FilmEU at the Animation Directors’ Lab 2024

The first Animation Director’s Lab took place from the 17th to 21st of June 2024 in Boyle, County Roscommon. FilmEU supported the attendance of participants from its partners including: Rauno Laikjoe (from the Baltic School of Film and Media Arts, Tallinn University, Estonia), Sine Ozbilge (from LUCA School of Arts, Belgium) and Jack O’Shea and Sophie Quin (both from IADT, Dublin).

The Lab was created by IADT’s Damien Byrne and Studio Meala’s Stephen Fagan and was hosted in the 18th Century Georgian Frybrook House, recently converted into a stunning B&B. Events were supported by FilmEU along with the National Talent Academy of Ireland, Creative and Cultural Industries Skillnet, and IADT connected programmes N-TUTORR and Creative Futures Academy (CFA).

The Animation Directors’ Lab pauses for a group photo outside of Frybrook House (Photo credit: Cora McKenna)

The course aims to create a network of animation directors within Ireland and beyond, to share the experience of directing and learn from talented Irish and international creators through workshops, mentoring sessions and masterclasses. Key to this was giving participants the opportunity to network with their peers and get to know other animation directors over the course of an exciting week.

Some of the FilmEU participants at the Animation Directors’ Lab (L-R: Stephen Fagan (Studio Meala); Sophie Quin (FilmEU, IADT); Damien Byrne (IADT); Rauno Laikjoe (BFM Tallinn University); Sine Ozbilge (LUCA School of Arts))

There were a range of guest speakers with diverse experience in the animation industry. These included commercial studios directors like Rob Cullen (former Creative director of Boulder Media) and Ariel Le Croix (previous technical director at Rooster Teeth) and independent Irish filmmakers whose unique studios suggest other ways of creating animation such as Carol Freeman (founder of Paper Panther) and Alan Holly (founder of And Maps and Plans)). Insightful talks by professionals who play key roles in realising animated projects alongside directors included Stephen Fagan (managing director and producer at Studio Meala) and Craig Stuart Garfinkle (composer).

An incredible masterclass was given by keynote speaker Troy Quane (director of Oscar nominated feature Nimona (2023)). He offered a different perspective on the global animation industry, describing his journey as a director in Canada and America. He explained that one of a director’s key responsibilities in leading a project was to create a team ‘environment of succeeding together’.

Going forward in this spirit, it is hoped that the Animation Directors’ Lab will become an annual event and that this support network for animation directors will continue to grow.

Rob Cullen – photo of presentation (Photo credit: Delphine Coudray)