Last year Light House Media Centre in Wolverhampton launched an Animation Bursary Scheme: 'Animated Shorts', to nurture and support up and coming animators in the region. This year, with the support of Screen West Midlands, the scheme will run again between July and October 2006. 'Animated Shorts' provides production resources, skills development and mentoring for three talented animators from the West Midlands region.

The launch of this year's scheme is on Thursday 11 May, 6.00-7.30pm at Light House, where there will be an opportunity to find out more about the scheme, enjoy a screening of last year's work and speak to some of the animators involved. Admission is free, booking advised. For more information about the launch event and the scheme contact Urmala Jassal, Email. urmala@light-house.co.uk Application forms and further details will be available at the launch.

The aim of the scheme is to help animators produce a high quality short film that can be showcased in festivals and events, helping to boost their portfolios and assist them in getting a foothold in the animation industry. The scheme is supported by a number of animation companies in the region who input into the selection and mentoring process. Applicants must live in the West Midlands region. It is assumed applicants will be animation graduates; however, the scheme is open to anyone who may have acquired the appropriate skills elsewhere.

One of last year's beneficiaries, Natalie Ann Hinchley said, 'The bursary was an opportunity to make an animation to enter into festivals and put on my showreel…I met some very talented fellow animators and have made what I consider to be my best work so far'.

Last year's completed films were shown at the Flip Animation Festival at Light House, Oct 2005 and selected for the 'Cortoons' International animated short films festival of Rome, April 2006 and the End of the Pier International Film Festival in Sussex, May 2006. 'Onions' by Natalie Ann Hinchley and 'Spaghetti Terrestris' by Jonathan Reynolds were also included on a DVD in DIGIT Magazine in January.

Venue: Light House Media Centre, The Chubb Buildings, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT, Tel: 01902 716055, www.light-house.co.uk / www.plotonline.co.uk

The closing date for applications to 'Animated Shorts' is Friday 16 June 2006.

ENDS

For more information or images contact: Sara Dewsbery, Marketing Assistant on 01902 716055, sara@light-house.co.uk

Note

This year's scheme is supported by Screen West Midlands (supported by National Lottery through the UK Film Council), Script and Wolverhampton City Council.