TEN YEARS OF FONDAZIONE SARDEGNA FILM COMMISSION

Fondazione Sardegna Film Commission turns ten years old. From animation to documentaries, cinema, and international series, Sardinia’s compass is always turned to environmental protection and enhancement.

The American Film Market, back with an in-person edition after a two-year stop, is the key stage in the long calendar of celebrations for the ten years of the Fondazione Sardegna Film Commission. From being a vacation destination for the international jet set, Sardinia has been transformed into a land of cinema and audiovisuals. These new opportunities are possible thanks to the support of local talent and the well-established ability to welcome studios and high-end productions, always customizing their presence on the island. The FSFC activity embraces live action, series, and documentaries and reserves particular regard for animation.

The Fondazione Sardegna Film Commission, supported by the Region of Sardinia and led by Nevina Satta, aims to enhance the development of the animation industry on the island.

This is the mission behind the institution of the project NAS – New Animation Sardegna, a public-funded animation laboratory set up in Cagliari, with a focus on training talents and production of animation projects for cinema and seriality to be realized in Sardinia.

The AFM is also the first market preceding the launch of The Little Mermaid, Disney’s flagship product for 2023 (to be released in late May). This big musical by Bob Marshall mixes animation with live action (shot in Sardinia with more than 700 cast and crew members) and visual effects (made at Pinewood Studios in London).

[A frame from “S’ozzastru”]

THE PROJECT /

NAS: FOR SUSTAINABLE ANIMATION

“In these weeks, – says Nevina Satta – we are welcoming international investors visiting the island. Several meetings will follow in Los Angeles, outside and inside the AFM market. The goal is not simply to bring companies to produce in Sardinia but also to make this happen organically by using the production and creativity assets already included in NAS. This means involving local talents, not only in the early stage of concept development and visual research, but also in the rigging phase (animation of the character skeleton, n. ed.) and actual animation. This is becoming our stronger asset thanks to a highly specialized coordination team that is teaming up and schooling our very young group of animators.”

In Italy, we have a strong partnership with Cartoon Italia, the animation producer’s association, and Rai Kids, Rai’s branch dedicated to producing and broadcasting kids’ content. While internationally, NAS is looking primarily at cooperating with Canada, given the tight relationship with Toon Boom.

“The purpose, is to join forces in presenting our industry on the international scene, to generate a quantum leap for the Made-in-Sardinia and Made-in-Italy production.”

This advancement passes through projects such as S’ ozzastru, Carolina Melis’ animation short dedicated to the thousand-year-old olive tree that interweaves the most avant-garde iconography of Tavolara’s design with the magic of Maria Lai’s characters.

The uniqueness of NAS also lies in making the content and the production sustainable. FSFC has taken an unequivocal stance in applying the green protocol at different levels on the sets and productions. This approach is now being tested on animation and the entire audiovisual chain.

“We will be relentless in our pursuit of ensuring that eco-sustainability has an all-encompassing application. We will pursue real business transformation plans. This includes controlling energy impact and emission reduction, inclusion and diversity, and, last but not least, a whole plan of compensation that companies (and public institutions) have to put in place to produce sustainably.”