AniMela, India’s highly anticipated international festival celebrating animation, VFX, gaming, comics, and extended reality (XR), is set to captivate audiences from January 19 to 21, 2024, at NFDC, Mumbai. This event promises to be a nexus of mentorship, education, film screenings, experiential zones, and a marketplace for Indian intellectual properties (IPs), all geared towards promoting emerging talents on a global stage.
Here are the top 10 unmissable spectacles that AniMela has in store:
1. Films Showcase: An international extravaganza featuring films from around the world, including highlights such as “Slide” by American animation master Bill Plympton, “The Peasants” from the directors of Loving Vincent, and the Indian premiere of “Hokkyoku Hyakkaten no Concierge-san” from Japanese director Yoshimi Itazu.
2. India Shorts Programme: Showcasing short films by both budding and established Indian filmmakers, including the world premiere of “Lucky Dog” directed by Ujwal Nair.
3. Meet the Masters: Indian animators and artists get a chance to interact with the director of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Mickaël Marin, and the head of MIFA (Annecy Animation Film Market), Véronique Encrenaz. They will be present at the screening of the “Best of Annecy 2023” program, featuring winning films from the previous year.
4. Insights into the Craft of Stop-motion: Oscar-nominated filmmaker Lachlan Pendragon presents his film “An Ostrich Told Me The World is Fake and I Think I Believe It” and conducts a masterclass on its making.
5. Screening of “Sultana’s Dream” and Q&A with the Director: Presenting the international award-winning animated feature inspired by the story of Rokeya Begum, co-produced with India. Director Isabel Herguera and key crew members, including Indian animation expert Upamanyu Bhattacharyya, will provide insights into the film’s creation.
6. VFX Unveiled: Srinivas Mohan and Shobu Yarlagadda, the masterminds behind blockbusters like Baahubali and RRR, dive deep into the visual effects of these cinematic wonders.
7. Panel Discussion: “Making Animation and VFX Films in India”: Featuring renowned filmmakers Gitanjali Rao, Shilpa Ranade, and Anamika Haksar, moderated by Soumitra Ranade. They will share their creative journeys while making films like Bombay Rose, Goopi Gawaiyaa Bagha Bajaiyaa, and Ghode Ko Jalebi Khilane Re Ja Riya Hoon, respectively.
8. Indian Indie Comics Showcase: Curated by Indie Comix Fest, this segment will include interactions with Indian indie comic creators, featuring a panel discussion on publishing indie comics with artists Abhijeet Kini, Anand RK, and Bharath Murthy in conversation with Vivek Nag.
9. Passion + Education + Profession: An Ask-me-Anything session with industry leaders in the AVGC (Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics) space, offering insights and guidance on career pathways and future prospects. Panelists include Amar Chitra Katha CEO Preeti Vyas, Reliance Games Senior Vice President Ninad Chhaya, and Zebu Animation Founder Virendra Patil.
10. Global Distribution Decoded: Miyu Distribution co-founder and CEO Luce Grosjean will conduct a session on navigating the global distribution market for animated and short films, sharing her experiences and insights on breaking conventional notions about the market.
AniMela-IMC Pitch: An exciting addition this year is the introduction of Annecy Festival’s International MIFA Campus to India. Five of the country’s most talented animators will participate in a four-day intensive workshop with mentors from Annecy, culminating in a pitch event at AniMela – IMC Pitch. Attendees can witness these promising projects and gain valuable insights into the art of pitching.
AniMela is founded by Aniverse & Visual Arts Foundation (AVAF) in partnership with the Government of India (Information & Broadcasting Ministry) and the Annecy International Animation Festival.
