In 2020, we launched the Createch animation incubator program, an intervention to advance the animation and gaming industry in the region. Our program partners are AFD, the HEVA Fund and the French embassy in Kenya. The incubator is running alongside the Rubika program which offers quality training in animation and gaming skills. The first incubator cohort was launched in 2020, with 7 participants joining the 3-month program. With one-on-one mentorship from animation experts like Kwame Nyongo, they were guided through creating investor-ready pitches that they can also use to compete in international festivals and competitions. This is to equip the animators with the tools to explore additional career pathways, leverage their talents, and source funding for the production and development of their projects.
One of the participants from the first cohort, Raymond Malinga, took part in the Animation du Monde pitching competition at Annecy International Animation Film Market (Mifa) where he was a finalist. Raymond’s work, Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, will feature in an upcoming Disney collection of animated films from across Africa later in the year.
We’ve just closed applications for the next cohort, set to start in mid-September. The incubator model is different this time, incorporating group sessions that allow peer learning, networking and connecting with other animators. The participants will also interact with more mentors and experts from their field. The program will run for 3months, covering topics like marketing, budgeting, and distribution, on top of the technical aspects of the curriculum. The goal is to empower the participants with the skills they need to pitch their projects at international festivals and competitions and to realize the multiple pathways within the animation field that they can explore.