For its 5th edition, Digital Lab Africa is switching to a fully online format. The incubation and mentorship programs followed by the DLA#5 laureates will include online activities, online mentorship, and participation to online industry events. Furthermore, Digital Lab Africa call for applications will take place in two different phases.

The first phase will be dedicated to immersive experience and animation categories and will take place between March and April 2021. The second phase will be dedicated to video game, digital art and music categories and will take place between June and July 2021.

DLA#5 call for application is open to anyone from the field of digital content creation: artists, producers, designers, start-ups, SMEs, collectives, students or entrepreneurs, living or native from a Sub-Saharan African country. It targets innovative digital content from the perspective of form, storytelling and technologies used in one of these 5 categories: immersive experience, gaming, music, animation and digital art.

The applications will be reviewed by the DLA Selection Committees based on criteria of creativity, artistic/technical quality, technological aspect and potential.

To apply for phase 1 (animation and immersive experience):
1 – Fill in the online form
2 – Email your application documents to: applications@digilabafrica.com

Deadline to apply is: 4 April 2021

Application files (for both animation and XR):

• Pitch deck / Presentation document (PDF, PowerPoint or Word) including:SynopsisSpec treatment
  • Director’s statement
  • Target audience and strategy
    • Technical informationAnimation: what animation technic / techniques is/are used and why
    • XR: What technology/technologies is/are used and why
  • Graphic / Visual elements
• Any preview, pilot or video demo of the project (if available)
• A short video pitch [2 to 3 min] explaining your concept and why you want to be part of the DLA Mentorship & Incubation program.
• A cover letter explaining why you want to take part in the DLA program.
• A resume/curriculum vitae of the applicant and/or description of the company represented
• A picture (.jpeg) of the applicant

About the incubation programs:

ANIMATION
Description
The Animation category is open to all content which mainly use animation technics (2D, 3D, paper, film, sand, modelling clay, painting, figurine etc.) The project may be intended for cinema, television or any type of connected devices. Accepted formats: short & features films, TV formats & series, web & interactive. New or hybrid formats : artistic installation, virtual reality, transmedia, video mapping, TV series or TV special, animated documentary… are accepted. Projects at the stage of research, pre-development or writing (scenario, graphism, music…) are accepted.

Incubation program 1

• International MIFA Campus online training and coaching, organized by Annecy Festival – May 2021
• Online participation at Annecy International Animation Festival, including a pitch session – 14th to 19th June 2021
• Four-week animation residency at Ciclic Animation, including training and coaching by animation industry experts – October / November 2021
• Online mentoring + online masterclasses by key players of animation industry

Incubation program 2

• International MIFA Campus online training and coaching, organized by Annecy Festival – May 2021
• Online participation at Annecy International Animation Festival, including a pitch session – 14-19 June 2021
• Two-week online summer school in animation, organized by Gobelins – July 2021
• Online mentoring + online masterclasses by key players of animation industry

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE (XR)
Description
The XR category is open to any content offering an immersive experience to the audience, on any type of device (computer, smartphone, headset..), using immersive technologies (360°, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, 3D interactions… ) Examples: VR documentary experience, virtual museum visit, immersive video game…

Incubation Pass

• Online workshop and coaching, organized by INA – May 2021
• Online participation at NewImages Festival, including a pitch session – 9-13June 2021
• Online immersive media lab, organized by Electric South – November 2021
• Online mentoring + online masterclasses by key players of VR/XR industry

digilabafrica.com/submit-a-project/