From June 14-19, the future of global animation will be at the fingertips of producers, distributors, broadcasters and financers during Annecy’s Mifa Pitches. Those gathered virtually or physically have the opportunity to discover exciting new content in development and organize meetings with the creators, online or in person.
Organizers note that far from being slowed down by the ongoing pandemic, animation creation is still very robust and eclectic, with 433 projects registered for the market.
The Mifa Pitches 2021 program includes 36 unique projects displaying uninhibited creation, driven by diverse narrative and beauty, together with multiculturalism. This surprising Official Selection represents a variety of creative visions from around the world: France, Argentina, Brazil, Ireland, Greece, Latvia, Canada, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Iran, U.S.A., Madagascar, Germany, Taiwan, Belgium, and more.
The full selection can be found online, and video pitches created by project leads will be available to watch at the opening of the Mifa market. Annecy’s Meet the Talents feature enables interested parties to easily set up meetings (accessible with Mifa accreditation; online video library open to accredited attendees until Dec. 31, 2021).
This year’s Mifa Pitches include seven Digital Experiences, eight Feature Films, 11 Short Films and 10 TV Series/Specials. All projects are competing for Partners Prizes.
Launched in 2020, the Comics Mifa Pitches puts comic books (free of rights) in the spotlight, whose graphic universes may fire up future animation films! A regional collaboration with the Lyon BD Festival, together with the participation of four international festivals: Québec BD (Canada), The Lakes International Comic Art Festival (United Kingdom), the Foire du Livre de Bruxelles (Belgium), and the CairoComix Festival (Egypt). Animation film producers are invited to ‘think outside the box’ and check out video pitches for five selected works and network with title affiliates through the Meet the Publishers feature. See the selected projects here.
Attendees are also invited to gain a different perspective on their territory in the Partners Pitches — presenting more than 70 projects divided into 14 sessions, according to geographical zone. Participants are: Africa (Nigeria, South Africa, Africa2020 Season and Digital Lab Africa), Middle East (Israel), Latin America (La Liga de la Animación Iberoamericana in Focus, Animation! Special Mentoring Program for Women Animation Directors, Chile, Columbia), Asia (South East Asia, Taiwan, Japan) and Europe (CEE Animation Forum). Some of these Partners Pitches were assisted by Mifa experts as part of the International Mifa Campus, a support program for creation. Full program available soon.