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TAKE IT TO THE LAB: NFB XP lets creators explore and experiment at the legendary English Animation Studio in Montreal.

PRESS RELEASE
22/09/2020

September 22, 2020 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

The National Film Board of Canada’s acclaimed English Animation Studio in Montreal is launching the second edition of NFB XP, a program to encourage more experimentation by animators as well as creators and innovators from related disciplines, with a deadline for applications on October 14, 2020.

NFB XP allows creators—individuals or a team—to explore an idea, a particular issue, a method, a technique or a new tool related to their field, and is aimed at creators that don’t have access to the resources they need and have not yet had the opportunity to work with the NFB.

The NFB will provide space to work in at NFB headquarters in Montreal (within the current social-distancing guidelines and other restrictions), audiovisual equipment, and in-house and external experts.

These resources will allow participants to explore ideas in a spirit of pure research and discovery, in ways they would not otherwise be able to afford. Documentation of their experiments will enrich both the NFB and the creators, through the sharing of knowledge in the form of blog posts, presentations, and discussion.

To achieve a balanced approach and encourage maximum creativity, the studio will select three to five proposals and set up knowledge-sharing between the experimenters and in-house NFB specialists.

These projects are not intended to be NFB productions; they will belong entirely to creators. Nor will there be any pressure to create a finished product or final conclusion. The focus of this lab will be on discovery and development—of new ideas, tools, methods and techniques.

Key timeline:

  • Submission deadline: October 14, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EST
  • Selection announcement: October 30, 2020
  • Experimentation period: November 2020 to January 2021
  • Release: April 2021

For complete info on admission and selection criteria, please open the PDF file.

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French version here | Version en français ici.

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  • About the NFB

    The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a leader in exploring animation as an artform, a storytelling medium and innovative content for emerging platforms. It produces trailblazing animated works both in its Montreal studios and across  the country, and it works with many of the world’s leading creators on international co-productions. NFB productions have won more than 7,000 awards, including seven Oscars for NFB animation and seven grand prizes at the Annecy festival. To access this unique content, visit NFB.ca.