 it received two awards at film festivals in England (3rd Best Film, but also 3rd Best Film from a Children’s Jury). At the same time, the "+anima" films were officially selected at many festivals and screened around the world. This is how we reach 2017. The"Sketch Workshop of Chania", with the "+anima" team, decided to take the annual exhibition one step further. Five years after our beginning, we decided to host in our place, Chania, the creations of other artists. So the first CHANIARTOON International Comic & Animation Festival was born.
CHANIARTOON
CHANIARTOON 20 18, CHANIA
| GREECE
INTERVIEW
: A FESTIVAL IS
BORN
What is the relation between Comic & Animation? How do they balance in the festival’s program? Comic and animation share many common elements, like the idea, the script, the storyboard. Above all, both have very strong the element of illustration. Either it is static or it is moving, the basis of the illustration style is the same in both media. Many artists, whose films are screened in our festival, are both comic artists and animators. I think this is because if you have passion for drawing, after you draw for example a character, you look forward to see him walking and running and dancing! In our festival, we have a comic exhibition of 35 Greek artists and screenings of over 250 short animation films. But in the exhibition area you can also see stop-motion props and puppets. At the foyer, visitors have the opportunity to read comics, see the illustrations, while at the screening room they watch the creation of the director-animators. Additionally, the workshops that were held during the festival, specialized either in animation or comic, and one of them, a workshop for character design included both animation and illustration. I think visitors loves this combination of static and moving illustration, as we do!
We want the festival to have the taste of Chania. This is why our logo is the famous lighthouse of the city (with a pencil combination). This year’s poster, was from an actual photo of the old harbor, that was mixed with some cute illustrated monsters. The TV-spot was of the same approach. Our vision is the festival to be all over the city. The first year the festival was held in two places. Last year it was held in five places. As the visitor was going from one festival area to the other, he was also wandering around the city; it was like a cultural sightseeing. Now we plan to expand the festival to even more places and make the walk around the city longer and more interesting. But apart from the places where the festival holds its events, we want to interact creatively with local culture. In our plans is a cooperation, that has already started, with the Public Library of Chania, for various events that will take place all over the year as well as with local museums that are a great source of ideas for workshops, scripts, interactive exhibits etc.
CHANIARTOON 2018 poster illustration: MARIOS IOANNIDIS
How does the festival interact with the city of Chania?
Which were the priorities of the ATHENS GAMES FESTIVAL 2018? Our top priorities are to boost the local game community, promote the Greek Video Game and why not, to claim a position as a country that produces beautiful games, like Germany, the UK and France do. ATHENS GAMES FESTIVAL, aspires to become an annual meeting point for all the professionals working in the industry, while at the same time, seeks to make a statement about games as a social, cultural and educational artefact and as an aesthetic interactive experience. How was animation included in the festival’s sessions and how is it connected with video games?
ELINA ROINIOTI AGF ORGANISER
We have an excellent collaboration with ASIFA HELLAS and ANIMASYROS International Festival + Agora. Our common goal is to create a bridge of communication between two branches of the audiovisual industry that traditionally work together, but sometimes fail to do so: animation and game developers. This year we hosted a panel discussion on animators working in the game industry, powered by ASIFA HELLAS. The aim was to initiate a dialogue among professionals, which from our point of view, can only bring forth magnificent creative results.
AGF: VIDEO GA
ATHENS GAMES F ESTIVAL 2018 | G REECE
INTERVIEW
MES AND ANIM
ATION
ATHENS GAMES FESTIVAL 2018 poster illustration: ANOTHER CIRCUS
Minister of Digit
al Policy, Teleco mmunications and Media, Niko visited the stan s Pappas, and D d of ASIFA HELL eputy Minister, AS at the ATHEN Lefteris Kretso S GAMES FESTIV s, AL 2018.
What was the 1st ATHENS ANIMATION AGORA about and in which way(s) did it benefit the local animation community and industry? ATHENS ANIMATION AGORA’s goal is to create a regional interest in animated projects and a high-level exchange that will not only be of a cultural nature but will also have a commercial impact because the Greek talent is already recognized internationally and we want to export it as much as possible. It is mainly a "market access platform". It tries to attract new partners, producers, broadcasters, and film distributors. It also tries to find ways of financing both short animated films and TV series. Lastly, it seeks to increase professional experience, present the abilities of filmmakers and producers, and improve the quality of content and the visibility of projects.
MARINETA MAK K RITIKOU 3A COORDINATOR
Another important objective is to improve the practical skills of animated film scriptwriters and producers and to seek and offer connections among film professionals, scriptwriters and television producers, academics and distributors from different countries. We are very much aware that without high-quality projects, high-quality scriptwriters and experienced film and television professionals, and without their cooperation and intercommunication, it will not be possible to build an industry that has tremendous potential in Greece. What do you expect from the 2nd ATHENS ANIMATION AGORA ? The first edition brought together 45 professionals from 15 countries and worked with them to build a stronger and more knowledgeable regional network of co-producers, artists, planners, marketers, sellers and financing partners. For ATHENS ANIMATION AGORA 2019 we enforce the pitching competition for proposals of animated projects in development in two categories: Short Films (single films less than 20 min.), Series/TV Specials (series of any format and single films over 20 min.) and Feature Films, and we plan to create more workshops including meetings, discussions, pitching, lobbying efforts and high-quality, high-end training to enable and inspire regional and international companies to work together with more resources. * The first ATHENS ANIMATION AGORA was organized within the ONASSIS CULTURE Program 2018-2019. It was an initiative of ANIMASYROS International Animation Festival + Agora and the Secretariat General for Media and Communication of the Ministry of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Media, and was implemented with the support of the French Embassy in Athens, the French-Hellenic Embassy Innovation Network MAZINNOV and the European Commission Delegation in Greece.
3A: A NEW MAR
KETPLACE FOR
INTERVIEW
ANIMATION IN ATHENS ANIMAT GREECE ION AGORA 2018 | GREECE
ATHENS ANIMATION AGORA 2018 photos: ALEXANDROS PETRAKIS | INBULB
ANNECY 2018 poster illustration: PASCAL BLANCHET