As a seasoned cinephile with decades of experience navigating the dynamic world of international cinema, I find myself consistently inspired by events like Barcelona’s Animation BCN. The gathering of industry professionals from across Europe to address pressing issues and strategize for the future is nothing short of invigorating.
Afternoon tea was served at Barcelona’s Animation BCN today, concluding a three-day event filled with collaborative sessions, discussions, and networking opportunities aimed at exploring solutions for the “global animation crisis” faced by the local industry.
This third installment brought together 90 attendees from 60 European business entities across 24 nations to discuss the primary issues and trends impacting the animation sector currently, such as artificial intelligence, eco-friendly animation methods, media laws, and the advantages of collaborative production.
A diverse group consisting of producers, distributors, broadcasters, film fund organizers, and government officials took part in four focused discussion sessions. During these meetings, they collectively reached several significant decisions concerning the future direction of European animation.
As a movie enthusiast, I had the privilege of being in the same room as Lucia Recalde, Deputy Director and Head of Unit Audiovisual Industry and media support programs at DG Connect, European Commission; Patricia Hidalgo, Director of Children’s & Education at the BBC; and Edgar Garcia Casellas, Director of ICEC, the Catalan government’s culture industry division. What an incredible gathering of industry professionals!
Working Groups’ Conclusions
1 – Strengthening Media Regulation
In light of the vast influence of free streaming services like YouTube and TikTok, it’s clear that stronger child safety measures are essential on digital platforms, according to Animar attendees. The working group proposes extending the Audiovisual Media Services (AMVS) Directive to encompass all platforms offering audiovisual content. Additionally, they suggest strengthening the definition of what qualifies as a “European work” for quota purposes to better preserve intellectual property within Europe, thereby fostering the long-term development of our region’s industry.
2 – Fostering European Animation Co-Productions
In light of budget constraints for children’s programming and a worldwide crisis in animation, Animar’s cooperative production team underscored the importance of improving co-production resources and boosting collaboration between financial entities and broadcasters to assist projects during their early stages. They also suggested enhancing tax incentives by connecting benefits to the retention of IP by European businesses and the relevance of the content within a European setting. This, they proposed, would bolster the competitive edge of Europe’s independent animation sector and prevent a future where many European animation companies primarily focus on service work.
3 – Embracing Ethical AI for a Human-Centered European Animation Industry
Members within an AI-oriented task force advocate that European businesses adopting this technology should prioritize a user-friendly strategy. Europe’s Animation Union, comprised of animation creators across the continent, also proposes the creation of a Best Practices Manual for ethical, legal, and eco-friendly use of AI solutions. The task force additionally urges expansion in training opportunities for seasoned industry experts, enabling them to obtain relevant knowledge and skills that serve the sector’s needs.
4 – Driving Sustainability with Common Green Production Standards
Members of an animation sustainability forum underscored the immediate importance of shared environmental sustainability methods to bolster European collaboration in animation production. In accordance with this goal, those present consented to bring their national partners into an existing global workgroup dedicated to developing eco-friendly animation manufacturing guidelines. This collaborative project aims to foster a unified strategy for sustainable animation across Europe.
Following Through on Previous Commitments
Based on suggestions from past issues of Animar, Animation in Europe has teamed up with a group of European universities to establish Anima Mundi – the inaugural academic, cross-disciplinary, and multi-stakeholder project dedicated to examining the European Animation Industry Landscape.
The project, supported by €4 million ($4.2 million) from the European Commission via the Horizon Europe program, will commence in February 2025 and run through July 2028. Its primary objective is to address critical intellectual property (IP) matters, facilitate the distribution of European content, and encourage cross-border collaborations across the continent.
Beyond linking producers with significant partners, Animation in Europe also pledges to establish a distinctive European Animation Identity. This identity includes a policymaking platform and resource kits tailored to enhance intellectual property management and make content more discoverable.
Looking Forward
In the coming months, Animar BCN plans to initiate a collection of specialized workshops focused on individual themes, which will take place at various sites across the continent. The inaugural workshop is set for March of next year in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, where discussions on sustainable techniques in animation production and their relevance within Eastern European regions will be further developed.
As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that there are two more spin-offs in store for the 2026 and 2027 editions of the Annecy Animation Film Festival. These special events will focus on nurturing the global distribution and promotion of European animated films, a cause close to my heart.
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2024-11-29 18:47