Animae Caribe Marks 25 Years of Animation
What began as a small animation festival has grown into a regional creative movement.
Marking the 25th edition of the Animae Caribe Festival on Tuesday, Founder and Director Camille Selvon-Abrahams said the event now does more than showcase animation.
« Our work has also contributed to the development of animation education, animation and game education at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. Industry training initiatives and opportunities for our students engage with professionals. »
She said the festival is helping to build a connected Caribbean animation industry capable of exporting its stories to international audiences.
« We want the Caribbean to not only consume global content but to be a region that creates, own and exports its stories. »
Supporting the initiative, Chief Executive Officer of Global Trinidad and Tobago, Sekou Alleyne, emphasised the need to develop and commercialise Caribbean intellectual property, ensuring the region’s stories can compete in international markets while retaining their cultural identity.
« We do not need to become less Caribbean to become more globally relevant. I’ll say that again. We do not need to become less Caribbean to become more globally relevant. »
Meanwhile, Rose Foundation Chairperson Dr Marcia Belgrove said artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for animation and digital storytelling. However, she stressed that Caribbean creators must learn to use AI technology to their advantage to safeguard their livelihoods, creativity and intellectual property.
« We recognise that AI is developing rapidly and would affect how people live, learn, and work. Yet many people in our communities had heard about it without having an opportunity to explore what it could mean for them. We wanted to create that opportunity. »
As Animae Caribe celebrates 25 years of developing Caribbean talent, organisers say the focus now is on ensuring the region’s creators are equipped to tell their own stories, compete globally and adapt to a rapidly changing digital landscape.
