South African animation studio Triggerfish has selected four features and four TV series for development, in the inaugural cohort of its ZAR44 million (US$2.9 million) Story Lab initiative.
Disrupt Africa reported in July Triggerfish announced the launch of the Triggerfish Story Lab – run in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry, and the Walt Disney Company -, through which Triggerfish promised to invest ZAR44 million (US$2.9 million) in supporting emerging African film content producers over the next three years.
In September, applications closed for the initiative, with Triggerfish revealing it received 1,378 entries from storytellers and filmmakers from 30 countries across Africa and its diaspora. A shortlist of candidates was selected, comprising 23 feature films and 12 TV series.
The shortlisted entries attended workshops in Cape Town in November, with leading Hollywood script consultant Pilar Alessandra; and vice president of content for animation, digital and acquisitions at Disney Channels EMEA, Orion Ross. The candidates then made final pitches to a panel of script and animation experts and development executives from Triggerfish and The Walt Disney Company.
Triggerfish today announced the successful candidates selected to have their ideas developed into video content for the global market.
Four feature films – three from South Africa, and one from a Kenyan – Nigerian team -, and four TV series – three South African, and one Zambian – were selected.
“From misfit Zambian girls who become low-budget superhero-super-spies to a stubborn 12-year-old Kenyan girl who defies tradition by racing camels, from a young South African scientist who accidentally turns her annoying little sister into a new source of electricity to a timid lemming who must defy his nature, these are characters we fell in love with,” said Anthony Silverston, head of development at Triggerfish.
“We’re excited by the range of stories, that explore everything from contemporary urban to Afro-futuristic worlds. We’re looking forward to bringing something fresh to the screen.”
The selected storytellers will start the new year with a two-week immersion trip to Disney’s headquarters in Burbank, California, where they will receive mentoring from key studio and television executives.
