Barcelona will become the European capital of animation for the third year running between 26 and 28 November. Once again, the city will be hosting Animar_BCN, the European Animation Convention.
Animar_BCN arose from an initiative of the Spanish Federation of Audiovisual Producers (PROA) and Pro Animats and is a platform for debating and promoting the competitiveness, cooperation and visibility of European animation. It has been held since 2022 and is now in its third edition.
The meeting will attract some 90 delegates representing 60 European organisations from the industry, including associations and federations of producers, public policy-makers, investment funds and broadcasters.
The aim is to analyse European animation, encompassing the sector’s entire value chain and all European territories. A total of 24 European countries will be represented.
One of the key features of this year’s event will be the debate on the impact of artificial intelligence on the industry. The effect on the intellectual property of works, processes and professionals will be the focus of a working group moderated by Lucía Recalde (European Commission), and Moe Honan (Animation in Europe).
Industry stakeholders will also be reflecting on green animation. They will be analysing the environmental sustainability initiatives being applied in the sector and will assess the possibility of attaining a European standard. This working group press release will be moderated by Carlota Guerrero (Catalunya Film Commission; EUFCN), and Dirk Beinhold (Animation in Europe).
A third working group will focus on the legal framework of European animation works. It will address the implementation of the AVMSD (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) and other European directives that influence the definition of “independent production company” or “European work” and the retention of intellectual property, among other aspects. The group will be co-moderated by Els Hendrix (Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. BKM), and Philippe Alessandri (Animation in Europe).
The promotion of European animation co-productions will be another topic up for debate, focusing particularly on public funding programmes, minority and pan-European co-productions, and tax incentives. This discussion will be moderated by Alex Traila (Eurimages, Council of Europe), and Iván Agenjo (Animation in Europe).
To explore this topic further, Animar_BCN will be hosting an event open to professionals, entitled “Let’s talk Europe”, which will analyse the weight of European co-production of both cinematographic and non-cinematographic works. To this end, it will demonstrate how producers, distributors, channels and institutions from all over Europe measure the success of these types of collaborations.
The case studies of the film Rock Bottom (with its producers Alba Sotorra and Robert Jaszczurowski) and DeAPlaneta (with itsContent andDistribution Director, Carlos Biern) will be discussed. This session, presented by the Treasurer of Animation in Europe, Pablo Jordi, will also feature the participation of Alessia Sonaglioni (Council of Europe); Patricia Hidalgo (BBC); Yago Fandiño (RTVE); Andrea Basilio (RTP); Martin Engelhardt Hansen (DR); Todor Ignatov (BNT), and Muntsa Tarrés (3CAT).
The conclusions of the four working groups will be shared at a public session to be held on the morning of Thursday 28 November in the Lecture Hall of Blanquerna-Ramon Llull University. The session will be facilitated by Cristina Angelucci, publisher of Licensing Magazine and editor of The European Animation Journal. Registration required for attendance.
