MarAni Market of Animation of the 16th ReA International Animation and Comic Art Festival, which took place this year on October 21-24 at the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), featured workshops, master classes, panel discussions, and project presentations with prominent international guests. The production platform opened with a public talk titled "Disruptive Technologies in the Animation Industry" by Jose Luis Farias, Director of Spain's NEXT Lab Generation. Additionally, Luciano Lepinay, the Artistic Director of French Tchack Production, presented insights on the production of animated films with a talk on "Tchack."

“The MarAni platform offers an invaluable opportunity for film professionals, creators, and industry specialists to advance towards the creation and production of animated works. High-level professionals from France, Spain, other European countries, and the US shared their expertise with the Armenian audience," said Kassouny, Founder and Director of ReA Fest. "We were honored to hear from such renowned figures as Disney animator, director, and screenwriter Kirk Wise, as well as director and animator Aaron Blaise."

ReA CoReAct co-production platform, a unique platform for Armenian creators to present their projects to international producers and gain co-production opportunities, hosted 17 Armenian projects this year. An international jury comprising representatives from the European Film Support Fund (Eurimage), Cartoon media, the Mifa animation market of the Annecy International Film Festival, France TV and other organizations selected the three best projects for financing.

Disney director and animator Aaron Blaise, who was a jury member at the 16th ReA Fest and CoReAct, shared his experiences and innovative approaches in animation with the MarAni audience. Reflecting on the potential of young Armenian animators, he mentioned: "What I love here is how young artists are encouraged to create films and tell their own stories. They’re fully supported and inspired, which, in turn, inspires me. There are truly wonderful artists here; it reminded me of myself at that age, excited about pursuing this career. I think we'll see significant growth in animation worldwide, not only among Armenians but across many cultures. With increased accessibility to animation, we're likely to witness an explosion of this genre in the marketplace."

This year's MarAni platform also emphasized discussions on the usage of AI, VR, and other cutting-edge technologies in animation. VR animator Dan Franke shared his journey of moving from traditional animation tools to VR, highlighting how VR technologies enhance efficiency and open up new storytelling possibilities while saving on financial, time, and human resources. “What I observed at the festival and the vibe I sensed from the Armenian animation industry shows that, although it's still small, it is definitely growing. I believe Armenian animators have the opportunity to build from the ground up with VR technologies and other tools, enabling them to create something impactful across Europe. Europe has the potential to become a hub for VR animation, competing with the U.S., and Armenia can play a significant role in that”, Dan Franke added.

The 16th ReA International Animation and Comic Art Festival hosted 300 films from 45 countries, welcoming over 35 international guests and participants, including representatives from reputable organizations such as Disney. The festival featured captivating presentations, a diverse selection of short, feature and graduation films, master classes, and a comprehensive program that highlighted the richness of the animation and visual arts industry.