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CARTOON FORUM Returns to Spain for 15th Edition

The 15th CARTOON FORUM will be held Sept. 22-25, 2004 in Santiago de Compostela Spain. This marks the third time this "co-production forum", which is dedicated to the financing of European animation programs for television, has been held in Spain since it first one held in 1990 in Lanzarote. The 10th edition was held in Cordoba. Organized by CARTOON (AEFA), with the support of MEDIA Programme of the European Union, the Xunta de Galicia and Xacobeo 2004 and Caixa Galicia, this 15th Cartoon Forum 69 new series or TV specials (representing 246 million Euros) will be presented by European producers to some 700 participants, potential partners or investors, co-producers, broadcasters, distributors, video publishers or licensing agents.

The 69 projects come from 15 European countries, including two new member countries, Poland and Slovenia, representing 461 hours of programming. About 68% of the projects originate from the five largest European Union countries, and 32% from the 10 other countries attending this year. Spain is bringing 11 projects (15% of the total being presented).

Organizers note that 16 projects are being presented in association with new member states of the European Union: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia and Lithuania. There will be 32 projects presented in collaboration with countries that are geographically or linguistically limited such as Belgium, Luxemburg, Greece, Portugal, Denmark, Ireland, Austria, Netherlands and Finland.

A lot has happened since CARTOON FORUM started. Fifteen years ago, European animation was then in its early stages, with about 100 hours produced each year, virtually no European co-productions, and Japanese and American programming dominated, with only about 25% of airtime given to European productions. The 10th edition of the Forum was held in Cordoba.

This 15th edition will take place during Holy Year in the town of Santiago de Compostela, capital of Galicia. Santiago de Compostela is a wonderful small town with a great cathedral that has welcomed many pilgrims over the centuries. The partners of this Spanish edition are Consorcio Audiovisual de Galicia, TVG (television de Galicia), ICAA, Concello de Santiago, CGAI and Auditorio de Galicia.

The 2004 CARTOON D'OR ceremony will take place before the closing party, to award the best European animated short film, giving typically young/indie directors money to make another film.

So, with the support of the Media Programme of the European Union, CARTOON claims to have contributed to the successful creation of an European animation network and cultural industry. For more information, go to www.cartoon-media.be.

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