Submit Entries by June 16 for Animation Competition

Young tech savvy Jamaicans and those interested in making their mark in the world of animation are being invited to submit entries to the upcoming ‘KINGSTOON’ animation festival competition by June 16.

The entry forms are available at www.facebook.com/kingstoonfest and they must be filled out and submitted to info@kingstoonfest.com.

The two-day event will be held from June 20 to 21 at the Mona Visitors Lodge, University of the West Indies campus, under the theme: ‘Animating Jamaica’s Creativity’.

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It is being hosted by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining and with the World Bank, in collaboration with the Government of Canada.

Speaking at a recent JIS Think Tank, Senior Social Development Specialist at the World Bank, Fabio Pittaluga, informed that the animators will compete in four categories: script development; character development; storyboard development; and short anime production.

He said that winners in the various categories stand to win significant prizes, including scholarships to overseas universities, internships with local companies such as LIME, FLOW, and GSW Animation; software licences, as well as summer programmes at Columbus Ohio University in the United States.

Mr. Pittaluga, who has responsibility for the bank’s Latin America and Caribbean division said that in addition to prizes, the animators will have the opportunity to expose their talent to players in the industry.

He said that the finalists will be given an opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, consisting of renowned local and international animators, with the hope of having their pitch selected for development.

“This is important, as we are not just equipping these young people with the skills to prepare the material but also the way in which they present them, making a case as to why their idea is a product that will sell or will make it into the market,” he stated.

Interested persons are encouraged to visit the www.facebook.com/kingstoonfest to register for the festival, as well as entry information for the animation competition.

Contact: Sanasha Pearson