This year, as part of the Franco-German Cultural Fund, the cultural missions of Germany and France in Nigeria are organising two parallel workshops on film animation in Lagos and Abuja. This focus is in response to the boom in Nigeria’s Animation sector.In fact, a number of small structures and companies have been created within the last five years; a pointer to animation’s growing presence in the Nigerian society as observed in advertisements, short films, festivals, departments in cinema schools etc.
In this regard, following a series of discussions with young practitioners in this growing sector, the idea came up to organise a special workshop with international and reputed animation professionals. According to these young professionals themselves, creativity and dynamism are present in Nigeria, however many face specific issues regarding the technical aspects of animation.
During the ten-day workshops (24/09/2017 to 05/10/2017), the German film professional Samuel Weikopf in Abuja, and the French professional Sabine Hitier in Lagos will work with participants to improve their skills in film animation, storyboard writing and, notably, visual effects.
After the initial workshop phase, participants, facilitators, stakeholders and professional guests will attend a two-day professional conference in Lagos (06/10/17 and 07/10/17), which will take place at the Nigerian Film Corporation.
The symposium is conceived as a platform for quality discussions about the animation sector and related fields; networking opportunities with professionals from the animation, film and music sectors, and options for collaborations and funding.
It will also be an occasion to screen Nigerian, German, and French animated movies, and also to debrief participants on the outcome of the technical workshop.
To register for the symposium, send an email "with "Animation Film Symposium" as subject title) to
programme@lagos.goethe.org
In Abuja, the organizing committee is composed of the Institut Français du Nigeria, the German Embassy Abuja and Waziri Film Studios. In Lagos, this project is managed by the Goethe–Institut Nigeria and the Institut français du Nigeria.
Sabine Hitier has worked in 3D animation since 2001. She completed animation studies with a short film called “The Red Bean’s Riot", which was selected in many animation festivals worldwide. She has since taught and worked in 3D animation, sometimes doing her own projects (short film, series, et c) or working with several studios as animator, supervisor or director. She has been in charge of the 3D character supervision for the feature film "Zombillenium" soon to be released in cinemas (October 18th, 2017).
Samuel Weikopf is an award winning French-German Filmmaker, who graduated from Filmuniversität Potsdam and co-founded the animation studio Talking Animals in 2009. He works as a director, animator and screenwriter in animation projects and experimental films. His portfolio includes traditional cell animation, 3D-CGI and puppet animation as well as experimental documentary and live action films. He also performs and releases music under his Teenage Tasteless Moniker. He works and lives in Berlin.
" © All rights reserved - Lead image extracted from the film ‘Oktapodi’ 2007 - Director: J. Bocabeille, O. Delabarre, F-X. Chanioux, E. Mokhberi, Q. Marmier, T. Marchand."
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