Page 15 - ANI_2017_04

A MESSAGE FROM
THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE
LAURENT LEGODEC
Chargé d’Affaires a.i.

Bravo ! Congratulations for this 11th edition of Animahenasyon! The French
Embassy has been supporting the Animation Council of the Philippines from
the beginning, and the very first Philippine animation festival was held fol-
lowing your very first visit to Annecy, and it featured Filipino and French
animated films side-by-side!
2017 marks a special year as we celebrate 70 years of Franco-Philippine
diplomatic relations, but moreover, it is the year that the Philippines first offi-
cially participated in the International Animation Film Festival and Market in
Annecy, with the support of the Film Development Council of the Philippines
and the French Embassy, as well as the first time that Filipino films were
included in the program of the Festival du Cinéma d’Animation organized
by the Association Française du Cinéma d’Animation, AFCA, the French
counterpart of ACPI. Together with the continued Philippine presence at the
MIPCOM in Cannes, Philippine animation shall be promoted to international
markets and find commercial and economic partners in France, Europe and
the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, Animahenasyon provides a driving force for the local animation
industry, showcasing competing works from both professional and student
animators, alongside a selection of international films that can serve as in-
spiration to the new generation of animators and studios. The French Em-
bassy is happy to share a selection of films courtesy of the Institut Français,
the AFCA, and French animation schools for the enjoyment of the festival
audience.
Looking forward, the Embassy of France will facilitate exchanges between
the ACPI and the Network of French Animation Schools (Réseau des Ecoles
du Cinéma d’Animation, RECA) in order to offer a scholarship program, to-
gether with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), that will assure
competency training for Filipino instructors and students of animation to
elevate the level of skills in the industry. A cooperation agreement between
France and the Philippines is underway for the development and promotion
of the creative industries.

In the meantime, let us enjoy the films!

15