Digital Lab Africa 2019 for Creative African Artists and Startups (€3,000 Cash Prize and Mentorship)

Application Deadline: 13th January 2019

Eligible Countries: Sub-Saharan African countries

To be taken at (country): France

About the Award: Digital Lab Africa call for projects is open to anyone, professional or not, from the sector of multimedia content creation: artists, producers, developers,, start-ups, SMEs, collectives, students or entrepreneurs, based in sub-Saharan Africa. The applicants have to be based in this region or being nationals of one of the Sub-Saharan African countries, provided the project development is mostly implemented locally. The objective of Digital Lab Africa is to provide a springboard for African talent in multimedia creation and to make their project happen with the support of French leading companies (studios, producers, broadcasters, distributors) such as ARTE (web creation), Okio-Studio (virtual reality),CCCP (video game), and 1D Touch/Believe Digital (digital music).

Eligible Fields: Digital Lab Africa is looking for projects at initial stage of development, in need of partners and financial support and innovative in terms of narration, content or technologies.

• Web Creation: This category is dedicated to all linear and non-linear format which offer an innovative storytelling and/or an immersive/interactive experience for the audience.
  This category includes all content,  irrespective of the genre – fiction, documentary, series, TV format, magazine, entertainment, news… – produced to be viewed mainly online (first digital content). Projects which combine several media (transmedia) or offer a cross media strategy and which aim to attract an audience, engage with it and retain it will be considered first.
  Examples: an interactive web documentary, a web series including a chat or a video game, a news show in 360°, a thematic web channel etc.
• Virtual Reality: The virtual reality category is open to any content which offers an immersive experience to the public, on any type of support (computer, tablet, smartphone and virtual reality headset), using virtual reality technologies, augmented reality, mixed reality, 360° video, and 3D interactions.
  Examples: journalism report, fiction or documentary movie, musical clip, museum visit, video game…
• Video Game: the video game category is open to all prototypes/concepts of video game for mobile application or full screen.
  Examples: action, strategy game, a game which aim to inform, train or educate.
• Digital Music: the digital music category is open to all projects which offer an innovative and enriching user experience using multimedia tools, solutions and content, based on one or several African artists, musical genres or African territories.
  Example: creating an app offering a multimedia world and an interactive community around an artist.
• Animation:  the Animation category is open to all projects/content which mainly use animation technics (2D, 3D, paper, film, sand, modeling clay, painting, figurine etc).Examples: an animated short film, an animated web-series, an animated comic, an animated application, etc.

Type: Contest

Eligibility: 

• DLA call for projects targets artists, producers, designers, start-ups, students in the media and creative industries. The call is open to any professional or individual from Sub-Saharan Africa having an innovative project in 5 categories of multimedia production: WEB CREATION, VIRTUAL REALITY, VIDEO GAME, ANIMATION and DIGITAL MUSIC.
  
• All submitted projects should be set down in French or English. They should target an international audience. It is about developing projects, researching partners and financial support. The projects should be innovative in form, narration, content or technologies employed.

Selection Criteria: The projects will then be evaluated by the DLA selection committee based on criteria of artistic/technical quality, technological/creative innovation and feasibility/economic potential.

Value of Programme: 

• The platform will allow creative multimedia projects to come to light with the support of French and Sub-Saharan African partners like Lagardère Studios, ARTE or Triggerfish Animation.
• Selected applicants will take part in a Pitch Competition. The winning projects win a 3,000 € cash prize and a Digital Lab Africa Incubation Pass to support the project development.
• The DLA project incubation includes mentorship and project development support by French and Sub-Saharan African partners for each category. Additionally, the Incubation Pass comprises residence time in France within digital cluster and participation in benchmark multimedia events. The expected outcome of Digital Lab Africa is market ready content/productions showcasing African creativity.

How to Apply: 
Download the call for projects presentation and rulesComplete the online form
Email the following application files (in French or in English) to applications@digilabafrica.com before January 13th, 2019

• Pitch deck / Presentation document (PDF, PowerPoint or Word) including:
  – project’s overview, concept, statement of intent…
  – development and production schedule, provisional budget, target audience and strategy
• Visual element and/or research document
  – Storyboard / mood board / graphics / portfolio / screenplay (for web creation, animation or VR projects
  – Game design document (for video game projects)
  – Any preview, pilot or video demo of the project (if available, for all types of projects)
• A cover letter explaining why you want to be part of the DLA Mentorship & Incubation program (1-page maximum)
• A resume/curriculum vitae of the applicant and/or description of the company represented
• A picture (.jpeg) of the applicant

Applicants can submit several projects (one form per project)

Visit Scholarship Webpage for details