Film London and Arts Council England present FLAMIN Animations, a commissioning programme for four early-career black-identifying* artist animators living in the UK. Part of FLAMIN (Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network), 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.

The four new 2-3 minute animation commissions will be screened in London and FLAMIN will support the selected artist animators in getting further exposure for their work.

FLAMIN Animations looks to commission black-identifying* practitioners as a considered acknowledgement of the underrepresentation of black-identifying artists within the art, film, and animation industries. The programme comes as part of Film London’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement and our increased commitment to diversity and equality.

Selected applicants will participate in a series of workshops with artists and industry professionals, receive mentoring and advice from the FLAMIN team as part of a peer group of animators. Previously invited speakers have included the BAFTA-award winning animator Osbert Parker and artist Maybelle Peters.

*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 support and advice from the FLAMIN Team
• Bespoke mentoring opportunities from 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?

• Artists animators should be experimenting with animation
• Artist animators must be 18-30 years old
• For black-identifying* artists
• Artist animators should have a UK address
• Current students are not eligible
• No formal education in animation or art is necessary
• FLAMIN is open to people working in partnerships

Key Dates

• 22nd May 2023
  Deadline for applications
• Week beginning 5th June 2023
  Interviews (to take place in person in London, or online over Zoom)
• February 2024
  Deadline for delivery (artists will have 8 months to make the work)

What do I need to apply with?

• A brief description about you (up to 300 words)
  Tell us about your animation work, 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 experience.
  
• Your idea for a short animation (up to 300 words)
  Ideas should be for a 2-3 minute animated piece. There is no theme for what the idea has to be about – follow what interests you. You need to be able to make the animation within the 8-month production period (before March 2024).
  
• 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.

How to Apply

Applications to FLAMIN Animations must be completed online using the Wufoo 'FLAMIN Animations 2023’ application form.

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Contact and Accessibility

Please email flamin@filmlondon.org.uk or phone us on 020 7613 7676 with any questions or assistance you require in the application process. We are happy to assist and discuss accessibility requirements with artist animators who may identify as having a disability and are interested in participating in FLAMIN Animations.

What do you mean by Animation?

We are looking for innovation in form and content, and are open to all forms of audio-visual experimentation. We welcome mixed media work, combinations of live action and animation, and the work can embrace fiction, documentary, and can be politically or socially driven. The content might be fantasy, mythologies, life experiences, and can take inspiration from films, poetry, music and other sources that interest you. It can be drawn, painted, computer-generated, photo-manipulated, but it has to be completely original.

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

Check out the Film London Talent Showcase for examples of animations that FLAMIN has commissioned in previous years.