The penultimate round of the pan-African Annecy-MIFA Pitches Animation du Monde initiative were held during Asylum 2018 — the largest pop culture event in East Africa and a partnership between Nairobi Comic Con and Pro Series Gaming. It was the fourth of five events hosting a regional contest in advance of the Grand Finale at DISCOMICS Joburg in November, as part of this year’s expanded footprint made possible in partnership with DISCOMICS (founded by DISCOP and the African Animation Network in partnership with iCON Comic & Gaming Convention, Lagos Comic Con and Nairobi Comic Con).
The winners selected by judges this round were Nini, represented by Shadrack Munene (Kenya); and The Next Rainbow, represented by Salim Busuru (Kenya). These projects will move forward to the finals in Johannesburg.
The other finalists were Four.Fiver.One (Jackson Onyango Konyango, Kenya), Kara (Lydia Mugure, Kenya), Nairopolis (Anton Omondi, Kenya), Relief (Mumo Liku, Kenya), and Surface (Harto Muhato, Kenya).
Nini and The Last Rainbow will compete with previously announced winners Étincelle, Koka Kitoumbou (Round 1); As Aventuras dos Pestinhas, Da Bes Band (Round 2); My Friendly Tokoloshe and Hiraeth (Round 3), as well as the to-be-decided best two projects from Round 5 at Lagos Comic Con on September 15 (entries open July 24-August 31)
DISCOMICS, which will host the Grand Finale, will take place in Johannesburg from Nov. 14-17. The animation, games and comics event is a new enterprise from DISCOP Markets and AAN in partnership with ICON CGC, Lagos Comic Con and Nairobi Comic Con. In preparation for the big pitch, finalists will participate in the Annecy MIFA Animation du Monde Skills Programme, which includes pitching workshops, training sessions and one-on-one meetings with three specially selected industry experts.
[Source: African Animation Network]
