Animation Artist in Residence Tokyo 2016 – Application Guide

1. Aims of the project

This project, organized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan (Bunka-cho), is an artist in residence program that provides three outstanding young animation artists from around the world with an opportunity to come to Tokyo and create new works while directly interacting with Japanese animation culture. It aims to promote both the creation of excellent works of animation and a better understanding of Japanese culture.

2. Target field

Animation production

3. Number of applicants accepted

3

4. Duration of the program

70 days between January 7^th and March 17^th, 2016

5. Support provided

1. Travel expenses
2. Living allowance
3. Travel insurance
4. Rental accommodation (including workspace)
5. Location: Tokyo
6. Expert assistance
7. Opportunity to present work done during residency
8. Opportunities to interact with Japanese creators

6. Program summary

1. Education/training: participants will give reports on the progress of their work being created as part of the program and will receive guidance from accomplished Japanese animators/experts on a regular basis.
2. Visits/exchange events: participants will visit animation studios and participate in exchange events with artists and students enrolled in art programs at educational institutions.
3. Creation of a new work: participants will begin a new work while in Japan and present the finished work or one part of a work in progress at the end of their stay.

7. Conditions of participation

Applicants must:

1. Reside outside of Japan and be a citizen of a country other than Japan.
2. Have had one of their animated works screened at an international film festival, exhibition or similar event where works from countries other than their own were also screened/featured.
3. Be between the ages of 20 and 35 as of September 10^th, 2015.
4. Be able to speak either English or Japanese at least well enough to communicate in everyday situations.
5. Be in good health.
6. Have access to the equipment necessary to participate in a remote interview (i.e. a computer capable of connecting to the internet and using Skype).

8. Application period

Applications will be accepted beginning July 1^st, 2015. Application forms and all required documents/materials must be received by this office by September 10^th, 2015.

9. Application procedure

Please download the Application Guide Folder (ZIP file) from here.
A. Application Form
Fill out application forms A/B/C.
B. Documents/materials to be submitted

1. Reference materials describing the work to be created as part of this program (at least three minutes in length). It is preferable that applicants submit documents (story board, script, etc.) which make it possible to understand plans for the work in detail.
2. Proof of a work having been screened at an international film festival, exhibition, or similar event (e.g. a copy of the list of screened works in a festival catalogue). Please make sure that the proof shows the event’s internationality (i.e. proof that it screens/features works from countries other than your own). Proof of more than one film having been screened is not required.
3. Proof of age and citizenship (e.g. a photocopy of your passport).

To complete the application process, please send (A) application forms and (B) required documents and materials via email attachments to the following address: entry2016@japic.jp
*If your circumstances do not allow you to upload video to the Internet submission via DVD or other video media may be accepted. In such cases our office must be contacted in advance.

10. Selection

A selection committee composed of experts in this field will make two rounds of selections (the first based on applications, the second based on interviews conducted via the Internet) to arrive at a preliminary list of candidates to be invited to participate in the program. Those selected will be contacted by mid-November and once all conditions of participation have been confirmed the selection will be formally announced.

11. Notice of terms of application/participation.

By applying to this program applicants acknowledge that they agree to the following terms and conditions.

1. After the application period has ended applications cannot as a rule be rescinded. If unavoidable circumstances arise please notify us as soon as possible.
2. Applicants will not as a rule decline an invitation after they are selected to participate in the program.
3. As a general rule all equipment (computers, cameras, etc.) needed to produce the work created as part of the program will be brought by the participants.
4. Participants understand the purpose of their stay and will spend the entire period in Japan. As a rule applicants will not return to their home countries until the program has ended.
5. Participants will actively take part in activities related to the program such as lectures, workshops, and visits to schools and studios.
6. Applicants submit a plan for an animated work at least three minutes in length. If they are selected participants in the program will work on this animation project while in Japan and at the end of their stay will present either a completed work or a work in progress to show what they have accomplished during their time in Japan.
7. If what is presented at the end of the program is one part of a work in progress (see (6) above), the participant will complete the work after leaving Japan and submit a DVD of the finished work by December 2016.
8. The name of this program, “Project to invite overseas creators of media arts 2016,” and the logo of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, must be displayed in the end titles of the completed work.
9. Movies and photos submitted at the time of application will be provided to the organizer free of charge for use within the range of promotional events and public relations activities related to this project carried out during the residency period.
10. After the end of residency period, a movie excerpt under one minute in length and photos of the completed work will be provided to the organizer free of charge for use in the public promotion of the project in printed materials, exhibitions, screenings, broadcasts, and the like. In addition, upon a request from the organizer, the artist will permit a full-length screening of the finished work for the purpose of promoting this project and provide the screening material free of charge. If there is a language other than Japanese used in the work, the organizer is permitted to produce Japanese subtitles on the basis of the provided script/dialogue transcription.

12. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Q. Are there exceptions for the age restrictions?
   A. No, there are no exceptions. An applicant must meet all of the qualification criteria to be accepted into the residence program.
2. Q. Does the A-AIR program accept group applications?
   A. Only individual applications (one applicant per application) are accepted. If the work of an invited artist has been made by more than one person, or if an invited artist wishes to work with a co-creator or key staff member during the residence period, there are cases in which the co-creator or key staff member can come to Tokyo at their own expense and participate in our program. In such cases the applicant must consult our office and obtain approval in advance. Also, the co-creator or key staff members’ name(s) must appear in the end titles of the work.
3. Q. What are the conditions for the co-creator and what support is provided?
   A. Accommodation can be shared with the co-creator/key staff member, but the co-creator’s travel costs as well as other costs of staying in Tokyo will be at their own expense. The application criteria apply only to the applicant, not to any co-creators/key staff members.
4. Q. I am in the process of showing my works at international festivals.
   A. We can consider you to have met the application criteria under the following conditions.
   1) Screening of one of your works at an international festival will take place before January 7^th, 2016.
   2) You can submit to us definite proof the screening will take place together with the application form by September 10^th, 2015.
5. Q. Can a work in progress be included in submitted works?
   A. Yes. Please put all information and a link to the work in Application Form B-(4) and indicate “still in production” where you are to write festival names, screening information, etc.
6. Q. Is there a policy regarding bringing your partner? May a partner accompany the resident artist for the duration of the residency? Are couples allowed in the provided accommodations?
   A. Anyone not involved in the invited artist’s production will not be allowed to stay at the provided accommodation or be able to participate in the program events. The residence is a production space for the invited artist and the purpose of being in residence is for the artist to go into production while being separated from his/her own regular life for 70 days.
7. Q. Would films in which I was involved not as a director but as a member of the production staff such as an animator or background designer be acceptable as submitted works?
   A. Submitted films must be works the applicant directed.
8. Q. Do I need to obtain permission to screen or broadcast my work produced during A-AIR program?
   A. Copyright of the finished work belongs to the author or the copyright holder of the work. We hope the work is screened extensively and seen by many people.

13. Contact information

JAPAN IMAGE COUNCIL / Animation Artist in Residence Tokyo 2016
2-10-2, Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, 150-0002 Tokyo, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-6670-5676 Fax: +81-3-5466-0054
Website: http://japic.jp/eng/
Email: aair@japic.jp
Organizer: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan (Bunka-cho)
Administrative Office: Japan Image Council (JAPIC)

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