Beta
South West Screen

Welcome to SWS | Login |

UK delegates give their comments

World Trade Week was a hit for Britain’s animators.

With support from South West Screen and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), 20 animators from across the UK attended the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, the world’s biggest animation festival in France last month.



The festival coincided with World Trade Week UK, a Government initiative to encourage exports, running from 8th to the 12th June.

The creative industries are widely recognized as key to driving the UK out of recession and the industry thrives in the UK. Animation is one of the most rapidly expanding areas of creative and technical development and its applications from 3D computer animation to digital special effects are seen on films, TV and in computer games. It is an industry with which the South West is synonymous.  Aardman’s Oscar and Bafta winning Wallace & Gromit films are the most famous export from the region’s stable of animators and have blazed a trail for others to follow.

The 20 companies attending with South West Screen and UKTI included animators from all across of the UK from Edinburgh to London, Sussex to Cardiff. Their comments on the festival are as below. Click here for an overview of the festival.

“Attending Annecy with South West Screen and UKTI got us several steps up the ladder before we had even reached the festival. Help with arranging meetings, networking events and organising our stand presence was invaluable and made the whole experience a breeze. It’s great to see UK studios being so well supported and represented.” Andy Guest, The CharacterShop Ltd

 “Being part of the UK delegation gave official endorsement, I felt, to my company and the work I was presenting at Mifa. I will now be following up on the valuable contacts I made at this event.” Gerald Conn, Cinetig

“Going to MIFA with South West Screen and UK Trade & Investment really was a springboard for our independent company in the international film market. Had it not been for South West Screen I would not be having some of the talks for investment to make our new production.” Nathan Erasmus, Gravy Media

“Attending the Annecy festival and market as part of the British UKTI sponsored stand has been a priceless super-concentrated, health, wealth and wellbeing experience of inestimable proportions for our company.” Andy Day, Tank Creative Ltd


“Attending the SWS/UKTI stand at Mifa allowed me to hone my speed pitching skills to a range of key contacts who gave me honest and encouraging feedback on my broadcast slate. Being part of a stand meant that high profile contacts took the time to visit whereas they may not have seen us individually.” Sarah Cox, Arthurcox Ltd

“The Mifa event at Annecy is a fantastic opportunity to find out what is happening in European and International animation, to make contacts and to sell animated product.” Leslie MacKenzie, West Highland Animation

“Working with South West Screen and UKTI enabled Kudlian to attend Annecy with confidence. Pre-travel information was excellent and the organisation at the show meant that our time was well used and informative.” James Betts, Kudlian Software Ltd

"It was great to be part of the team, flying the flag for UK animation talent.” Roger Jackson, Roger Jackson Associates

“Bryant Whittle was proud to be a member of the UK delegation to Annecy 2009, and is grateful for the support of South West Screen, UKTI and the British Embassy Paris.” John Bryant, Bryant Whittle

“It was a great networking experience. We came out if it with some sold contacts and a more professional attitude towards the future of our own project, having received the most valuable things the event provided: professional feedback.” Greg Kam, Ticketyboo Ltd

“It was great to be on the stand and meet all the other UK companies especially as it was incredibly well facilitated and organised by Helen and Johanna.” Jacky Priddle, Hot Head Films

 “Johanna Bolhoven and Helen Brunsdon delivered us the highest quality of face-to-face meetings in a three day packed schedule. This gave us the opportunity to sell our ideas to the most influential delegates at the festival. An awesome experience.” Richard Higgs, Big Squid Ltd

 “Annecy is an astonishing event, it is huge and yet you feel part of small group of like-minded people. We hope we will be back every year from now on.” Pedro Tavares, Victor Animation Studios

To find out more about how South West Screen and UKTI can support you to attend Realscreen in February 2010, click here.

Annecy Animation Festival

SWS E-Bulletin

Subscribe to our free e-bulletin to keep up-to-date. By submitting your email you agree to receive communications from South West Screen. Email us your stories for a chance to be included in the next e-bulletin.