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

ACE Producers is pleased to launch the call for applications for the third edition of the ACE Animation Special, supported by Creative Europe MEDIA and NL Film Fund, in collaboration with Screen Ireland, Animation Ireland and Animation Dingle.

The workshop is for experienced producers that plan to diversify their activities to include animation production and producers already familiar with animation but looking to internationalise their network and knowledge.

16-18 producers will be selected for the workshop, with an animation project (series/long-form/feature length) 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 sessions on physical line production as well as case studies on completed animation projects and an insight into animation series production. Group sessions, plenary sessions, walk & talks and one-to-one meetings will together build a workshop where producers learn from each other’s experiences and those of key industry guests.

Topics covered include:

• Story development and defining the rules of the world of your story;
• Visual world building and asset creation;
• International production workflows in multi-country co-productions;
• Financing strategies;
• Strategically integrating an animation department into an existing (film-) production company;
• Marketing and sales on animation projects.

DEADLINE
28 November 2022 – EXTENDED TO 5 DECEMBER
Up to 18 spaces available

DATES
21 – 26 March 2023

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.

FEES
€2.500 (€2.250 for ACE Network Members).
The fee covers full board, accommodation and training during the workshops. Travel costs are not included.

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

ACE Producers has selected 18 experienced independent producers for the 5th edition of the ACE Series Special.

Nicholas Alavanos – Filmiki – Greece
“Loom”
Writers: Konstantinos Antonopoulos, Yorgos Garefalakis, Panagiotis Melidis

Didar Domehri – Maneki Films – France
“Grey Zone”
Showrunner: Mehdi Ouahab
Writers: Mehdi Ouahab, Céline Bardet

Madeleine Ekman – Nordisk Film – Sweden
“The Making of a Terrorist”
Writers: Leif Edlund, Emelia Hansson

Jessie Fisk – Feline Films – Ireland
“When They All Vanish”
Showrunner: Mark Noonan
Writer & director: Mark Noonan

Dyveke Graver – Eye Eye Pictures – Norway
Untitled

Matīss Kaža – Trickster Pictures – Latvia
“Arizona Joe”
Showrunner: Matīss Kaža
Writer & director: Matīss Kaža

Jean-Marie Laronze – Special Touch Studios – France
“Kongo, The River’s Kingdom”
Writers: Ori-Huchi Kozia, Jean Bofane, Cyril Tysz
Director: Ori-Huchi Kozia

Vicky Miha – asterisk* – Greece
“Gates of Eden”
Writer: Thomas Tsalapatis

Miriam Nørgaard – Growing Stories – Denmark
“Blòt”
Showrunners: Mads Kamp Thulstrup, Christopher Grøndahl
Writer: Christopher Grøndahl
Director: Mads Kamp Thulstrup

Gitte Nuyens – Wilder Content – Belgium
“The Dead Man’s Wife”
Showrunner: Bert Van Dael
Writers: Bert Van Dael, Deben Van Dam, Gitte Nuyens
Directors: Tim Mielants, Deben Van Dam

Tinna Proppe – Sellout – Iceland
“Barbara”
Writer & director: Haukur Björgvinsson

Xavier Rombaut – Polar Bear – Belgium
“Bad Blood”
Writers: Bert Lesaffer, Raf Reyntjens
Director: Raf Reyntjens

Laurette Schillings– Topkapi Films – The Netherlands
“The Tata Tragedy”
Showrunners: Anoek Nuyens and Rebekka de Wit
Writers: Anoek Nuyens, Rebekka de Wit and Nathan Vecht

Dmytro Sukhanov – Toy Cinema – Ukraine
“Unspoken”
Writers: Zhanna Ozirna, Filip Syczynski

John Wallace – Cowtown Pictures – Ireland
“Settlement”
Writer: Ger Gleeson

Joram Willink – BIND – The Netherlands
“Dual Use”
Writer: Jan van Dyck
Director: Sander Burger

Anna Zavorszky – Proton Cinema – Hungary
“Salvation”
Writers: Agota Benedek, Aniko Mangold

The week-long workshop offers producers the opportunity to expand their understanding of the series production landscape and internationalise their network within the industry. Professionals from companies such as Fremantle, Banijay, and Lionsgate regularly attend as consultants, along with producers and showrunners offering no-holds-barred case studies and discussions.

The ACE Series Special will take place thanks to the support of Creative Europe MEDIA, LIAA – Latvian Investment and Development Agency, and the Netherlands Film Fund. The selected 18 participants represent 12 countries and include a number of highly experienced producers venturing into series production for the first time. Each producer will attend the workshop with a series project in the early stages of development which will serve as a vehicle for their learning.

The workshop will take place from the 30th of October 2023 until the 4th of November 2023. It will mark the first time that an ACE workshop has taken place in Latvia, offering the producers the opportunity to discover the services and locations available in the country.

A previous version of this post included Dace Siatkovska (Latvia – Trickster Pictures) as a participant. As she was unable to attend the workshop, Matīss Kaža (Latvia – Trickster Pictures) has been selected to attend in her place. Also, Knut Inge Solbu (Norway – Fenomen TV Film & Scene) was initially announced as one of the participants, but had to withdraw from the programme.

ACE Producers has selected 17 experienced independent producers for the 4th edition of the ACE Series Special.

Roshanak Behesht Nedjad – Germany – In Good Company GmbH
“Me, Myself & Who?”
Showrunner – Barbara Kronenberg
Writer – Barbara Kronenberg

Nina Frese – ACE Germany – Wunderlust eK
“As a Matter of Sex”
Writer – Maria Solrun

Alexander Glehr – Austria – Film AG Produktions GmbH
“A New Order”
Writer – Agnes Pluch

Erik Glijnis – ACE the Netherlands – Lemming Film
“The House of the Mosque”
Writer – Beri Shalmashi

Danijel Hocevar – Slovenia – Vertigo
“Variola – Dark Spring”
Showrunner – Matevž Luzar
Writers – Matevž Luzar, Srđan Koljević, Miha Hočevar

Christine Kiauk – ACE Germany – COIN FILM GmbH
“True Murderers”
Writers – Linda Brieda, Jens Becker, Dominik Wessely

JJ Lousberg – UK – Filmwave
“KALLOCAIN”
Writer – Peter Modestij

Leah Mallen – Canada – All In Pictures
“The Shepherd”
Showrunners – Jennica Harper, Nancy Lee
Writers – Jennica Harper, Nancy Lee

Annabella Nezri – ACE Belgium – Kwassa Films
“Legat”
Showrunner – David O’Neill
Writers – David O’Neill, Matthieu Frances

Viktória Petrányi – ACE Hungary – Proton Cinema
“Below the Earth”
Writers – György Mór Kárpáti, Márk Bodzsár

Reto Schaerli – ACE Switzerland – Zodiac Pictures Ltd
“William Tell”
Writers – Stefan Brunner, Lorenz Langenegger

Marica Stocchi – ACE Italy – Rosamont
“Stucky”
Writers – Marco Pettenello, Valerio Attanasio, Matteo Visconti

Nebojsa Taraba – Croatia – Drugi plan
“Greater Adria”
Showrunner – Nebojsa Taraba
Writers – Simona Nobile, Nebojsa Taraba

Sophie Venner – ACE UK – Taletime Pictures
“Revolution School”
Showrunners – Paula Alvarez Vaccaro, Aaron Brookner
Writers – Paula Alvarez Vaccaro, Aaron Brookner

Dagne Vildziunaite – Lithuania – Just a moment
“C for Cancel”
Showrunner – Lina Luzyte
Writers – Lina Luzyte, Ewa Sec, Patryk Bugajski

Jamila Wenske – ACE Germany – Achtung Panda!
“Ordinary, Extraordinary”
Showrunner – Sabiha Sumar
Writers – Sabiha Sumar, Julia Rose, Rachel Mathews

Mia Ylönen – Finland – Helsinki-filmi
“Icebreaker”
Showrunner – Mia Ylönen
Writers – Mia Ylönen, Nuutti Sihvonen, Tuomas Hakola

The intensive hands-on workshop is designed to help integrating a series division into the producers’ companies and deepen their knowledge of developing and producing TV drama series for an international audience. All selected producers have applied with a series in development. The Series Special will take place in Munich in early November.

With an increasing demand for content and with a market that is changing daily, producers are looking for new ways of working and diversifying their output. Focusing primarily on the creative and financial aspects of TV series production, the ACE Series Special offers sessions on working with broadcasters, marketing, audiences, international approaches, and business strategies.

The workshop will give producers a chance to work on their projects through one-to-one meetings with experts and group sessions with their peers benefiting from good practices and advise with regards to different territories, specific legal and financing structures, and business insights.

Thanks to our partners FFF Bayern for their support.

A previous version of this post also included Aija Berzina (Latvia– Tasse Film) as a participant. Unfortunately, she had to withdraw from the workshop.

Lamia Chraïbi – Moon a Deal Films – France/Morocco
“The Shelter” directed by Talal Selhami

Marija Dimitrova – List Production – North Macedonia
“Parno” directed by Igor Ivanov

Adis Djapo – SCCA/pro.ba – Bosnia and Herzegovina
“Supermarket” directed by Nermin Hamzagic

Eve Gabereau – Modern Films – United Kingdom
“Cold Enough for Snow” directed by Jemima James

Emilia Haukka – Aamu Film Company – Finland
“Abyss” directed by Aino Suni

Monica Hellström – Ström Pictures – Denmark
“Bethlehem” directed by Larissa Sansour & Søren Lind

Dragana Jovović – Non-Aligned Films – Serbia
“In the Shadow of the Horns” directed by Ognjen Glavonić

Lionel Massol – Films Grand Huit – France
“Deepfake” directed by Ismaël Joffroy Chandoutis

Filipa Reis – Uma Pedra no Sapato – Portugal
“Cantiga” directed by Miguel Gomes

Esko Rips – Nafta Films – Estonia
“Serafima & Bogdan” directed by Veiko Õunpuu

Aline Schmid – Beauvoir Films – Switzerland
“A Year Without Summer” directed by Flurin Giger

Johannes Schubert – SCHUBERT – Austria
“Keep Her Quiet” directed by Franz Böhm

Radu Stancu – deFilm – Romania
“Magnum Opus” directed by Bogdan Mirica

Anton Máni Svansson – Join Motion Pictures – Iceland
“The Love that Remains” directed by Hlynur Pálmason

Marc Tetreault – Shut Up & Colour Pictures Inc – Canada
“Place of Ghosts” directed by Bretten Hannam

Snežana van Houwelingen – This and That Productions – Serbia
“Folk Play” directed by Mirjana Karanovic

Dagne Vildziunaite – Just a moment – Lithuania
“Kopeck” directed by Lina Lužytė

Agnieszka Wasiak – Lava Films – Poland
“Black Water” directed by Aga Woszczyńska

 

ACE Producers has selected 18 experienced independent producers to join the ACE Network after completing the 33^rd edition of its ACE Annual Programme. The selected producers from 17 different territories will attend three workshops throughout 2023 and 2024 moving the projects with which they applied forward.

The selection committee consisted of members of the ACE Board and Network, consultants, ACE president Antoine Simkine and director and head of studies Jacobine van der Vloed.

“We are looking forward to welcoming this experienced group of independent producers to the ACE 33 Annual Programme. They each bring their own expertise and perspective, and we’re excited to get to know them and collaborate over the coming months. They will make a fantastic addition to the ACE Network.”, Jacobine van der Vloed commented.

 

Four events make up the core of the training. The first workshop, dedicated to content development, will take place in Oslo, Norway in early October and will include group sessions and individual meetings, analysing the concepts, dramaturgy, and target audiences of producers’ projects. The workshop is supported by The Norwegian Film Institute, Oslo Filmfund, Oslo Filmkommisjon and Media Desk Norway.

In November, the second workshop, which offers the producers advice on possible financing strategies for their projects, will take place in Warsaw, Poland, with the support of the Polish Film Institute and in collaboration with Independent Film Foundation. The week-long workshop will be made up of interactive sessions exploring international financing opportunities and strategies through detailed analysis of the producers’ finance plans, with input provided by high-grade professionals from across the industry. The sessions offer a uniquely open exchange of experience and ideas which sheds light on the evolution of co-production practices, of public and private funding schemes, and of the global marketplace in the digital age.

The third workshop will look at the producers’ business strategies, providing them with models of sustainable company management and ways to build businesses that have real value. Group sessions and panel discussions guide the producers through keener applications of marketing techniques and diversified commercial activities. The Business Prospects Workshop will take place in France and is immediately followed by the ACE Annual Reunion, where the new producers will be officially welcomed into the ACE Network.

The Annual Reunion 2024 will be held in Bordeaux, France with the support of the ALCA Nouvelle Aquitaine, CNC and Département de la Gironde.

The ACE Annual Programme is supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, Netherlands Film Fund, Procirep, German Films, Téléfilm Canada, Screen Ireland, Focal and APA – Audiovisual Producers Association.

Alessandro Amato – dispàrte – Italy
“A Song That Slays” directed by Mo Scarpelli

Sébastien Aubert – Adastra Films – France
“Blood Burn” directed by Akaki Popkhadze

Reza Bahar – Gifted Films – Germany
“Raan” directed by Hallvard Braein

Nadim Cheikhrouha – Tanit Films – France
“Mime” directed by Kaouther ben Hania

Jean-Laurent Csinidis – Films de Force Majeure – France
“A Winner is Seen at the Start” directed by Zhannat Alshanova

Natasa Damnjanovic –Dart Film – Serbia
“The Long Weekend” directed by Katarina Koljevic

Natalia Grzegorzek – Koskino Sp. z.o.o. – Poland
“Madame et Monsieur Gombrowicz” directed by Łukasz Grzegorzek

Oana Iancu – The East Company Productions – Romania
“Cardinal” directed by Bogdan George Apetri

Jeanie Igoe – Homebird Productions – Ireland
“The Song Collector” directed by Bob Gallagher

Marie Kjellson – Kjellson & Wik – Sweden
“LOVE #NoFilter” directed by Mikael Bundsen

Laurence Lascary – De l’Autre Côté du Périph ’– France
“Sound System” directed by Sébastien Tulard

Sára László – Campfilm – Hungary
“The Vacation” directed by Dénes Nagy

Vicky Miha – asterisk* – Greece
“Nico Finds a Treasure” directed by Konstantinos Frangopoulos

Anand Ramayya –Karma Film – Canada
“#Vanlife” directed by Trevor Cameron

Tathiani Sacilotto – Persona Non Grata Pictures – Portugal
“Engagée” directed by Anna Da Palma

Dmytro Sukhanov – Toy Cinema – Ukraine
“Ground Zero” directed by Zhanna Ozirna

Katya Trichkova – Contrast films – Bulgaria
“Kiril’s Luck” directed by Milena Andonova

Derk-Jan Warrink –Keplerfilm – the Netherlands
“Killabees” directed by Eché Janga

ACE Producers has selected 18 experienced independent producers to join the ACE Network after completing the 32nd edition of its Annual Programme. The selected producers from 15 different territories will attend three workshops throughout 2022 and 2023 moving the projects with which they applied forward.

The selection committee consisted of members of the ACE board, ACE consultants, president Antoine Simkine and director Jacobine van der Vloed.

Four events make up the core of the training. The first workshop, dedicated to content development, will take place in Øverbygd, Norway in mid October and will include group sessions and individual meetings, analysing the concepts, dramaturgy, and target audiences of producers’ projects. The workshop is supported by The Norwegian Film Institute and Filmcamp.

In November, the second workshop, which offers the producers advice on possible financing strategies for their projects, will take place in Warsaw, Poland, with the support of the Polish Film Institute and in collaboration with Independent Film Foundation. The week-long workshop will be made up of interactive sessions exploring international financing opportunities and strategies through detailed analysis of the producers’ finance plans, with input provided by high-grade professionals from across the industry. The sessions offer a uniquely open exchange of experience and ideas which sheds light on the evolution of co-production practices, of public and private funding schemes, and of the global marketplace in the digital age.

The third workshop will look at the producers’ business strategies, providing them with models of sustainable company management and ways to build businesses that have real value. Group sessions and panel discussions guide the producers through keener applications of marketing techniques and diversified commercial activities. The Business Prospects Workshop will take place in Amsterdam with the kind support of the Netherlands Film Fund and is immediately followed by the ACE Annual Reunion, were the new producers will be officially welcomed into the ACE Network.

The Annual Reunion 2023 will be held in San Sebastian, Spain with the support of the Zineuskadi & Basque Audiovisual.

ACE Producers is supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, Netherlands Film Fund, Polish Film Institute, Norwegian Film Institute, FilmCamp, Procirep, FFF Bayern, Pictanovo, German Films, Téléfilm Canada, Roma Lazio Film Commission, Screen Ireland, Animation Skillnet, BAI, Focal, Rai Cinema and APA – Audiovisual Producers Association, Animation Ireland.