The French Embassy in Kenya, in collaboration with key regional stakeholders, is presenting a delegation of nine animation studios to participate in the International Animation Film Market (MIFA), aiming to connect them directly with buyers, distributors, and global industry partners in France.
The project seeks to address the structural challenges facing the animation sector in East Africa, such as limited market access, fragmented networking, and insufficient exposure to international financing and distribution opportunities. By facilitating their presence at the most important event in the global animation ecosystem, the program empowers a new generation of entrepreneurs to position their intellectual properties in front of top decision-makers worldwide.
The level of response to the call for applications reflects the growing dynamism and ambition of the sector in the region. In less than two weeks, the organization received 31 applications from five countries: Kenya (17), Ethiopia (7), Uganda (4), Rwanda (2), and Tanzania (1).
Following a rigorous competitive process, five studios earned the right to present their projects through pitching sessions directly to international executives at MIFA. The selected studios are ARMA Studio and Behagerlij Studio, both from Ethiopia; Studio Zubaa and Naota Studio, from Kenya; and Katoto Studio, from Uganda.
In addition to the projects selected to pitch, the East African delegation at MIFA will be completed by four other studios invited to tour the market and generate networking opportunities: Hiyaw Animation Studio (Ethiopia), Pungulu Pa (Kenya), Creatures Animation (Uganda), and Studio M&A (Kenya). The latter is participating as a special guest after receiving the Best Animation Award at the Kalasha Awards, in partnership with the Kenya Film Commission (KFC).
This international initiative is made possible through the backing and coordination of strategic institutions, including the Association of Animation Artistes Kenya, Habesha Creative Lab, and the Alliance Française branches in Nairobi and Kampala, alongside the KFC.
