Ibero-American Futures Lab was launched at Qurino Awards
The Futures Lab, a new initiative unveiled at the Quirino Awards, brought together leading voices from the Ibero-American animation not to struggle with possibilities but with possibilities. “We are not here to predict what will come, but to build it actively,” said Silvina Cornillón, whereby the ambition of the laboratory is recorded to braid the past, present and future while the sector navigates existential change.
Supported by the Ortega Marañón Foundation, it contained speakers such as Henar León, head of innovation and subsidies at Prisa, who sketched the global megatrends that reformed the audiovisual industries of artificial intelligence and sustainability for political turbulence, market. “We live in a time when technology moves faster than we have ever experienced in human history,” León told the packaged public and warned that the rapid rise of AI and emerging technology would bring both risks and opportunities for the animation world.
José Luis Farias, executive producer and coordinator of the lab, reflected on the progress that has been made eight years ago since the launch of the Quirino Awards. Although initiatives such as the Ibermedia Next Program and the White Book of Ibero-American animation have created cooperation, FARAARS recognized the many remaining challenges. “We have tried to find concrete solutions for concrete problems, but now we need a more holistic, global vision,” he said. “We have to use collective intelligence because we are all in this together.”
In three breakout groups, the participants were in the round and shared views while they worked to map what the laboratory called the weight of the past in honor of traditional skills, cultural heritage and stories to tell; the push of the present of leadership development to creating original IP; And the attraction of the future that have stronger alliances, sector collaborations and a responsible approach to AI integration in mind.
Federico Ullolo, cultural director of the Ortega Marañón Foundation, sketched the discussions of the day, four ambitious scenarios that came out of the lab. The first was an ‘official scenario’, in which he acknowledged that ‘we are not so bad’ and that the sector has a lot to be proud of. The second, a ‘chaotic scenario’, warned that doing nothing risks stagnation. A third, ‘visionary scenario’, introduced a future in which Ibero-American animation fully realizes that it is potential to build society through values, education and economic growth. Finally, an “alternative scenario” was aimed at strengthening alliances based on the unique values of the sector.
“This is a sector that has always been adapted, that has continued to generate value,” Ullolo emphasized. “We must understand the value and potential of Ibero-American animation in the construction of society.”
It will go beyond the Quirino Awards, with upcoming online and personal workshops prior to a presentation to international cultural leaders at the MondialCult event of Barcelona in September. As Farias said: “We are going from isolated initiatives to a collective story. And that story needs us all.”
By bringing these ideas together in a shared story, the hope is to offer policy makers a better understanding of supporting and supporting the cultural value that offers a broad and diverse animation industry.
