India's AVGC-XR industry has announced debut edition of AniMela, scheduled to take place from January 18 to 24

The Aniverse & Visual Arts Foundation (AVAF) has announced the debut edition of AniMela, marking India's first-ever international festival dedicated to the AVGC-XR spectrum. This is a positive development for the country's Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) business. The four-day event is planned for January 18–24, 2024, at Mumbai's National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

In addition to showcasing India's creative prowess, AniMela was founded by AVAF in partnership with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting of the Government of India and the esteemed Annecy International Animation Festival. The festival's mission is to facilitate international exposure for the nation's AVGC-XR talent.

AniMela has the potential to revolutionise the AVGC-XR story in India and raise the country to the forefront of the world's innovation and creativity in the sector.

The event is inclusive of:

Mentoring and knowledge-sharing: AniMela will feature masterclasses, workshops, and panel discussions facilitated by international professionals, including Luce Grosjean (CEO, Miyu Distribution, France), Rajiv Chilaka (creator of "Chhota Bheem"), and Lachlan Pendragon, an Australian animator nominated for an Academy Award. Knowledge-sharing projects will also benefit from the support of educational institutions such as Whistling Woods International, the School of Visual Arts in New York, the Griffith Institute in Australia, the Rubika Institute in France, and Frameboxx.

Networking: The festival will give significant networking opportunities through lunches and dinners with foreign visitors, including studios, distributors, and buyers from Canada, France, Spain, the UK, Australia, Turkey, and Japan. The expansion and profitability of the AVGC-XR industry depend on these relationships.

Experience zone: Attendees may utilise interactive booths and arcades, see firsthand special game demonstrations, network with well-known players and developers, and compete for thrilling rewards in gaming competitions. The XR/AI zone showcases the top worldwide IPs and allows visitors to experience new worlds through VR and AR. Leading artists will be available for meetings and conversations at the Indie Comix Fest curated comic area, which will showcase independent comics, graphic novels, and art exhibitions.

Film festival: AniMela will showcase a wide range of top-notch animation film screenings, along with exclusive looks at the creation of visual effects. International features, shorts, fiction, and non-fiction films are included in the schedule. In addition, there will be film premieres, outdoor screenings, and meet-and-greets with the directors.

Event Details:

Date: January 18 to 24

Venue: National Film Development Corporation, Mumbai

Visit https://animela.in/ for more details

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