"Jerich0" at APD Pitchfest 5-8 May 2020

Many congratulations to the makers of "Jerich0"; their short animated project has been been accepted for APD (Animation Production Days) in Stuttgart this summer.

Like Cartoon Movie and Cartoon Forum, APD offers a unique opportunity for animation graduates to pitch their ideas to producers, financiers and sales agents - the people who can bring original animation content to the market. Jerich0 began life as an award-winning short film but now has the potential to be something much bigger, potentially reaching a wider audience.

About Jerich0
Jerich0 is a short film about a lonely robot who builds a friend. It was directed by Sarah Andrews and completed by our third year undergraduate animation students as part of PR6001, a studio project in which students collaborate to create a short film.  

Awards
Jerich0 has won multiple awards; it won Best Animation at the Melrose Film Festival in Orlando, Florida, was shortlisted for a student BAFTA, and won Best Animation and Best VFX at the 2019 Nexus Film Festival.  Jerich0 also won an award in the 2019 Zero Budget Film Festival,  was selected for the BFI London Film Festival, and won "Best Animation" at the Golden Nugget Film Festival.

Animation Production Days

FMX takes place annually in Stuttgart in May

APD takes place in Stuttgart from 5-8 May and runs alongside FMX, one of the largest annual VFX and animation events.

APD is a business platform for the animation industry, bringing together financing, distribution and co-production partners for animation project. 

APD Talent Program
Of particular interest to our students and recent graduates is the APD Talent Program, in which young producers and recent graduates can submit projects at little or no cost, including accommodation and travel expenses.

"Jerich0" will be pitched at APD

One-on-one pitches
Unlike Cartoon Forum and Cartoon Movie, APD offers one-on-one pitches, sort of like "speed dating" - but for animation. Rather than pitching to a room full of conference attendees, you have the chance to present your work intimately to a carefully curated audience.

Of course, you still need a polished pitch, but you're doing your pitch in a more informal setting. To see more about the Art of the Pitch, see this blog post.

Animation Production Days & FMX
Animation Production Day takes place alongside the FMX Festival, which takes place from 5-8 May 2020.

The makers of Jerich0 will now join the Producer Program of APD, including free accreditation, accommodation - and even paid travel expenses. But the most important benefit is the opportunity to pitch Jerich0 to the people who can actually bring it to life - broadcasters, distributors, producers, and sales agents.

Creative Content
Learning how to create fresh content and then pitch it is one of the key skills that all our students at Escape Studios must learn. TV Animation is in the midst of a great expansion, with many new networks and digital platforms competing for creative content. For our students with fresh ideas for a TV series in their heads, APD is the place to pitch it.

Cartoon Movie and Cartoon Forum
Cartoon Movie and Cartoon Forum will also take applications later this year, with Cartoon Forum taking place in September, and Cartoon Movie happening in March 2021.

To see more, follow the links below:

• Cartoon Forum - How to pitch an animated TV series. This year's deadline will be in May 2020
• Cartoon Movie - How to pitch an animated feature film. This year's deadline will be November 2020.

The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects. To find out more about our new BA/MArt, now recruiting for September 2020, follow this link.   To apply, visit the official page here.