FUPiTOONS FESTiVAL is gearing up to bring African animation to the world, having narrowed down 721 short films to 20 official selections for the 2019 edition, kicking off next week at DISCOP Johannesburg.
The fest was launched by African Animation Network in Rosebank, South Africa in 2017 as the first “Made in Africa for Kids” animated short film festival, and has since traveled the length and breadth of the continent to bring exciting home-grown animation to festivals, pop culture events and schools. With Africa tagged as the territory of honor for Annecy 2020, FUPiTOONS will be taking its show on the road to France next summer.
FUPiTOONS FESTiVAL official selection 2019:
A Place to Play (Nigeria)
Surprise: A Christmas Story (Nigeria)
Jagabaan (Nigeria)
Duck (South Africa)
Mother (Ghana)
Kitwana’s Journey (Kenya)
Your Story (Uganda)
Um Presente Especial (A Special Gift) (Mozambique)
Letter to Dyslexia (Kenya)
The Legend of BabaBongo (Ghana)
A Tinsel Township Christmas Tale (South Africa)
Undone (South Africa)
Hadidance (South Africa)
Ayam (Morocco)
A Little Bird Told Me about ABC (South Africa)
Majitu (South Africa/Kenya)
Garbage & Trash Can (South Africa/Nigeria)
Intergalactic Ice Cream (South Africa)
Farah Song (Egypt)
Have a Party (Ghana)
This year’s jury is comprised of three of Africa’s shining stars of animation. Mounia Aram, born in Morocco but now living in France, is this year’s Head Judge. She recently launched the production and distribution start-up Mounia Aram Company to focus on distribution of African and Middle Eastern animated content. With over a decade of experience and passion for bringing content to screens across the globe, her focus has now shifted to Africa, where she has also taken up a role at AAN as the Head of Content Acquisitions & Channel Distribution.
Diana Maria Rosu is the founder and Artistic Director of the Accra Animation Film Festival (AAFFia). AAFFia debuted in 2019 and has already contributed greatly to the growth and exposure of the West African animation industry. Born in Romania, Diana completed her studies in Europe, before moving to Ghana, bringing a wealth of experience working for a plethora of European festivals.
Cameroonian-Burkinabe Doh D. Daiga is a line producer, writer, cartoonist, animator, graphic artist, webmaster, trainer and teacher. He has a BSc in Film and TV Production with associates in Illustration and Animation. Doh is the Owner and Chief Creative Officer of Kinetic Arts and Human Technologies International (Kahti) and is an active member of the Burkinabè Association de Cinema Animation (ABCA), Kino Cabaret Ouaga and Co-Founder of the Creative Cultural Center.
FUPiTOONS, “fupi” meaning “short” in kiSwahili, has always dug deep into the African soil from its content to its jury. The aim is to bring content to the children of the continent that depicts characters they can identify with. Bringing recognition to creatives and their projects. With creatives from all over the world expected at the Annecy Int’l Animated Film Festival & Market/MIFA for its 60th year, it’s the perfect opportunity for FUPiTOONS and the African animation industry to capture the attention of the global audience.
[Source: African Animation Network]
