13 Animation Projects for Bridging the Gap Lab 2019

Since its creation in 2015, Bridging the Gap has strengthened and promoted fifty feature films and animation series projects from around the world internationally. It is an initiative promoted by different animation professionals, the event has the main sponsorship of the Cabildo de Tenerife through the Tenerife2030 and INtech Tenerife and Tenerife Tourism Area and the collaboration of Cooperación Española.

Created with the aim of strengthening and promoting internationally animation projects from around the world, BTG is an intensive workshop given by industry experts who will offer the keys to produce, distribute and sell animated works. The initiative also arises with the aim of facilitating the creation of international collaborations and networks.

Since its first edition in 2015, BTG has strengthened and promoted fifty international feature film and animation series from around the world internationally, many of which continue to advance in their production process; while others are already finished, such as the Chilean feature film "Homeless", whose world premiere will be next week during the Annecy Festival.

The works selected for this new edition were chosen from a total of 97 proposals received from 16 countries. With 8 projects, the animation from Latin America leads the selection followed by Spain (4) and the Philippines (1). With two projects, Argentina is the most represented Latin American territory, followed by Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela, all with a participating project.

The selected projects are:

Feature films

• " Beyond the Legend", by Marília Feldhues (Brazil)
• "Bululú", by Federico Gutiérrez Obeso (Mexico)
• "Islands of Fire", by José Miguel Pérez Alonso (Spain)
• "Risue", by Mario Forero (Colombia).

 Nine series complete the selection:

• "Alphabesties", by Neema B. Ejercito (Philippines)
• "The Call of Mystery", by Víctor López Aguado (Spain)
• "Cowbots", by Alfio D'Antona (Argentina)
• "Crako & Koshan show", by Esteban Erazo and Paul Morales (Ecuador)
• "Hallow Hollow", by Pablo Cortina (Spain)
• "Karetabla", by Carlos Zerpa (Venezuela)
• "Lily & the Fishboy", by Niels Andersen Dolmer (Spain)
• "Witch's Bussiness", by Alejandra Jaramillo (Chile)
• "Ori and Gen", by Javier Ignacio Luna Crook (Argentina).

In total, fifteen directors and producers will meet for seven days on the island of Tenerife and will share various training activities, networking and individual advice from international experts to strengthen their projects and boost their insertion in the industry in areas such as script, production, distribution, how to pitch, character design and new business models, among others. In addition, each participant will have the opportunity to receive private consultations on their project. To finish, participants will have the opportunity to present their projects to industry professionals and decision-makers interested in learning about new projects.

See the projects teaser:

Different companies and institutions have awarded various scholarships that will make possible the participation of those selected for the laboratory. In the four previous editions almost fifty students from all over the world with their developing projects have met in this specialized laboratory. Among them, people from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Guatemala, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Spain and Uruguay participated.

This will be the third time that BTG is organized in Tenerife, reflecting the strong commitment that is being made to the animation on the island with the support of training activities such as this, as well as hosting events such as the Quirino Awards and the Ibero-American Animation Co-production Forum, attracting new companies and supporting the flourishing local sector. As part of this policy, the Cabildo and Tenerife Film Commission have launched in March the "Tenerife Isla Cartoon" brand, with which they seek to promote the island as a place for the production of animated films.

Bridging the Gap has the support of 3D Wire, International Animation, Videogames and New Media Market; DIBOOS, Spanish Federation of Associations of Animation Production Companies; SAVE, Canarian Association of Companies and Professionals of the Animation, Videogames and Visual Effects Sector; U-tad University Center of Technology and Digital Art; Proimágenes Colombia FDC; Ventana Sur Animation!; INCAA; and the Film Development Council of The Phillipines. To be held in Tenerife between July 14th and 20th.