Animated Gems scheme to support Welsh production sector

Sgrîn Cymru Wales have announced the launch of a new scheme, Animated Gems, which will offer animators the chance to produce short films to be screened on S4C and distributed alongside the live action documentaries and dramas being produced in Wales.
Animated Gems will invest £120,000 in four new short films and is a co-production between S4C, Sgrîn and the Arts Council of Wales. The scheme is a new take on previously acclaimed Animated Shorts scheme and will follow the same process set by the highly successful Screen Gems model. In a bid to encourage emerging filmmakers, a producer will be appointed to take on a mentoring and management role, working with the animators to advise them on all aspects of the production. The films will be delivered in both Welsh and English versions.
"We are keen for a range of animators to participate, including new practitioners and experienced individuals who work with diverse creative approaches. Any technique may be used, but innovation and experimentation is key. Risk taking is definitely encouraged," explained Gaynor Messer Price, Short Film and New Talent Manager at Sgrîn. "The maximum production schedule is eight months and this will be strictly adhered to and applications will be by open submission from animators and production companies based in Wales."
All four of the new films will be distributed by Sgrîn's marketing department and will be premiered at the Cardiff Screen Festival. The films will then be included in the Welsh Shorts Tour in cinemas across Wales and will be broadcast within the S4C schedule.
As part of their ongoing support of the Welsh media sector, Sgrîn are committed to promoting these films internationally and they will also be offered to Sgrîn's specialist short film sales agent, Britshorts.
Gaynor Messer Price explained that the scheme has been launched to identify and nurture new and evolving animation talent in Wales: "The scheme will help to profile Welsh talent nationally and internationally - providing a fresh slate of animated films for festivals and special programmes. Animated Gems will also offer a wealth of opportunity to the animation sector and we hope will offer an established Welsh animation company the opportunity to produce a slate of short films and broaden the range of its work."
Those interested in applying for the scheme can download details from www.sgrin.co.uk/production or can call Rhodri on +44 (0) 2920 333314.
The deadline for applications is the January 14 2004.
(GB)