Ver Cine Colombiano: Noticias | Proimágenes Colombia

Next Lab Generation is an initiative connecting art and technology in the animation industry with digital content through a workshop, an event, and an online platform. The program enables experimentation and incorporation of new technology tools in animation, virtual reality, and video games through multiple events, training, and research. It also aims to encourage the use of disruptive technologies for audiovisual production; discover and support talents; strengthen the business network and digital entrepreneurship; generate young, highly skilled, and quality employment; and create new business and job niches.
 
Next Lab Generation 2023 will showcase 20 projects applying creative tools within a virtual environment and receiving guidance on production using the latest technology. The outcome of this experience will be an animated teaser of each participating project, created in record time. After the initial seven-week online phase, which includes learning the tools, working on the project, and a masterclass, the ten best projects will advance to the second phase of the workshop. This phase will be held in Madrid from February 27 to March 4 and will conclude with an event on March 3 and 4. The finalists will participate in a public pitch and other activities and conferences.

A jury of industry experts will choose the top three projects as winners of this edition, and they will be featured at the Annecy MIFA 2023 as part of the Next Lab Generation conference. As a new addition to this year's event, each winning project will receive €8,000 gross in development support, three months of mentorship, a travel allowance, and an accreditation for a representative to attend the Annecy Festival 2023.

Colombia enters with Daniel Shambo's Limbo, in which the spirit of a man embarks on a mysterious journey to hell. On his descent, he must confront the sins that led him there. During his journey through limbo, he will learn more about himself and what he might become in the afterlife. To avoid being transformed into a demon in the service of hell, the damned must redeem the multiple souls he carries within him. As a designer specializing in Visual Computing and Art Direction for animation, Shambo stresses using new technologies such as VR, interactive animation, and creative programming. His audiovisual and interactive work has been exhibited in various cities, including Berlin, Dubai, and New York.

In Where is my expresso?, Oniria lives in a frantic monotony, striving for success, but an intense alteration of her reality turns out to be the best thing that could have happened to her. The project is directed by Sebastian Garcia, an illustrator and graphic designer specializing in character design and concept art for animation projects. Garcia has worked at various studios, including Lucy Animation, Lunes Animación in Chile, and Baobab in the United States. His continuous search for knowledge in animation and storytelling has led him to participate in artistic residencies and writing workshops. He recently won an animation scholarship in Madrid, Spain.