ACE Producers has selected 12 acclaimed film and television producers from 10 different territories for this year’s ACE Leadership Special.

Now in its fourth edition, the ACE Leadership Special allows producers to take time out to examine themselves, their companies and their teams. The programme gives them the tools to recognise and harness their capabilities and innate skills, raising their confidence to be able to provide effective leadership for their production companies and to create work environments which are effective, productive and harmonious. The workshop format allows the small group to benefit not only from the knowledge of the workshop consultants, but from each other’s lived experiences.

The programme is supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, the Netherlands Film Fund, FOCAL, Trentino Film Commission and Film Commission Lucerne and Central Switzerland. It will take place in Vitznau (Switzerland) in June and in Trentino (Italy) in September 2025 along with online elements over the summer.

The consultants for the programme are Jeroen Achterberg, Jo Bishop (The Coaching Cabin) and Mark van der Grift (True Brands).

SELECTED PRODUCERS

David Bohun –  Austria –  Panama Film GmbH & Co KG

Sarah Born –  Switzerland –  Catpics

Miha Černec –  Slovenia –  STARAGARA

Sophie Erbs – France – GAÏJIN

Alise Gelze – Latvia – White Picture

Verena Gräfe-Höft – Germany – Junafilm GmbH

Gints Grube – Latvia – Mistrus Media

Marie Kjellson –  Sweden – Kjellson & Wik

Amanda Livanou – Greece – Neda Film

Vicky Miha – Greece – asterisk*

Silvia Panáková – Slovakia – ARINAFILM

Denis Vaslin – The Netherlands – Volya Films

The ACE Animation Special, held in Dingle, Ireland, between the 18th and 23rd of March 2025, is supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, the Netherlands Film Fund, Screen Ireland and Animation Ireland, and is organised in close collaboration with Animation Dingle.

The workshop is aimed at experienced producers who want to diversify their activities to include, and/or deepen their knowledge of, developing and producing long form/feature film animation production for an international audience (cinema, broadcast or streaming).

16 to 18 producers will be selected for the workshop, preferably with a long form/feature length animation project at concept stage. Focusing primarily on the creative and financial aspects of feature and longform animation production, the ACE Animation Special will offer sessions on animatic story development, international production workflows, the creative dynamics of animation production, financing strategies and international distribution. The workshop will also include one or more sessions on physical line production as well as case studies on completed animation projects. Group sessions, plenary sessions and one to one meetings will together build a workshop where producers learn from each other’s experiences and those of key industry guests.  

APPLICATION DEADLINE
29 November 2024
Up to 18 spaces available

WORKSHOP DATES
18 March – 23 March 2025

LOCATION
Dingle, Ireland

FOR FURTHER DETAILS
More information on eligibility, participation fees and how to apply can be found on the ACE Animation Special page.

ACE Producers is delghted to announce that it has selected 17 experienced independent producers for the 5th edition of the ACE Animation Special. The intensive workshop is designed to provide extensive knowledge of how to diversify business with developing and producing long form, feature film and series animation productions for an international audience including cinema, broadcast and streaming. Supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, Screen Ireland, the Netherlands Film Fund and Animation Ireland, the ACE Animation Special will take place from the 19th to the 24th March 2024 in Dingle, Ireland, in collaboration with the Animation Dingle festival.

Al Williams, Specials Manager at ACE Producers said: “We are delighted to be going to Dingle once again this year. Ireland is such an inspirational hub for animation in Europe, making it the perfect location to gather together these talented producers.”

Producers will attend with animated features and series projects in early development. Focusing primarily on the creative and financial aspects of feature and longform animation production, the ACE Animation Special will offer sessions on animatic story development, international production workflows, the creative dynamics of animation production, financing strategies and international distribution. The workshop will also include one or more sessions on physical line production as well as case studies on completed animation projects.

Among the Experts / Consultants of this year’s edition are Eleanor Coleman (Indie Sales), Giovanna Ferrari (Cartoon Saloon), Kristine Knudsen (Den siste skilling), Sébastien Onomo (Special Touch Studios), Martin Pope (Magic Light Pictures), Simon Quinn (Big Fat Studio) and Paul Young (Cartoon Saloon).

ANIMATION SPECIAL 5 – SELECTED PARTICIPANTS

Naima Abed – United Kingdom – Paradise City

Darya Bassel – Ukraine – Moon Man

Ciarán Deeney – Ireland – EZ Films

Fabian Driehorst – Germany – Fabian&Fred

André Fetzer – Luxembourg – AMOUR FOU

Dominiks Jarmakovičs – Latvia – Studio Locomotive

Vladimer Katcharava – Georgia – 20 Steps

Eun-Zi Kim – Germany – Freelance

Amanda Livanou – Greece – Neda Film

Hélène Mitjavile – France – Melocoton Films

Koji Nelissen – The Netherlands – Keplerfilm

Fabrice Otaño – France – DISNOSC

Joanna Ronikier – Poland – Running Rabbit Films.

Paul Schleicher – United Kingdom – Snafu Pictures

Guntis Trekteris – Latvia – Egomedia

Stephen Vandingenen – Belgium – A Private View

Konstantinos Vassilaros – Greece – StudioBauhaus

ACE Producers has selected 12 acclaimed film and television producers from 9 different territories for the second edition of the ACE Leadership Special.

Following a successful first edition in 2022, the workshop aims to help producers sustain solid business foundations, improve performance and prospects for their teams and their companies and further develop their personal leadership and entrepreneurial skills to flourish when faced with change. The workshop format will allow the small group to benefit not only from the knowledge of the workshop consultants, but from each other’s lived experiences.

ACE Director Jacobine van der Vloed said of this year’s selection: “The large number of applications we received really goes to demonstrate the widespread need and desire that producers currently have to establish a sound footing for their companies. We’re delighted to offer this incredible selection of producers the opportunity to do just that.”

The programme is supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, Netherlands Film Fund, CFAP and the Veneto Film Commission. It will take place in Veneto in June and in Amsterdam in September 2023 along with online elements over the summer.

Among the Consultants are Jeroen Achterberg, Jo Bishop (The Coaching Cabin) and Mark van der Grift (True Brands).

SELECTED PRODUCERS

Damon D’Oliveira – Canada – Conquering Lion Pictures

Félize Frappier – Canada – Max Films Media

Janne Hjeltnes – Norway – The Global Ensemble

Siniša Juričić – Croatia – Nukleus Film

Kristine Knudsen – Norway – Den siste skilling

Fabian Maubach – Germany – Sommerhaus Filmproduktion

Christof Neracher – Switzerland – hugofilm features

Iris Otten – The Netherlands – Juliet (at Pupkin)

Marica Stocchi – Italy – Rosamont

Nadia Trevisan – Italy – Nefertiti Film

Frans van Gestel – The Netherlands – Topkapi Films

Mariusz Włodarski– Poland – Lava Films

A previous version of this post also included Paloma Mora (Spain – TV ON Producciones) as a participant. Unfortunately, she had to withdraw from the workshop.

ACE Producers has selected 10 outstanding up-and coming producers for the ACE Mentoring Programme EU 2023 from Europe and beyond. The programme aims to support emerging producers in reaching the next level of their careers and extending their international network by providing them with the opportunity to learn from established mentors from the ACE Producers Network actively working within the European film industry.

ACE Producers’ main goal is to strengthen experienced producers, however, the ACE Mentoring Programme intends to share the collective knowledge of the ACE Network with a new generation of producers. Mentors have been matched according to the specific needs of the selected producers and their projects. The mentorship includes meetings throughout the year at international festivals and events as well as online.

The programme is supported by the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme and the Netherlands Film Fund.

SELECTED PRODUCERS FOR ACE MENTORING PROGRAMME 2023:

Reece Cargan, UK, Bombito Productions
Mentor: Anna Maria Kantarius (ACE 30), Garagefilm International AB – Sweden 

Leeona Duff, Ireland, Up On Blue Bridge Productions
Mentor: Oliver Simon (ACE 12), K5 Film – Germany 

Anna Gawlita, Poland, Kijora Film
Mentor: Jamila Wenske (ACE 24), Achtung Panda! Media GmbH – Germany 

Thomas Hakim, France, petitchaos
Mentor: Thanassis Karathanos (ACE 17), Twenty Twenty Vision – Germany 

Maria Ibrahimova, Azerbaijan, Cinex Productions
Mentor: Dries Phlypo (ACE 20), A Private View – Belgium 

Tonio Kellner, Germany, Neopol Film
Mentor: Paul Miller (ACE 10), Escape Pictures – Greece 

Zsofi Lili Kovacs, Germany/Hungary, Fiskultura
Mentor: Lisa Marie Russo (ACE 11), Fly Film Company Limited – United Kingdom 

Ilona Tolmunen, Finland, Made Film
Mentor: Oliver Neumann (ACE 23), Freibeuter Film – Austria 

Alise Rogule, Latvia, Mimafilms
Mentor: Stienette Bosklopper (ACE Series), Circe Films BV – The Netherlands 

Sahar Yousefi, Canada, NAVA Projects
Mentor: Sarah Sullick (ACE 18), Bright Pictures – United Kingdom 

Together with ACE Training Days, the ACE Mentoring Programme is part of ACE Springboard, a combination of programmes focusing on emerging independent producers to strengthen careers at an early stage. ACE Springboard provides participants with the tools needed to be adaptable and innovative in an ever-changing film industry – for a successful new generation of independent producers!

Please find more information here:
https://ace-producers.com/springboard

For more information please contact:
ace@ace-producers.com