FLAMIN Animations is a commissioning programme for early-career Black-identifying* artist animators living in the UK. Part of Film London Artists' Moving Image Network (FLAMIN), the programme aims to support artist animators as they take their first steps into a career working with the moving image, with development support and funding for a new work.

In 2024, FLAMIN Animations is presented in partnership with the award winning London-based animation studio Blinkink, who will be providing focused support to the selected animators throughout the development and production process alongside the FLAMIN team.

Previous FLAMIN Animators have shown work at festivals including London International Animation Festival, B3 Biennial of the Moving Image (Frankfurt), and Edinburgh International Film Festival, and screened on the Piccadilly Lights as part of the CIRCA x Dazed Class of 2022. Each year, the new commissions have been showcased in partnership with The New Black Film Collective at TNB XPO, an event celebrating Black excellence in the screen industries.

The programme responds to the underrepresentation of Black artists within the art, film, and animation industries, and is part of Film London’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.

*Artists and Creatives of African or Caribbean Descent, Black African, Caribbean, Afro-Latinx and African-American heritage, including those of mixed-Black heritage who identify as such.

What does the programme offer each artist animator?

• £3,000 to create a new animation
• Development and production support and advice from the FLAMIN team and Blinkink
  
• Bespoke workshop programme with animation professionals in the art and film industries
• Ongoing profile and promotion through Film London's newsletter and social media channels as a FLAMIN alumnus
  

Who is eligible to apply?

• Applicants must be 18-30 years old
• For Black-identifying* artists (*Artists and Creatives of African or Caribbean Descent, Black African, Caribbean, Afro-Latinx and African-American heritage, including those of mixed-Black heritage who identify as such)
• Applicants should have a UK address
• Current students are not eligible
• No formal education in animation or art is necessary
• FLAMIN is open to artists working in partnerships

Applications for FLAMIN Animations are now closed

Sign up to the FLAMIN newsletter to find out about all of our artist opportunities: https://filmlondon.org.uk/mailing-list

Key Dates

• 27th May 2024
  Deadline for applications
• Week beginning 10th June 2024
  Interviews (to take place in person in London, or online over Zoom)
• February 2025
  Deadline for delivery (artists will have 8 months for development and production)

What do I need to apply with?

• A brief description about you (up to 300 words)
  Tell us about your animation practice: any themes, interests and influences in your work, and any experience you might have had (e.g. screenings, exhibitions, training or jobs). There is an option to upload a CV detailing your professional experience.
  
• Your idea for a short animation (up to 300 words)
  Ideas should be for a 2-3 minute animated film. There are no set themes for what the film has to be about – follow what interests you. You need to be able to make the animation within the 8-month production period, so think about what might be feasible in that timeframe.
  
• Examples of your previous work
  Submit video links to up to two previous animations you’ve made (links can be hosted on Vimeo, YouTube, Instagram etc.). You can also upload a PDF of images (no longer than 10 pages long and no larger than 10MB in file size) to represent your animation work e.g. drawings, storyboards, collages, CGI tests, moodboards etc.

Contact and Accessibility

Please email flamin@filmlondon.org.uk or phone us on 020 20 7613 7676 with any questions or assistance you require in the application process.

We are happy to provide support and discuss accessibility requirements with applicants who may identify as having a disability.

What do you mean by Animation?

We are looking for innovation in form and content, and encourage experimental approaches to the medium. We welcome all forms of animation, including mixed-media and combinations of live action and animation. It can be drawn, painted, computer-generated, or collaged, but it must be completely original. The work can embrace fiction or documentary and take inspiration from what interests you - anything from politics and poetry to music and mythology.

We want you to be creative and imaginative with the equipment and technology at your disposal, whether it is low-tech or state of the art. It is your idea and creative vision that we are most interested in.

Check out previous FLAMIN Animations commissions and the Film London Talent Showcase for examples of animators that FLAMIN has worked with in previous years.