Rules and Regulations
Before applying:
The program is a professional training ground aimed at female and female identifying animation auteurs (animators, writers, directors) who wish to write or direct their first or second professional short animation.
Applicants must be from or reside in Romania, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia or Slovenia.
Applicants must be fluent in English, both written and spoken.
Applicants must be over 18 but there is no superior age limit.
Applicants must have basic understanding of film production and previous experience in filmmaking.
Students are eligible as long as their application meets all criteria.
All applicants have been available during the days of the event: 7-13 March 2027 in Bucharest.
The program is free of charge: there is no submission fee or participation fee.
Application process:
The program is project based.
Applicants are required to submit a film project idea, in various stages of production: script development or pre-production.
The applicants will be required to submit all the information regarding the project in one single pdf, up to 25 pages long, 50MB maximum. There is no specific format required for this document; please present the materials in a clear and visually coherent way that best represents your project. Compulsory materials are marked with *:
- project overview* (title and representative image of the project, format, length, target audience, team members, production company etc.)
- synopsis* (short summary of the story)
- project treatment (detailed description of the story), if available
- project concept* (origin of the story, graphical and musical treatment, atmosphere, references etc.)
- available graphic elements* (characters, backgrounds/sets, graphic research materials, moodboard, link to video tests or teaser etc.). Projects featuring visuals generated by artificial intelligence must specify and justify the creative process and tools used!
- storyboard (full or partial), if available
- letter of intent* (why you would like to join SYAA, what you hope to learn from the programme, what you expect from the experience, and how you see it contributing to your professional development)
- the author(s) professional biography*
Having a script is not mandatory.
All materials should be submitted in English.
Selection process:
The selection of the participants is made by the Group leaders of the workshop and the curatorial team.
Each application will be processed by all members of the selection committee.
The selection will be made based on a grading system following criteria such as: originality and potential of the idea/story and coherence with the animation technique, experience of the applicant, motivation of the applicant.
If selected:
Participants should be able to attend the event in person.
Participants will attend actively all programs of the event.
The organizers will cover the accommodation costs and lunch meals for participants coming from outside Bucharest.
During the event, participants must comply with all national sanitary regulations imposed by the Romanian Government;
Participants must allow the Organizers to publish, in whole or in part, any submitted information on the Event’s website, social media channels, press releases, official communication or any other medium, in print or digital for promotional purposes;
Upon completion of SYAA Workshop:
All participants must mention SYAA during the development process of their projects (in pitches or other presentations) and on the credits-list of the finished film.
Participants can receive Letters of recommendation from the organizers and/or group leaders should they need it for further developing their project.
All participants will receive a Certificate of participation.
All participants are given a full festival pass for Animest.22 (accreditation) taking place in Bucharest, October 2027.
In case of force majore, the organizers have the right to reprogram or cancel the event.