If you talk to any of the participants at this Forum, they will tell you about the extraordinarily beautiful and emotive former mosque of the Mezquita with its Catholic cathedral at the centre, then the fun drinks party in the Alcazar gardens, and the magnificent Diputación Palace where the Forum took place.
We were very lucky to have local partners who gave us their offi ces for the duration of the Forum. The meeting rooms led out to patio gardens where everyone met up to enjoy discussing business and have a coffee.
In the evening, we were able to explore the town, its winding streets, restaurants and bars. There were some long nights, but everyone was there each morning at the Croissant Show for the presentation of 69 projects, including «Capelito» from Paco Rodriguez, «Fred, the Caveman» from Antefilms Production, «Little King Macius» from Saxonia Media, «Rabbits» from Aardman Animations, «The World of Tosh» from Happy Life Animation, and «War Game» from The Illuminated Film Company.
In organising the Forum, you have to anticipate the unexpected. A storm on the Saturday morning made it impossible to use the Alcazar gardens, and the closing party took place instead in the the main patio of the Diputación Palace. The atmosphere was torrid!
Andalusian horse riders
Forum participants enjoyed a demonstration of Andalusian horse riding skills at the Cortijo Guijarrillo, and the opportunity to sample local tapas.
We were also treated to a magnifi cent demonstration of modern Flamenco from Rafael Chencho before the Cartoon d´0r ceremony where the prize went to «Migrations» by Constantin Chomsky. The poster was designed by Antonio Zurera, from Milimetros, who was responsible for bringing us to Córdoba.
Federico Llano, Assistant Manager of co-productions and festivals, Televisión Española (TVE)
I have taken part in every Cartoon Forum since 1994, and going to Córdoba obviously was a bit different for me. With José María Albendi, my colleague at TVE, it was an easy four hour journey by car from Madrid. However I really missed the usual all day journey, meeting up again with animation colleagues along the way, which is one of the characteristics of the Forum. Then we can talk more openly with animators and executives from other European television and production companies, exchanging ideas and opinions, in buses, planes and boats, rather than in the more serious pitching sessions.
This Forum also was slightly unusual for not being held in a remote location, such as a farm, but in an important city. I well remember the participants coming in and out of the project presentations, and chatting around the patios of the Diputación Palace with a glass of fi no wine in their hand. The highlight of the social programme was of course the visit to the ancient, large and always amazing VIII century Mosque, our Mezquita. Everyone also had a lot of fun in Andalusian dinners and after-hour parties.
Finally, I cannot forget Michel Bongiovanni, then already ill and absent for the first time in Córdoba. Fortunately, we still have many other friends at Cartoon.
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