Sep 3, 2020

Cartoon Forum Pivots Online After Broadcaster Pulls Out of Face-to-Face Events

The Cartoon Forum transitioned from a real-life event to a virtual one less than two weeks ago. The pitching platform was scheduled to take place in Toulouse, France, from September 14-17, but plans were postponed due to a recurrence of a pandemic in the local area.

Organizers said more than 200 attendees left the face-to-face event in five days. Because so few broadcasters confirmed local attendance, "we believe it is more sincere to hold the Cartoon Forum online only. Our objective remains "business first" and the project remains our top priority." Producers are asked to submit recorded pitches, which will be uploaded to the online platform on the aforementioned dates and held until October 15.

In Europe, real events are cautiously resuming. Several animation festivals are taking place this summer, and in Italy the Venice Film Festival is underway. However, France has seen a gradual increase in coronavirus cases throughout August, and several countries have re-enforced quarantine on French arrivals. The Haute-Garonne department, where Toulouse is located, has been designated a "red zone" with the highest alert level.

The Cartoon Forum had already planned a scaled-down version that included many safety protocols prior to this change. It also planned not to hold social events, which are usually an important venue for networking.

The Forum is Europe's leading co-production platform for TV and SVOD animation. In a continent where co-productions are the norm, this event has a huge impact. Last year, some 1,000 badge holders gathered in Toulouse, where 85 projects were presented.

This year, 83 projects will be pitched online. Click here to see the lineup.

(Top image: "The Ghastly Ghoul" by Dream Logic and Lupus Films.)