Animatic & Advisory Board

'Animatic' will support Scotland-based creatives in film and TV

An innovative talent development project between Glasgow Film Festival (GFF) and international industry leading animation executives has been announced today. Animatic is open to Scottish creatives seeking to develop their idea for an animated feature film or series. Open to individuals, creative groups and studios, successful proposals will take part in a three-month programme of workshops, designed to help them develop their project, before pitching in person to studio executives from a world leading animation studio and industry experts.

The pitches will take place during GFF's Industry Focus programme, which runs 4-7 March 2024 and is Scotland's leading gathering for people working in the film industry. Participants in Animatic will receive dedicated 'Pitch Training' during Industry Focus from MySmashMedia, an award-winning digital matchmaking marketplace for new film and TV projects. Through the programme of workshops, successful applicants will get the opportunity to learn from a team of industry experts on how to maximise their chances of success in front of one of the worlds’ leading studios, and also get feedback on the day about their performance and the potential of their pitch.

Closing date for application is Wednesday 18 October. Further information about the project, including the eligibility criteria, is available at www.glasgowfilmfest.org/animatic. Animatic is supported by the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO fund.

GFF also today announced details of their new Industry Advisory Board, chaired by writer and director Raisah Ahmed and packed with sector leaders and influential experts. GFF was originally established as a public-facing festival and has grown to become the second largest in the UK, with a reputation for its passionate and loyal audiences, which grew by 25% in the most recent year. Due to the increasing number of filmmaking professionals also attending the festival - drawn by the breadth and quality of GFF’s programme and its growing reputation as a festival that champions new voices - the Industry Focus strand was added to GFF's programme in 2016. 

Next year will be GFF’s 20th edition, taking place 28 February to 10 March, where the Industry Advisory Board will reveal their vision and strategy for the industry programme.

Glasgow Film Festival Industry Advisory Board Members are:

• Raisah Ahmed, Writer/Director (Chair)
• Alice Whittemore, Development Executive, Film4
• George Hamilton, Chief Commercial Officer, Protagonist Pictures
• Hamish Moseley, Director of Distribution EMEA, Netflix
• Lauren Lamarr, Producer, Blazing Griffin
• Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning, BBC Scotland
• Nikki Parrott, Managing Director/Executive Producer, Tigerlily Productions
• Reece Cargan, Founder/Producer, Bombito Productions
• Sarah Smyth, International Distribution & Commercial Development Officer, Screen Scotland

Angus Robertson, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the next breakthrough Scottish creative, which highlights the important role Scotland’s festivals have in enabling new talent to shine under an international spotlight, in addition to the entertainment and economic benefits they provide.

“The Scottish Government is proud to support Animatic and other ambitious collaborations like it through our EXPO fund to help raise the profile of new Scottish artists and maximise opportunities for them at home and abroad.”

Allison Gardner, CEO of Glasgow Film and Director of GFF, said: 

“Animatic demonstrates the international platform, ambition and value of Glasgow Film Festival to the Scottish filmmaking sector. We are delighted to be working with leading animation experts and to be able to connect them with the amazing talent that we have here in Scotland. This project is another milestone in Glasgow Film’s year round initiatives to support talent development. With the help of our new Industry Advisory Board, we look forward to sharing our vision for the festival’s industry programme next year.”

David Smith, Director of Screen Scotland, said:

“Glasgow Film Festival, as part of Glasgow Film, is an organisation Screen Scotland has supported for many years. The new industry advisory board is a welcome development – it’s a great mix of talented film and programme makers. They will drive further development of Glasgow Film Festival’s industry offer, providing new opportunities for Scotland-based talent to meet, collaborate, pitch ideas, and develop their work together.”