Technology Ministry to Stage 2-Day Animation Competition in June

The Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, will host an animation festival in June, which will provide an opportunity for local animators to showcase their innovations and make international links.

State Minister at the Ministry, Hon. Julian Robinson, made the disclosure on Sunday, May 19, while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the four-day International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) conference at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.

The event, dubbed “Kingstoon” will be held from June 20 to 21 at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge, University of the West Indies (UWI) campus.

The two-day festival will bring together, international leaders in the animation industry, international and local universities, Jamaican professionals, and visual arts students and practitioners.

It will present opportunities in the industry, while also offering young Jamaicans the chance to develop basic skills through a series of workshops.

Representatives of international animation studios and professionals, who are actively looking for new talent, will be on hand to see the creative work of Jamaican animators, including university students.

“We believe that animation is an area which is untapped, and the potential is vast, but many people don’t know what the potential is,” Mr. Robinson said.

“We have people, who graduate from some of our colleges that specialise in this area that we can pool and use to attract international investment. We are going to build on the creativity that exists here,” he stated.

Contact: Garfield L. Angus