What’s ASF?

Open Call To Emerging Animation Artists, Producers, Writers and Technical Directors!

Come join Animation Sans Frontières 2023-24, the 16th European Animation Development Lab supported by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.

Animation Sans Frontières ASF is a 4×2 weeks lecture/workshop-based training programme aimed at junior European animation film and production professionals. It is designed to give a deeper understanding of the needs and opportunities of the European and international animation industry and markets. The participants become part of a strong pan European network and learn how to professionally develop and pitch a project.

ASF is the perfect chance for emerging animation professionals to:

  • network with other European emerging talents and initiate future trans-European collaborations
  • learn more about the European animation industry and markets, understand coproduction
  • develop projects, work in multidisciplinary & international team
  • meet a wide variety of recognized animation film, games and new media professionals
  • be positioned in the vast international animation industry
  • be guided into alternative markets and new media solutions

Animation Sans Frontières is taking place at, (in order of appearance):

Animationsinstitut at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Ludwigsburg, Germany

Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, Hungary (MOME)

The Animation Workshop, VIA University College, Viborg, Denmark (TAW) 

GOBELINS Paris, France

How it works

A group of up to 16 junior European animation artists, producers, scriptwriters and technical directors travel 2 weeks to each of the 4 schools to follow 4 jointly developed and interlinked parts of an overview of the animation film production process, from concept development through financing and production management to marketing and distribution. TV-series and feature films, games and interactive media, traditional and cross-platform production processes are all covered at various stages along the way.

You can apply with or without a project. If you apply with a project this is an opportunity to develop it further in collaboration with other participants. If you apply without a project you will get the opportunity to initiate a project or co-develop a project with other participants during the course. 

As a special supplement, 8 of the 16 participants will also have the opportunity to join and represent ASF at either the Cartoon Movie 2024, the 2024 Animation Production Days, ITFS 2024 or FMX 2024 events. Travel, accommodation and accreditations are covered by ASF. The selection is based on a motivation letter submitted in January 2024.

Schedule for ASF 2023-24

Module 1
10th to 20th  of October 2023, Animationsinstitut at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Ludwigsburg, Germany

Module 2
20th of November to 1st of December 2023, MOME, Budapest, Hungary

Module 3
29th of January to 9th of February 2024, TAW, Viborg, Denmark

Cartoon Movie pitching event
March 5th to 7th 2024, Bordeaux, France

Module 4
11th to 22nd of March 2024, GOBELINS Paris, France

FMX Film & Media Exchange
23rd to 26th of April 2024, Stuttgart, Germany

APDs Animation Production day
24th to 26th of April 2024, Stuttgart, Germany

ITFS Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film
23rd to 28th of April 2024, Stuttgart, Germany

Target Groups

Animation Sans Frontières is open to junior European animation professionals who recently graduated and are wishing to work on their first professional project, and more precisely to:

  • Directors
  • Animation artists wishing to develop their first film as directors
  • Producers, on the lookout for new projects
  • Scriptwriters/technical directors eager to collaborate on an animated project, learn about the industry and strengthen their network

Course Certificate

All participants having successfully completed ASF will receive a joint course certificate signed by all partner organizing schools.