The 14th incarnation of the Animae Caribe Animation and Digital Media Festival was packed to overflowing with offerings for those interested in the art and business of animation. Attendees came from the Caribbean, the US and the UK and attended a variety of conferences, presentations, workshops and screenings.
Anime Caribe Festival director Camille Selvon-Abrahams said this was one of the most challenging years of putting on the festival, but she was determined to do it because the sector has to be recognised as something to be taken seriously.
“This is a multi-billion dollar industry, whether you want to look at it as games, animations or special effects but it also allows the students to have different careers, so we have to continue to support it. The festival is also an opportunity to have higher-ups in government and industry understand that there is a valuable, valid opportunity to support the sector. This year, we have representatives from EA (Electronic Arts) Games, Cartoon Network and Disney.
The elements of the festival include screening content, presentations to do with the business of animation, the art of animation and the creation of content, and there's also a day about game development. We need to continue the conversation and have people recognise that it's not just cartoons, it really is a serious business.”
Trinidadian Gordon Durity, executive audio director at Electronic Arts for all of EA Studios, said his cousin's daughter was a member of Selvon-Abrahams' class at UTT and she invited him to take part in the festival. “I live in Canada, but I've always come back to the Caribbean, my roots are here going back hundreds of years, so anything I can do to give back and grow what's here is absolutely something I want to do. I was quite surprised at just how jam packed this week was. There's a lot of interesting things that they've brought to the table including storytelling, art techniques. My discipline is sound and audio which is always overlooked and it's a very important part of the whole process so I'm quite impressed.”
Senior artist Caiphus Moore also said he was happy to come back because of his Trinidadian ancestry. “I think the animation industry is booming around the world and I really feel that now is the time for the Caribbean to become involved and become paramount in that industry. The Animae Caribe festival is amazing.
I love it because I get to meet so many creative people from the Caribbean diaspora that are from around the world. You make lifelong bonds in this industry, which is already small, but when you discover that additional Caribbean connection, it's amazing. This is a place I love to be, it's our Olympics.”
This year the organising team for the festival was composed mainly of women. One of the newer members of the committee, Samantha Thompson, said she enjoyed the experience. “It really shows how women are able to get along, even though people think that it's not. It's a wonderful experience, focus-minded and well-driven, and I can definitely say Camille Abraham is a selfless powerhouse and it's wonderful to work with her.”
The festival was held from October 27 to 31.
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For more info see www.animaecaribe.com and on Facebook at ANIMAE CARIBE ANIMATION FESTIVAL