Primanima Jumpstart is a 2 in 1 talent development initiative: a workshop and script development programme, which takes place before and during the 10th Primanima World Festival of First Animations and continues throughout the year in a form of online meetings. 12 selected talents can participate in a one-of-a-kind practice-oriented workshop and have a chance to consult their scripts with a script consultant after the practical workshop.
We aim to find young, undiscovered talents from the V4 region and give priority to them in the selection process. We encourage both those who come from various backgrounds and are only dipping their toes into animation and those who are ready to master the new animation techniques and want to polish their storytelling skills. The building block of the programme is a four-day, practice-oriented workshop (2 October – 5 October) held prior to Primanima conducted by Austrian artist Thomas Renoldner and Marzieh Emadi Iranian artist The participants will create a collective work and results will be presented on the opening night of Primanima. The participants of the workshop will be also invited to stay for the whole festival, to attend screenings and masterclasses. In the second part of the week (6 October – 8 October) during the festival, they can consult about their individual animation projects with Árpád Hermán, Hungarian animation director and dramaturge and are encouraged to discuss their projects in a group setting. This collective experience will build a strong bond between the participants then monthly script consultations meetings and consultation will follow for 11 occasions so that the participants’ projects and scripts can be in their best shape. The Primanima Jumpstart programme is unique in a way that it will continue to actively nurture the development of the participants for one year after the event. Moreover, a printed zine will be created with a participatory method, in collaboration with the participants. The zine will be published in 150 copies and will introduce the new talents and their projects to the network of producers, distributors, and industry players. We believe that our one-year programme will give a chance to participants who are usually not visible in the industry and prepare them to kickstart the development phase of their project and in the meantime, they can join the already existing, powerful regional networks.
Looking at the history of cinema, and specifically of animated film (or even pre-cinematographic moving images), it becomes obvious, that since the very beginning two seemingly contradictory basic approaches existed, and we can find different terms to describe these basic directions; for instance: narrative & non-narrative, figurative & abstract, traditional & experimental.We only have to compare some films from the early time of cinema, like an early Disney cartoon with for instance Rhythmus 21 by Hans Richter, and these two basic directions become very clear. On the one side narrative there are films with the aim to tell stories and to entertain large audiences, on the other side films, which try to expand the possibilities of the medium, and often are made by artists, who are not filmmakers, but rather coming from other areas of fine art.
These two different poles did not stay strictly separated from each other, but after a while started to influence, to fertilize each other, and sometimes even mix up or exchange qualities, which had used to be characteristic for the other direction.In this workshop during Primanima the tutors want to concentrate on the experimental side of cinema, and want to invite the participants to take risks, to search for the unexpected. At the beginning of the workshop they will watch a selection of significant films, which may represent avantgarde cinema or experimental animation. The group will look at some basic directions and strategies, and will analyse the influence of other fine art disciplines and the role of sound and music.
The participants will then be invited to form teams, each one focusing on a certain concept, with the aim to finish an animated project. The tutors want to inspire the participants to think about animation not primarily as a form of film, but rather as “fine art in motion”, which instead of the cinema screen or flat monitor can be realised as installation in the exhibition setting.The festival offers a perfect exhibition space, where the results of the workshop will be exhibited. The participants will visit this space in beginning of the workshop, so they may include the strategy of presentation in the planning of their projects.
The workshop and the script development programme is intended for animation, art and film students and emerging artists under 35, priority is given to applicants from the V4 countries. With your application you express your motivation to both participate in (1) the practical workshop and (2) the script development programme.
To apply send your online portfolio (Vimeo link to your films, artwork, Instagram, Tumblr page etc.), your film idea (synopsis, moodboard, character list if it’s relevant) and a short motivational letter to primanima@primanima.hu by 10 September, 2022. Early applications are appreciated. 12 applicants will be selected.
The workshop will take place October 2–8 at BABtér, Budaörs, Hungary. The language of the workshop is English. The organizers will provide accomodation, in shared bedrooms with breakfast, meals and an accreditation to Primanima World Festival of First Animations (5 October – 8 October) and can partly cover travel costs.