Entries Invited For KingstOOn Animation Competitions

Interested candidates are invited to submit entries for the competitions of the virtual staging of the KingstOOn Animation Conference and Film Festival (KingstOOn 4), slated from April 21 to 25, 2021.

The event is organised by the Government of Jamaica through the Youth Employment in Digital and Animation Industries (YEDAI), in collaboration with the World Bank.

“We are currently accepting entries for the competitions under KingstOOn 4; however, registration for the event opens in February next year. The theme is ‘Celebrating Diversity in Animation’,” Project Manager of YEDAI, Margery Newland, told JIS News.

The competition categories include KingstOOn Emerging Animated Content Competition (KEACC), KingstOOn International Animated Film Competition (KIAFC) and the KingstOOn Pitch Bootcamp and Competition, where the four finalists from KEACC’s ‘Best Concept Category’ will pitch those ideas to a live audience of industry experts.

“The contests encourage submissions that reflect the characters, stories, cultures, and values of under-represented communities in screen-based industries, including stories created by people of African descent,” Ms. Newland shared.

She noted that last year, KingstOOn attracted close to 2,000 submissions from approximately 105 countries for the competitions.

“The objectives of KingstOOn are to provide Jamaican and Caribbean animators with ways to continue learning about the global industry; create opportunities for producers to generate profits from their projects; and showcase diverse content, including film and animation products from around the world,” Ms. Newland shared.

Interested persons may view the competition rules and make their submissions at https://kingstoonfest.com/general-rules/. The deadline for submission is February 22, 2021.

“KingstOOn continues to catalyse the efforts being made in the public, private and multilateral sectors to attract the attention of the international community to the strides that have been made in Jamaica’s animation industry and the untapped potential of our local creatives,” Ms. Newland said.