The fourth Kunjanimation Film Festival will be held from 26 to 30 November, 2014, at the Labia, Cape Town. Curated by Animation SA, the annual event presents some of the world’s top animated feature films, including the best of French animation. This year, it is also introducing a series of workshops with dynamic leaders in the local industry and icons of the comic and graphic novel fields, to develop South African talent.
In addition, a French animation delegation will be in Cape Town as part of the festival and the ongoing relationship between the South African and French animation industries. The delegation includes: Marie Soufflot, from Imaginove Animation Cluster, Véronique Encrenaz from the Annecy International Animated Film Market (MIFA), and Alice Riviere, from Emile Cohl Animation School, as well as other animation producers.
The Pop the Culture workshops will take place at the Animation School in Woodstock, and hosts will include the likes of author Lauren Beukes; director of Khumba Anthony Silverston of Triggerfish Animation Studios; Ricco Schacherl of Madam & Eve, and Richard Morgan Grenville of Strika Entertainment. There will also be a two-day master class with Justine Bannister from Just B in France about international strategy and talking about creating a brand and integrated marketing thinking.
“Kunjanimaton is a rare chance to see some of the world’s leading animated films,” said Festival Director Dianne Makings in a statement. “The festival has not only provided access to these films, but has successfully created a platform for the development of the art and business of South African animation. This year we have taken that a step further, in our partnership with Pop the Culture, which will be hosting ground-breaking training workshops for the local industry.”
“Pop the Culture is a content hub and talent incubator. We want to help build and promote the South African animation and visual arts sector from the ground up, using new media platforms and plugging into cutting-edge technology,” said Wendy Spinks, co-founder of Pop the Culture. “These workshops are an incredible opportunity for students and professionals to engage with and learn from some of the best leaders in the industry. We are also delighted to be bringing global expertise to SA’s doorstep with Justine Bannister’s master class.”
The five films to be screened this year tell captivating stories of love and fury; heartless kings; prophesying frogs and, for the younger viewers, battles and friendships between ladybird and ants.
The films are: Miniscule, Rio 2096, Le Roi et l’Oiseau (The King and the Mockingbird), La Prophétie des Grenouilles (Raining Cats and Frogs) and Mia et le Migou (Mia and the Migoo)
All the foreign language films are subtitled and suitable for all ages.