Ahead of this year’s Cartoon Forum, unspooling in Toulouse from 15-18 September, general director Annick Maes introduces Fill the Gap, a new initiative designed to help producers bridge financing shortfalls and propel projects into production. In this interview, she explains how the programme was conceived, what challenges it aims to address, and how it could shape the future of European animation.

Cineuropa: What inspired Cartoon Forum to launch the Fill the Gap initiative, and how does it respond to the current challenges facing the animation industry?
Annick Maes: In recent years, the animation industry has faced significant pressure from the ongoing economic crisis, leading to financing difficulties and fewer projects being greenlit. Producers increasingly need fresh leads, new partners and funding opportunities to close critical budget gaps.

At the same time, we have observed that more projects are being selected with at least one co-producer already attached – showing that co-production can be an effective way to address these challenges. Animation has always been more orientated towards co-production than fiction or documentary, and as a co-production platform, Cartoon Forum plays a role in fostering partnerships not only between producers and buyers, but also among producers themselves. This helps the industry stay dynamic and resilient.

For 2025, Cartoon is responding with targeted measures to support producers and address current market needs. Two major initiatives headline this year’s edition: Fill the Gap and the Matchmaking sessions. The Cartoon Forum Lounge has been transformed into the Fill the Gap initiative, which supports past Cartoon Forum pitching producers who are still seeking to complete financing and move into production. Selected projects will benefit from trailer screenings during the Thursday Coffee Show displayed in the restaurant, participation in Thursday’s Matchmaking sessions with sign-ups available during registration, and visibility in our mobile app, boosting discoverability and partner outreach. These enhanced networking and visibility opportunities are designed to help producers reconnect with the market, attract new funding and accelerate their transition into production.

Can you elaborate on why the initiative is specifically aimed at projects with at least 70% of their budget secured and an already-commissioned broadcaster?
The aim is not to duplicate Cartoon Forum’s original format, which focuses on all projects in development – doing so would put the newly selected projects at a disadvantage. Instead, the strategy is to support projects struggling to complete their budgets and enter production because of financing gaps. That is why we set the bar at 70% of funding already secured.

How will the selection committee balance geographical diversity, the size of the financial gap and the rule that producers should not be pitching a new project in 2025?
The projects must have pitched at Cartoon Forum between 2022 and 2024, the last three “normal” years since the pandemic. Other than having at least 70% of their budget secured, they must have already involved a commissioned broadcaster and must provide a 30- to 45-second trailer. In addition, producers must commit to participating in the Matchmaking sessions. The rule about not pitching a new project in 2025 has been changed, and the selection was instead based on producers who showed interest and met the criteria.

Have you received any early reactions from producers regarding the Fill the Gap initiative? What are their expectations or hopes?
The idea was first raised during our annual board meeting, then developed further as a test run. The selection criteria were set following exchanges with producers, many of whom explained that starting production on a project sometimes also unlocks access to additional subsidies. It would be useful to speak directly with one of the seven participating producers, but of course their main hope is to secure the missing financing as soon as possible so that they can finally start production.

What challenges do you foresee in implementing this initiative, and how does Cartoon Forum plan to address them?
Despite increased visibility and networking opportunities, the pool of available financiers, broadcasters and co-producers may still be limited owing to ongoing economic constraints in the industry. With many projects competing for attention and funding, some producers may struggle to stand out – even with added exposure through the app, trailer screenings and matchmaking.

Cartoon Forum is therefore expanding its outreach to non-traditional investors, international partners and emerging platforms. By promoting cross-border collaborations and involving new stakeholders from adjacent industries, such as gaming, publishing and streaming, Cartoon Forum aims to broaden the financing ecosystem. We will also support producers with curated matchmaking to ensure meetings are better targeted and more mutually beneficial, while improved project categorisation and search functions in the mobile app will help financiers find projects that match their specific criteria.

How do you envision the initiative influencing the European animation landscape beyond Cartoon Forum 2025?
The Fill the Gap initiative, together with enhanced matchmaking sessions, is intended not only as a short-term response to current economic pressures, but also as a catalyst for long-term change in the European animation landscape. Beyond 2025, we expect it to foster cross-sector collaborations that strengthen the financing ecosystem, while also giving slower-moving or niche projects renewed market visibility and momentum.

Looking further ahead, we dream of enhancing Cartoon Forum’s role as a year-round hub. By introducing post-event follow-ups and ongoing partner engagement through digital tools, Cartoon Forum could evolve from a once-a-year gathering into a continuous networking and financing platform.

Is there potential for Fill the Gap to expand in the coming years, for example by including more projects, different formats or broader funding support?
It’s too early to say – we first want to assess the results of this edition. However, Fill the Gap is more than a temporary support measure. It could become a strategic investment in the long-term health of the European animation industry. By reshaping how projects are financed, how partners connect and how producers navigate development, it lays the groundwork for a more robust, connected and dynamic future.