Animation contest to focus on global Filipino talent

For the past decades, Filipino animators have done extraordinary work for international studios like Pixar, Dreamworks, Warner Brothers, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon and Disney. In a bid to promote Filipino talent in animation, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), its export promotion arm and the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI) are launching Animazing Shorts 2007: 5th Animation Competition and the Philippine Animation Film Festival (PAFF).

The race is on for the next batch of outstanding Filipino animators who can create visually stunning work and tell a good story with a positive theme.

Animazing Shorts is open to all students of Philippine colleges and universities as well as freelance or employed animators. There is no limit to number of team members for group entries. The animated short could be in any medium – 2D, 3D or mixed. The contest is open to amateur animators (whether group or individual) from any college or university, and freelanced or employed animators.

ACPI and CITEM are now accepting entries for Animazing Shorts. The contest schedule includes the following: November 17 (Submission of Storyboards); November 20 (Initial Screening of Entries); November 21 (Announcement of Finalists); February 9 (Submission of Final Material); and February 10 (Final Screening).

Animazing Shorts entries also qualify for the First Philippine Animation Film Festival.

“The film festival is an opportunity to show the world Filipino ingenuity and creativity in the field of animation and help broaden awareness and appreciation of Filipino talent,” said Marie Grace Dimaranan, president of ACPI.

The film festival is also a homecoming event for Filipino animators working in international foreign studios all over the world so “they can showcase their works and how successful they are in animation.”

“In addition, the film festival is meant to encourage our young talents to look into animation as a career and also to encourage local content production,” added Dimaranan. “Hopefully, this event will encourage local producers to invest in animation projects and television networks to support locally produced content and grow the local animation market.”

As a new twist to Animazing Shorts, the government’s annual contest for animation, winning entries will be judged according to ballots and online polls accessible at the ACPI website
www.animationcouncil.org and e-Services Philippines website or www.e-servicesphils.com.

This year, one of Animazing Shorts winning films “Doodle of Doom” by College of St Benilde’s students Nelson Caliguia Jr and Jason Confesor had been qualified as among the finalists in the Nickelodeon’s Animation Festival, together with animators from France, Canada, Germany, England, and the United States.

For the past years, Filipinos are recognized not only for their creative and artistic skills, which is an important factor in animation, but also for the consistent quality and speed by which they can deliver their output. Filipinos are also proficient in English and have an innate ability to comprehend concepts and storylines better than their other Asian counterparts.

For information on the Animazing Shorts and the Philippine Animation Film Festival, please contact: CITEM’s IT Services and Electronics Division at (+632) 8325044 and (+632) 8312201 locals 212, 251, and 301, or email itservices@citem.com.ph

Small exporters eye Japanese food market

Small Filipino enterprises are eyeing new niches for their food products in Tokyo’s annual ASEAN Food and Beverage Exhibition this month, according to the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM).

Participating in the Tokyo exhibition are GEM Foods International which makes nata de coco and macapuno strings, Toscano Food Industry which makes dilis and pusit, and J. Emmanuel Pastries which makes pili nut delicacies.
The ASEAN Japan Center organized this year’s exhibition whose theme is "The Flavours of ASEAN, the Choice for Shoku Iku of Japan."

"Shoku" means food and diet and "iku" means education. It is a concept which reflects the Japanese government’s drive to promote healthy living.

"This year’s Philippine participation in AFB hopes to assist our SMEs address the strict global safety standards of Japan and help them find a new niche for our local delicacies," said Trade Assistant Secretary and CITEM head Fe Agoncillo-Reyes.

Various one-on-one business meetings are arranged between Japanese buyers and the Filipino participants during their visit from Oct.15 to 21 this year with a projected observation tour of the Ajinomoto factory.

"For our exporters, penetrating Japan’s wholesale and retail food markets is worth pursuing. Currently, we export nata de coco and seafood to Japan and pili nuts are a welcome addition to our exports with huge potential. Promoting them in Japan will not only bring additional export revenues, but will also help the other allied industries in Bicol, the current center of the pili nut industry in the country," Agoncillo-Reyes said.

A study at the University of Hawaii at Manoa (home to macadamia breeders) showed that the Philippine pili nut is equivalent to macadamia. It is not only an extraordinary nut, but is also rich in nutritional value, which according to Agoncillo-Reyes, makes it a potential export in the health-conscious Japanese market.

In 2005, total sales amounted to $785,682 and generated significant inquiries.

Thirty-two exhibitors from 10 ASEAN countries are participating in the event.

The ASEAN-Japan Centre was established in 1981 and has been promoting trade, investment and tourism between ASEAN countries and Japan through various activities.

Source:
ABS-CBN Interactive
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=53882