At Playgrounds, image-makers learn from each other’s creative process
Makers see each other’s work when it is finished, but you can actually learn a great deal from the creative process that precedes it. Playgrounds was conceived based on this idea. Started in 2006 as an annual festival for image-makers from the game, animation and film industry, it has now grown into a leading platform for the development of visual culture. With support from the Fund, Playgrounds will be able to further develop international collaborations and experiment with new formats during the next four years.
Playgrounds brings together makers from around the world to exchange knowledge and experiences on all the stages of the creative process. With a diverse programme concerning the latest developments in moving images, the platform aims to connect makers and industry internationally and provide a stage for emerging talent. Themes such as storytelling, entrepreneurship, experimentation and technology play a central role.
Playgrounds Next
One of the programme lines within Playgrounds is Playgrounds Next, a talent development programme for promising image-makers. ‘We do not provide project-based support, but look at what a maker needs to take the next step,’ explains director Suzanne Rietdijk. ‘Sometimes that is coaching by a scriptwriter or business coach, sometimes an experiment, sometimes just the confidence to tell authentic stories.’ According to her, the programme represents a crucial link within talent development for the creative industries. Former participants in Playgrounds Next are now making headway with support from international funds such as the Sundance Institute fund or finding connections with producers for their films.
Think tank
Playgrounds’ decision to focus on the process rather than the end result is a response to the increasingly complex visual culture and creates space to explore current social issues. ‘We focus specifically on the issues that concern makers today, because they directly influence what audiences will see tomorrow in cinemas, games and on streaming platforms,’ Rietdijk explains. ‘Makers are involved with technical innovations such as AI and VR, but also wrestle with ethical dilemmas associated with these new technologies and major issues such as inequality, climate change and war, for example. Giving makers space to explore these topics together creates a kind of collective think tank for issues that affect the whole sector.’
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