By Ogova Ondego
Published July 17, 2015
Triggerfish Animation Studios, makers of ADVENTURES IN ZAMBEZIA (2012) and KHUMBA (2013) animated films that have been dubbed into more than 27 languages and are being distributed in more than 150 countries, invites storytellers from across Africa to apply for the opportunity to have their concepts developed into episodic TV content or an animated feature film for the global market.
Applications are invited from all writing and creative disciplines, not just experienced film and TV screenwriters, Triggerfish, whose KHUMBA won the Best Animaion Film Award at Lola Kenya Screen in 2014, says. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and either African citizens or permanent residents in Africa. Entries must be in English.
With application guidelines and entry form are available at triggerfishstudios.com,the deadline for receiving entries is August 31, 2015.
Saying it is conducting a continent-wide search for storytellers, Triggerfish says participants will be carefully selected, based not only on the creative and commercial merits of their concept, but also on their track record.
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“Entries will be evaluated by a high-profile panel of both local and international experts, including British director and co-founder of Aardman Peter Lord (CHICKEN RUN, THE PIRATES!, IN AN ADVENTURE WITH SCIENTISTS); Hollywood writer Jonathan Roberts (THE LION KING); script consultant Karl Iglesias (WRITING FOR EMOTIONAL IMPACT); and a panel of development executives from The Walt Disney Company, as well as South African storyteller Gcina Mhlope, comedian David Kau and Triggerfish’s development team of Anthony Silverston, Wayne Thornley and Raffaella Delle Donne,” says a media release issued by Kevin Kriedemann.
Shortlisted storytellers will take part in workshops with leading Hollywood script consultant Pilar Alessandra, author of The Coffee Break Screenwriter.
The selected Story Lab participants will also receive two weeks of mentoring with key studio and television executives at Disney’s headquarters in Burbank, California, USA.
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“We are ready to bring a fresh voice to the world,” says Anthony Silverston, head of development at Triggerfish. “We believe there is extraordinary talent in Africa and the Story Lab is the perfect way to partner with them.”
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The call for all-Africa storytellers follows the launch of a US$3.5 million Triggerfish Story Lab by Triggerfish Animation Studios with the support of South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and The Walt Disney Company Africa.
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Triggerfish says its Story Lab aims to give Africa’s most talented storytellers and filmmakers the opportunity to develop their ideas alongside Triggerfish’s international network of mentors.
“We are excited to be supporting Triggerfish on this innovative project,†says Christine Service, senior vice president and country manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa. “We believe the Story Lab provides a unique opportunity to discover this continent’s next generation of storytellers.”
“DTI is committed to developing a pool of creative talent that can produce international quality animation production scripts,†says Nelly Molokoane from DTI’s Film and TV Incentives Unit.
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“The Story Lab will be a great catalyst for African creativity on the global stage,†says Triggerfish CEO Stuart Forrest. “We look forward to opening up the Triggerfish production platform and our networks to the continent’s top creative talent.”
