While the health emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic does not permit people to gather in person, it hasn’t stopped film-related events from taking place, and in this way, various synergies are constantly being created in the audiovisual field. While the ever-impressive D’A Barcelona is set to wrap this weekend after unspooling via the Filmin platform, another Spanish event, Animayo 2020, kicks off on Saturday, also set to take place online. The 15^th edition of the innovative festival held on the Canary Islands and dedicated to animation, visual effects and video games is thus becoming the first event of its kind to be held virtually, and it will certainly not be lacking in free activities to keep visitors entertained. Those wishing to “attend” should register on its website – before midnight tonight, Friday 8 May – in order to gain access to said activities during the first weekend, all of which will have a limited capacity, and before 15 May for the master classes, which have no maximum capacity, and which will take place on 16 and 17 May.

The festival, headed up by Damián Perea, will therefore get under way on Saturday 9 May with eight panels and two debates. Five international representatives of the audiovisual sector will be taking part in each of these, moderated by prestigious and internationally renowned figures, such as animator Raúl García (who has worked at the Walt Disney Animation Studios for many years), Carolina Jiménez (Skydance), Ángel Molina (Blue Pixel 3D, Magic Films), producer Rocío Ayuso, Mercedes Rey (Ilion Animation Studios), animator Cinzia Angelini (DreamWorks Animation), production designer Carlos Zaragoza (Sony Pictures Animation, Paramount Animation, DreamWorks Animation), creative director Edgar Martín-Blas (Virtual Voyagers, Tuenti, Telefónica), illustrator Miriam Hidalgo (Estudio Mariscal, Filmax Animation), and Manuel González, the director of the Televisión Española programme Zoom Net.

Over the course of these first two days, the round-tables and panels of experts will tackle topics such as “Character Creation: Heroes and Villains, Irresistible Antagonists”, “The Latest Creations, Innovations and Narratives in Virtual Reality”, “I Want to Be an Animator! Get Yourself a Serious Job”, “3D Modelling: Conversation with the Masters of Digital Sculpture”, “Young Spanish Talents in the Industry: Tips & Tricks” and “Storyboard: The Pillar of a Good Production”, among many others.

The master classes held during the festival’s second weekend will deal with, among other subjects, areas such as “Acting in Animation: How To Make Your Animated Characters Real”, led by Christian Dan Bejarano, an animation supervisor who has been involved in films of the likes of The Unbeatables [+leggi anche:
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The Animayo 2020 programme will continue unspooling on 22 and 23 May with still more online activities in store, such as the film selection of the international jury of the Official International Competition section, including both viewings and voting via an online platform (the award winners will be unveiled on 29 May). And, finally, its physical programme will be organised in the last quarter of the year and will be announced in detail shortly. For further information, please visit the festival’s website.