FUND
Content company Catalyst has partnered with intimate apparel company Knix to launch a documentary fund.
The Knix Fund Catalyst Docs for Change Project is set to launch at Banff World Media Festival, which kicks off on June 11.
Catalyst founder Julie Bristow and Knix founder Joanna Griffiths will appear at the festival in a moderated conversation on June 14 to outline the fund’s objectives. The fund will open to submissions around the same time, with Catalyst and Knix green lighting the most promising entry.
“The values of Knix and the thought-leadership that Joanna has provided on so many women’s issues align perfectly with Catalyst’s mission to open eyes, minds, and hearts with unapologetically brilliant storytelling by and about women,” said Bristow. “To achieve a more inclusive world, we need more stories led by women creators. Sometimes the only way to catalyse change is to challenge legacy business models by investing in new paradigms. This partnership does just that. We will ensure important stories get told because we’ll finance them.”
GAMING
Graphic India is creating a series of original virtual experiences for online game platform and game creation systemRoblox, bringing its hit characters and franchises to the platform’s 66 million global daily active users. Graphic India’s first Roblox experience, “Superpower Simulator: Chakra,” features Chakra The Invincible, co-created by Stan Lee and Indian superhero creator, Sharad Devarajan through Graphic India and POW! Entertainment. In this superhero game, players can team up with Chakra and his friends to stop villains who want to take over the streets of Mumbai.
FOSTERING
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Labs, which are part of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah have partnered with the CannesMarchè du Film to launch the Cannes Makersprogram dedicated to fostering new film industry professionals in the sales and distribution field.
This three-day program, which will run May 22-24, aims to breed a new generation of sales and distribution execs from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere through curated coaching and networking opportunities. Eight participants, three of which are from Saudi, have been selected from than 250 applicants from 65 countries.
Following Cannes, all participants will reunite for a second session of Cannes Makers during the third edition of the Red Sea fest which will run from Nov. 30 to Dec 9.
APPOINTMENTS
Screen Ireland, the national agency for the development of the film, television and animation industry, has appointed Libbie McQuillan to the position of director of industry and corporate affairs, reporting into chief executive Desiree Finnegan.
McQuillan will have responsibility for the management of production and development, distribution, marketing, inward production and skills departments, working alongside the financial controller, and will collaborate with industry stakeholders in the development of strategic responses to sectoral challenges and opportunities, including theformulation of industry policy.
McQuillan will also support the implementation of the agency’s three-year strategy Building for a Creative Future 2024 and thesustainability plan, along with skills development objectives for the sector, and will lead the development of Ireland’s international co-production treaties.
McQuillan is currently controller of group content strategy at the BBC.
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Nemorin Film and Video, the branded video agency owned by global production group Argonon, has appointed Darren Smith, the former executive director of Bridge Studios (News U.K.) and global creative and program director at The Economist, as chief content officer, reporting into Nemorin CEO Pete Fergusson.
The newly created role follows the appointment of Sachini Imbuldeniya as executive creative director in January and completes the new management team at Nemorin. The move to Nemorin reunites Smith with Imbuldeniya. Their previous creative partnership led to News U.K.’s content agency winning Campaign’s Content Studio of the Year Award in 2021 as well as over fifteen additional industry awards and nominations.
