Philippines secures $55.3M in sales leads at French Animation Festival

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

ANNECY, France—The Philippines has made significant strides in the global creative industry, generating potential sales of USD 55.3 million at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market (MIFA) 2024.

The event, held from June 11 to 14, 2024, served as a platform for the country’s animation, film, creative content, and game development industries to showcase their talents and forge promising international partnerships.

Led by the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), in collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Film Philippines, Creative Content Creators Association of the Philippines Inc. (SIKAP), and the Animation Council of the Philippines, Inc. (ACPI), the Philippine delegation presented a strong lineup of world-class studios and projects.

The delegation’s participation resulted in promising contracts currently under negotiation, with potential sales expected to grow.

DTI-EMB Director Bianca Sykimte expressed her optimism about the future of the Philippines’ creative sector following the successful event.

“We are delighted to see the growing awareness and sustained presence of the Philippines at MIFA. At the DTI, we are dedicated to fostering the development and growth of our creative industry,” Sykimte said in a statement .

She further emphasized the importance of such international engagements in promoting the Philippines’ creative talents.

“The DTI-Export Marketing Bureau, in collaboration with our esteemed partners from both the public and private sectors, remains steadfast in its commitment to championing export growth through strategic promotional initiatives such as this,” she added.

Nine premier Philippine animation studios and filmmakers participated in the festival, including Animation Vertigo Asia, Inc., J. Legaspi Computer Graphics, Kampilan Productions, Kino Arts, Inc., Leveret Group, Martinii Animation Studio, The Puppeteer Animation Studios, Inc., Toon City Animation, and Top Draw Animation.

These studios showcased their expertise and creative offerings, strengthening the Philippines’ reputation in the global animation industry.

A highlight of the event was Kino Arts’ participation in the Annecy Southeast Asia Pitch with their animated science fiction feature “EWA,” a boutique studio known for its innovative approach to storytelling.

Additionally, Filipino filmmaker Carl Joseph Papa represented the country in the festival’s Feature Films Contrechamp Category with “Iti Mapukpukaw” (“The Missing”), a rotoscope animated film that delves into the life-altering journey of its protagonist, Eric.

To further promote Filipino talent, the Philippine delegation hosted “Phili-Pitch,” a special pitching event as part of the Philippine Independence Day celebration.

Five Filipino animation studios—Leveret Group, Animation Vertigo, Kino Arts, Puppeteer Studios, and Martinii Animation Studio—presented their projects for potential funding and co-production.

Puppeteer Studios’ “Anito” emerged as the winner, securing support from the FDCP’s International Film Market Assistance Program for future festival or lab attendance.

The Annecy Festival, renowned for its rich array of competitions, masterclasses, and exhibitions, continues to be a crucial event for connecting regional partners, studios, investors, and content creators.

Since 1998, the Annecy International Animation Film Market (MIFA) has been a leading platform for promoting animation, films, and games, as well as conducting workshops and seminars on financing and marketing.