For the third consecutive year, ACE Producers has selected 10 talented up-and-coming producers for the ACE Mentoring Programme EU 2024 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 offering them the opportunity to learn from established mentors from the ACE Network actively working within the international film industry.

Each selected producer has been carefully matched to a mentor according to their specific needs. The programme includes (online) meetings throughout the year, intending to share the ACE Network’s collective knowledge with a new generation of producers.

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

SELECTED PRODUCERS FOR ACE MENTORING PROGRAMME EU 2024:

Arthur Cohen, Elementary – France
Mentor: Richard Johns (ACE 7), Argo Films – United Kingdom

Joana Domingues, Caracol Protagonista – Portugal
Mentor: Eve Gabereau (ACE 33), Modern Films – United Kingdom

Antra Gaile, Air Productions – Latvia
Mentor: Yorgos Tsourgiannis (ACE 20), Horsefly Productions – Greece

Andrea Gori, Lumen Films – Italy
Mentor: Alise Gelze (ACE 28), White Picture – Latvia

Geneviève Gosselin-G., Le Foyer Films – Canada
Mentor: Annabella Nezri (ACE 31), Kwassa Films – Belgium

Jenni Jauri, Silmu Films – Finland
Mentor: Judy Tossell (ACE 9), Egoli Tossell Film – Germany

Paulina Lorenz, JÜNGLINGE FILM – Germany
Mentor: Stienette Bosklopper (ACE Series 1), Circe Films – The Netherlands

Wangechi Ngugi, Monsoons Creative Studio LTD – Kenya
Mentor: Christine Kiauk (ACE 23), Coin Film – Germany

Louise Riousse, Laterna Films – Mexico
Mentor: Alessandro Amato (ACE 32), dispàrte – Italy

Romas Zabarauskas, Naratyvas – Lithuania
Mentor: Radu Stancu (ACE 33), deFilm – Romania

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 their 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!

More information on the ACE Springboard Programmes can be found here.
For questions, contact us at ace@ace-producers.com.

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 will be hosting an information session about the ACE Animation Special 2024. This session will offer producers the chance to hear about the application process, eligibility criteria and workshop programme of the 2024 edition.

Monday 13^th November 2023 – 15:00 CET
Online Information Session: ACE Animation Special 2024

Please sign up for the session by completing this form.

ACE ANIMATION SPECIAL
The ACE Animation Special 2024 will be held in Dingle (Ireland) between 19 and 24 March 2024. It is organised thanks to Creative Europe MEDIA, the Netherlands Film Fund, Screen Ireland and Animation Ireland, 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). Producers experienced in animation that are looking to internationalise their network are also welcome to apply.

WORKSHOP DATES
19 – 24 March 2024

LOCATION
Dingle, Ireland

 

More information on the ACE Animation Special and how to apply can be found at this link.

ACE Producers and Independent Film Foundation are excited to announce the 12 emerging producers selected to participate in the third edition of ACE Training Days Poland, a workshop aimed at strengthening upcoming producers from Central Eastern European countries. Focusing on “The Essentials of Co-Producing: What’s the Deal with Negotiating”, it gives the participants the opportunity to learn from established producers and film professionals and to further develop their international network. The ACE Training Days Poland is supported by the Polish Film Institute.

The 2-day interactive workshop (22 and 23 November) will include plenary sessions and case studies, as well as group meetings and round table discussions, provided with the help of ACE consultants and producers who have notably strong track records in negotiation, international financing, co-production, sales, and distribution, and who will share their knowledge and international expertise.

The Training Days Poland is connected to the ACE 33 Financing Strategies Workshop (20 – 25 November, Warsaw), which is a workshop within the ACE Annual Programme organised for the selected 18 experienced producers from Europe and beyond.

 

SELECTED PRODUCERS FOR ACE TRAINING DAYS POLAND:

Joanna Banach, Kosmos Production – Poland

Péter Fülöp, FP Films – Hungary

Enea Gramo, Art Film – Albania

Viki Réka Kiss, Good Kids, Hungary

Marta Krzeptowska, Orka Film – Poland

Olha Matat, Evos Film – Ukraine

Rūta Petronytė, Smart Casual – Lithuania

Livia Radulescu, Redwood Productions – Romania

Marta Romanova-Jekabsone, Kultfilma – Latvia

Ewa Sokołowska, Warsaw Film School – Poland

Gabriela Suciu, Atelier de Film – Romania

Sylwia Szczechowicz-Warszewska, Film Office – Poland

 

Together with the ACE Mentoring Programme, the ACE Training Days are 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, for more information please contact us at ace@ace-producers.com.

ACE Producers is excited to announce the election of its new president, Marleen Slot (ACE The Netherlands).

Having been elected by the ACE Executive Board, Marleen will serve as president of ACE Producers starting from 19 April 2024, taking over from current president, Antoine Simkine, who held the role since 2018.

Marleen has been a member of ACE Producers since her participation in the ACE 19 Annual Programme in 2009. Over the past years, she has regularly returned to ACE workshops as a speaker, consultant, and expert. Since 2020, Marleen is a board member for ACE Producers and currently is serving as vice-president.

Marleen founded Amsterdam-based film production company Viking Film in 2011. International in scope, Viking Film creates high-quality films for both Dutch and international audiences with a special focus on arthouse and animation films. Marleen started her career at Lemming Film, where she worked for 8 years as a producer.

Marleen will collaborate closely with Director, Jacobine van der Vloed, in developing ACE’s vision and strategy. Both will work together as they take ACE forward and build on the substantial achievements that have occurred over the past few years.

Commenting on her election, Marleen said: “I feel very honoured to be elected the new president of an organisation that is so dear to me and such an important part of my career and life since 2009. I strongly believe in the power of ACE as a training organisation but even more as a place for producers to share and network, where you can be vulnerable and open and share successes and mistakes. Collectively we can make the difference and bring our films to a higher level.”

Departing president Antoine Simkine comments: “I am delighted to announce that my esteemed friend and colleague, Marleen Slot, has been chosen and duly elected by the board to undertake the important mission of President. Marleen played a pivotal role in the relocation of ACE from France to the Netherlands, and now, it is her time to contribute further to our organization’s growth and solidify position of ACE as Europe’s premier producers’ association. I extend my heartfelt wishes for Marleen’s utmost success in this new responsibility, eagerly anticipating the official transition that will take place in April 2024 during our annual reunion in Bordeaux.”

ACE Producers is pleased to announce the call for applications for the fifth ACE Animation Special. The workshop, which will be held in Dingle (Ireland) between 19 and 24 March 2024, is organised thanks to Creative Europe MEDIA, the Netherlands Film Fund, in close collaboration with Screen Ireland, Animation Ireland and 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 long-form 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.

WORKSHOP DATES
19 – 24 March 2024

LOCATION
Dingle, Ireland

ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS

• To be an owner, partner or associate of an independent film/animation/TV production company;
• To be an ACE member or producer with a similar level of experience;
• To have a long-form or feature-length animation project at idea or concept stage; producers without a project are also welcome to apply but must demonstrate a clear motivation.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
28 November 2023
Up to 18 places available

HOW TO APPLY
For more information or to request an application form, please contact info@ace-producers.com