for the promotion of culture and the production of contemporary art in lebanon and the middle east

The Animation and Comic Book Forum
Animation Film and Comic Book making are rising interests in the Arab and the Mediterranean regions. Those artistic forms of expression are booming, at both the higher education level, among students in graphic design or film, and at the professional level, where new opportunities are rising up in the market and where such medium attracts experimentation. Nevertheless, there is little networking and exchange between artists in animation film and comic book making in the region, let alone professional training. Most artists today are struggling to teach themselves animation and comic book making, and many times the lack of orientation, exchange and research prevents them from developing their work. There is also a lack in venues and events that target regional animation and comic book exposure. Hence, the work that is produced is not exposed properly if at all while synergy among artists working in the field remains the exception.

A view from a debate after one of the screening of the 2004 edition.	The comic book showcase of the 2004 edition.

Hence ASA designed the “Animation and Comic Book Forum” as a response to the needs stated above. The Forum is intended to be a yearly event with the following objectives:
* Bring together artists, professionals and students in animation and comic books to present their work and discuss it
* Expand the networking between artists over the Mediterranean and Arab region
* Expand the potential of work opportunities for artists over the region
* Create a space for exchanges of skills, techniques, ideas beyond the borders of Lebanon
* Make of Beirut a land mark for animation and comic book making in the area.

First edition 2004
A Step Away initiated the first edition of the Animation and Comic Book Forum in 2004 in Beirut, with the collaboration of the American University of Beirut (AUB). The event turned out to be particularly an active environment of learning and exchange. The Forum was held on the 15th and 16th of October, at the Department of Architecture and Design.

A view from the book binding workshop with the illustrator Rena Karanouh.	One of the participant binding the pages of her book together.

The program included
* Animation screenings
* Comic book presentations by young professionals who discussed their work experience from the technical, thematic and target audience points of views.
* Workshop on book binding skills(essential skills for comic book artists)
* Workshop on the creation of an animation short in a day, in a collaborative and experimental way

A view from the animation workshop with the animator Lena Merhej.	One of the participant working on the "cadavre exquis" storyboard.

The second edition is planned to take place in spring 2006 with a prospective agenda including:
* Screenings and presentations of animation films and comic books
* Workshops that focus on developing work based and inspired from a social issue that the region is facing

A Step Away| P.O.Box 167133 Ashrafieh | Beirut Lebanon | 00961-3-533753 | 00961-3-256 773 | info@astepaway.org