For the first time, Indian animation will showcase four stories at the India Pitch Event at MIFA (International Animation Film Market) during Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2024.
Each year, the Annecy MIFA selects projects from around the world, with an aim to showcase the best original animation projects in development. In a major feat for Indian animation, this year at the MIFA Pitch, four out of the 41 shortlisted projects from across the world are Indian projects.
The India Pitch Event at Annecy is organised by AniMela (an initiative of Aniverse & Visual Arts Foundation) and co-hosted by Assemblage Entertainment and Zebu Animation Studios. Launched in early 2023 in partnership with Annecy International Animation Film Festival and the support of the Government of India, AniMela is India’s first international animation, visual effects, gaming, comics and XR (AVGC-XR) festival.
The four Indian projects that will be showcased at India Pitch Event will be:
- Hide & Seek by Krishna Chandran Nair (short film)
- Rising Tides by Pari Satarkar (short film)
- Lala by Isha Mangalmurti & Shreeya Wagh (series)
- Table for One by Debjyoti Saha & Dhruv Sehgal (series)
These projects were part of the International MIFA Campus in India, as part of AniMela 2024, where they were mentored by experts from Annecy over a four-day workshop. At the end of the workshop, they got to pitch their projects at AniMela during the festival. The International MIFA Campus was supported by the French Institut in India and Rubika, Pune.
“With the super successful launch of AniMela in February 2023, to an unprecedented selection of four Indian projects at the prestigious MIFA Pitch and Namaste MIFA, 2024 is turning out to be a momentous year for the Indian animation industry. With its strongest showing by far, we hope to keep up the momentum with the second edition of AniMela in 2025,” said AniMela co-founder Kireet Khurana.
“The Indian animation industry demonstrated significant resilience and growth despite global challenges. The focus on high-quality, culturally rich content and international collaborations is enhancing India’s global presence,” said Assemblage Entertainment CEO Arjun Madhavan.
Zebu Animation Studios creative director Veerendra Patil said, “Platforms like MIFA and AniMela significantly contribute to the narrative of Indian animation by providing exposure, facilitating learning, fostering collaborations, opening market access, building recognition, and garnering support. These benefits collectively help Indian animation advance on the global stage, ensuring growth and success.”
The Indian films selected for competitions at Annecy are:
- 15 Years of Studio Eeksaurus “The Seed” by Suresh Eriyat
- Basha by Paul Anirban
- Maatitel by Govinda Saoin
In another major feat at Annecy 2024, India’s Nina Sabnani is on this year’s jury for TV and Commissioned Films category for the competition. Sabnani is a national award-winning animation filmmaker, illustrator, and among India’s leading educators.
Besides the above, MIFA will also have an Indian Pavilion this year organised by the Govt of Karnataka, ABAI, and K Tech Innovation Hub which will showcase the best from the Indian animation and VFX industry.
Annecy Film Festival is being held from 9 to 15 June in Annecy town, France.