Brazil's Ministry of Culture has established the National Program for Development of Brazilian Animation. The set of actions, launched by the Audiovisual secretary at the Ministry, Silvio Da-Rin, is going to provide incentives for production, television showing and export of Brazilian animation series.
"Brazil currently produces 50 hours a year, but, with the program, this total may be multiplied and the country may become a production hub," said Da-Rin.
The Program, which also includes incentives to partnerships between Brazilian production companies and foreign organizations does not have a definite volume of funding yet, but, according to Da-Rin, it will use support mechanisms – like funds and tax breaks, made available by the federal government.
Among them the secretary mentions the Audiovisual Sector Fund, which should have a budget of 56 million Brazilian reals (US$ 26 million at current exchange rates) this year and 90 million reais (US$ 42 million) next year. The funds should be turned to all audiovisual production, not just to animation.
Among the measures, one of the actions most celebrated by promoters of cinema and animation was stimulation to sector training. Among several programs to integrate universities with the production, the Audiovisual secretary pointed out actions for the generation of awareness among children and adolescents in public schools.
"We want to take animation techniques to schools, as well as identifying talent and training said talent from afar, through the Internet," he added.
The list of benefits also includes the Rouanet Law, the More Culture Program, the Prodec and BNDES financing. The project was developed by the Audiovisual Secretariat and the Cultural Policy Secretariat at the Ministry of Culture, and counts on the support of the Brazilian Communications Company – TV Brasil, Fundação Padre Anchieta – TV Cultura and the Brazilian Association of Public Television and Cultural Channels.
Among the actions of the Ministry of Culture program, one of the highlights is AnimaTV, a course that plans to develop production of series, integration of studios, training of professionals, insertion into the international market and partnerships with television channels to show the productions.
The initiative, which will also grant awards to 18 projects in the first phase and to another 18 in the second phase, counts on revenues of approximately 4.7 million reais (US$ 2.2 million) from the federal sector in Brazil and investment in services.
Projects will be selected among animations that both contemplate the potential of generation of audience among Brazilian spectators with regard to co-production (national and international). AnimaTV is also going to promote workshops for the formation of projects.
Further information about the Program may be found on site animatv.cultura.gov.br
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