Mentoring Program for Animation! Creators: Third edition on the way!
During the month of January began the virtual meetings that officially kicked off the Mentoring Program for Female Creators Animation! III edition. These meetings, created with the objective of generating actions that aim at a more equitable and diverse animation industry, allow the directors of the projects to access training given by 3 specialists focused on production, script and pitch:
Carlos Bleycher, Content Manager at The Guy Who Writes Content Development Studio, is a screenwriter, content consultant and script editor with 16 years of experience. He specializes in animation and children’s content. His career includes “Paper Port”, “Pocoyo”, “Filly Funtasia” and “Horatio and the Plasticines”. He also developed content for Disney XD, Cartoon Network LA, Discovery Kids and NatGeo Kids.
During the program, he will work individually with each of the directors and their scriptwriters focusing on Storyline.
Irene Weibel, an independent producer and consultant, is an Emmy-winning creator and executive producer committed to developing content for kids and families. She was Studio Director at Nelvana, part of Corus Entertainment in Toronto and co-founder of the company Sutikki (co-producer of “Moon and Me”). She worked for the TV series “Hotel Transylvania” (Disney) and “Little Charmers and Mysticons” (Nickelodeon). She is currently an independent producer, holding the role of executive producer for the series “Summer Memories” (Wild Brain/Family) and consults on creative production, licensing and distribution with select partners and studios such as Portfolio Entertainment and Lion Forge Animation.
During the program, she will work individually with each of the directors and their producers focusing on production.
Eloa Sahiry, a pitch coach and trainer, worked in production and post-production studios for 17 years and has gradually become a studio manager. In parallel she worked as a dancer and considers dance as an important toolbox for pitches: breath management, rhythms, depth, presence, energy. She was trainer and coach for top executives of the Airbus Group, ATR and the Toulouse Hospital. She also works for MIFA as an expert pitch coach and has coached some producers for the Cartoon Forum.
During the program, she will work individually with each of the program directors focusing on the brief synopsis of the script for a Pitch.
In order to not only strengthen the projects, but also improve their communication skills when presenting them in international markets and events, the directors will have the opportunity to attend masterclasses given by renowned specialists and meet with leading industry professionals who will give them feedback on their projects.
Also, thanks to the alliance with the Quirino Awards for Ibero-American Animation, the 5 projects will obtain accreditations (including meals) to participate in the Quirino Awards Co-Production Forum in May 2023.
Through the support of the Annecy International Animation Festival and its MIFA market, one of the projects will be chosen to be presented at MIFA 2023 in the special section FOCUS LA LIGA.
To close the program, the directors will make their pitch in person at Ventana Sur 2023; there LatinX in Animation (sponsor of the program) will award a prize for one of the projects. The prize consists of a ticket, accommodation and accreditation for one of the directors to participate in the 2024 edition of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival LALIFF. Participation includes industry workshops at LALIFF and visits to animation studios in Los Angeles.
Congratulations to Adriana Sanchez, Karla Velazquez, Lena Franzz, Luah Garcia and Karina Yanel Segovia: the directors of the 3 series and 2 feature film projects that make up the selection of the third edition of the Mentorship Program for Female Creators Animation!