June & December 2024
This year we are organizing the third edition of Rise & Shine Animation pitching Lab. We have selected 11 talented animation filmmakers, to attend a two-part animated project development event at the World Festival of Animated Film – Animafest Zagreb and Animateka International Animated Film Festival.
Event format
Eleven selected projects will be invited to Animafest Zagreb from 5 – 8 June 2024, where they will receive a programme of lectures, workshops, individual and group sessions with experienced film professionals in the field of animation.During the whole progamme they will be led by experienced scriptwriter and pitching mentor Anna Vašova.
A special focus will be on the story of the project, which they will work on with mentors – director and screenwriter Michael Dudok de Wit and screenwriter, director and producer Pedro Rivero.
This edition is also bringing a new addition, creative producer Jelena Popović from National Film Board of Canada.
The second part will take place at Animateka on 4 – 8 December 2024, where selected teams will receive lessons focused on pitching preparations and improving their presentation skills. On-site in Ljubljana, the selected teams will also participate in the pitching presentation in front of the international animation audiences and a selected panel of animation professionals.
They will be competing for various awards.
Rise & Shine Audience Award
Award for the audience’s favorite project. It entails invitation to the next edition of Animafest Zagreb and Animateka festivals in 2025, with festival badge and accommodation.
CEE Animation Forum Award
Direct selection to the Short Film pitching category at the next edition of the CEE Animation Forum in 2025.
Rise & Shine Film Centre of Montenegro Award
A monetary award in the amount of €1,500 is awarded and sponsored by the Film Centre of Montenegro.
Short Film Market Clermont-Ferrand Attendance
Five projects will receive the opportunity to attend the next edition of the market in 2025.
Rise & Shine 2024, Animation pitching Lab is open for first and second short films in development.
Maximum length 20 minutes; all stages of development except concept stage.
Skills & Networking
All teams will benefit from having access to renowned experts to help them gain the skills and knowledge to successfully develop and present their work. During the first part at Animafest Zagreb, they will be able to attend expert lectures and individual consultations focusing on story development, and during the second part at Animateka, the participants will be trained in pitching and presentation and participate in the pitching presentaton. In addition, the filmmakers will have the opportunity to introduce their project to a wider international professional audience connected to both festivals.
Call for submissions for 2024 is CLOSED.
