Open Call for SYAA 2024

Animest invites working in animation to apply for the 4th edition of Sisterhood of Young Animation Auteurs that will take place in Bucharest, between the 17th and 23rd of August, 2024

This year Animest continues the partnership with the Animation Festival Network and expands even further the mentoring programme for female illustrators and filmmakers. In addition to Romania, the Republic of Moldova, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia, in 2024 SYAA will offer development opportunities to artists from Bulgaria and Ukraine.  Until the 15th of May, creators from the region working on their first or second short animated film project as a main author (director, screenwriter) are invited to apply for free participation in the programme by filling in the form available online: https://www.syaa.animest.ro/en/apply

SYAA, an initiative through which the Animation Festival Network encourages and promotes talent, is an intensive study programme that brings together the new talents in the world of animated film with the professionals in the European industry. Over the course of 7 days, mentors will provide the 10 selected participants with script consultancy, as well as professional advice on the development of concept art, production or distribution, or behind-the-scenes secrets of the industry by sharing their own experiences. 

Creating a community of women to act as a support system against discrimination in the industry is among SYAA's main objectives.  The programme consists of a series of lectures, presentations, practical workshops, 1:1 meetings, screenings and networking events, where participants can develop their animated short film projects. They also learn how to develop their artistic portfolios, what tools to use in developing an idea, what levers to use to develop an independent career and what are the stages of setting up an animation studio.

Find out more about the previous editions here: https://www.syaa.animest.ro/en/syaa-23

The eligibility criteria does not include an age limit, and students' participation is more than encouraged as long as all other criteria are met. The programme will be conducted in English, which is also required upon all the application materials. Following the selection, 10 women will be invited to the workshop in Bucharest from 17 to 23 August, 2024.

Among the artists who will join as mentors are Raluca Mănescu, the Romanian screenwriter whose name is linked to numerous short films that have won awards at international film festivals such as Cottbus IFF, Sarajevo IFF, Thessaloniki IFF, Namur IFF. She was the screenwriter for ”The World is Mine'' directed by Nicoale Constantin Tănase, which received a special mention from the jury at Karlovy Vary IFF in 2015, and the debut award at TIFF, Romania, 2015. 

For her part, Polish filmmaker Katarzyna Gromadzka has accepted the challenge of mentoring SYAA for the fourth consecutive year. Co-founder of Momakin and co-organiser of Animarkt Stop Motion Forum, Katarzyna is an executive producer and coordinates stop-motion artists, collaborates with producers from all over the world and is a member of the Polish Filmmakers Association (SFP) and the Polish Animation Producers Association (SPPA).

"Over the past years we have crossed paths with SYAA alumni at international workshops, project pitches and other relevant film events, which is a clear indicator that our goal has already been partially achieved. The fact that these wonderful artists have found the strength to continue their artistic journey as authors (and that they have performed exemplary at every opportunity!), is the greatest satisfaction for us." says Helga Fodorean, Head of Studies.

More details about the Sisterhood of Young Animation Auteurs are available online: https://www.syaa.animest.ro

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Sisterhood of Young Animation Auteurs is a project initiated by the Animest Association, organised in collaboration with the Animation Festival Network and co-financed by Eurimages and Creative Europe MEDIA Programme of the European Union.