In 2006, the celebration of the International Animation Day had no place or local sponsors to fund their costs. Finally, it could be done with the economic con tribution of twenty leaders and help from the Metropolitan Design Center, which allowed the Exhibition Hall “Dorrego”. On October 28, in the presence of an en thusiastic audience that attended the event, was launched AACA: ARGENTINE ASSOCIATION of ANIMATED FILMS, open to all those who work for animation.

Year 2006: 2nd Celebration of IADay in Bs. Aires. Photo 19) The Exhibition Hall “M.Dorrego” Photo 20): OMDesplats announcing launching of AACA-ASIFA Argentina. Photo 21): Poster ASIFA Argentina 2006.

The statutes and the objectives were adjusted to those of ASIFA, with the assis tance of Vesna Dovnikovic. On February 14, 2007, with the recommendation of O. Caterin, FROM ASIFA France, Jordi Artigas, from ASIFA Barcelona and Oscar Grillo, a well known argentine animator settled in London, AACA was re cognized as ASIFA Argentina. On April 23, at a public meeting, was signed the Constitutive Act, the statutes were read and the first Board of Directors announ ced the start of activities

In 2007 national elections were held in Argentina, and the second International Film Festival of Animation in Buenos Aires, was held on November 9, coinciding with the 90th anniversary of the premiere in the cinema Select Lavalle in Buenos Aires the First Full length Animated feature film of the world, made by Quirino Cristiani in Argentina.

The acts took place on 9, 10 and November 11 in the auditorium of the DaVinci School of Media Arts and the Rojas Cultural Center, and they had an audience of an estimated five hundred people.

Year 2007: 3rd. Celebration of IADay in Bs Aires. Photo 22a): OM.Desplats and R.Manfredi announcing IADay. Photo 22b): Conferences ASIFA Argentina members in the DaVinci School. Photo 22c): “Animators Meeting” R. Pastor, S. Nanni, OM. Desplats, R. Manfredi, M. Nanni and A. Lopez. Photo 23): Poster ASIFA Argentina 2007.

In addition to the screening of animated films the most important scheduled activities were the Lectures and the Master Classes, which allowed the young animators to meet the pioneers live, relating the history of animation in Argentina, in front of an audience amused with anecdotes reported.

In Talks and Discussions were discussed different techniques applied today in the country and the digital ones that are being considered in schools. The different ASIFA groups sent their demo reels: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, France, USA Atlanta, USA Colorado, and the embassy gave us its films: Canada, China, Finland, Hungary, and Italy.

Year 2008: on August, the President of ASIFA Argentina, Oscar M. Desplats, was kindly invited by the President of ASIFA and ASIFA Japan, Mrs. Sayoko Kinoshita, at Hiroshima International Festival, which she directs. Between the days 6 and 11, Desplats attended the ASIFA Board meetings as an observer, being the first time for a representative of South America. During the Festival he presented, out of competition, his retrospective film “90 Years of Argentine Animation”, a compilation of short and full length animated feature films produced in Argentina from 1917 until 2008. Year 2008: Photo 25a): ASIFA Meeting in Hiroshima. Photo 25b): O.M.Desplats invited at Hiroshima International Animation Festival. Photo 26): Flier from film “90 Years of Argentine animation”, Hiroshima 2008.

The International Animation Day was held within the framework of the International Animation Festival EXPOTOONS, on October 27 and 28 in the Hoyt Cinema and Abasto Hotel, fulfilling with the suggestion of the INCAA ( National Institute of Film and Audiovisual Arts) in the sense of joint efforts between animators, producers and animation broadcasters. A.A.C.A. – A.S.I.F.A. Argentina was in charge, in addition to the preselection of films in competition, the organization of Special Programs, consisting of Talks, Animators’ Meetings, Tributes and Screenings that included demos of Colleges and Schools work from home and abroad. Year 2008: 4th Celebrataion of IADay in Bs. Aires. Photo 27): 3rd “Animators Meeting” AACA-ASIFA Argentina included in the International Animation Festival Expotoons. Photo 28): Conference in Expotoons. Photo 29a): R. Manfredi, President of Expotoons and L. Mazure, President of I.N.C.A.A. Photo 29b): Stands from Schools. Photo 29c): R. Pastor and members of the Board ASIFA Argentina. Photo 29d): Poster ASIFA Argentina 2008.

There was competition with prizes, a large crowd, mostly students, foreign visitors and the presence of the President of the INCAA in the awards. For the first time, many wills met from different points of animation: both independently, that asked for more support to its production of short films, such as the industrial one, that worked in rounds of negotiation and looking for co-productions, together with officials concerned in development of the animation and the Festival. Short films of Graduated from Schools in Japan and France were screened, which show significant progress in the management of technology and the depth of the topics discussed by the young animators of these countries. Also present here my documentary film on the animation of Argentina. The presence of Raul Avila, argentine animator pioneer of the ’60s, settled in Venezuela since 1972, allowed to listen to a promising future outlook for production in that country.

On October 28, 2009 we celebrated the International Animation Day for the fourth consecutive time, in the ENERC facilities (National School of Film Experimentation and Making). Year 2009: 5th Celebration of the IADay in Bs. Aires. Photo 30): ENERC facilities (National School of Film Experimentation and Making). Photo 31): Poster ASIFA Argentina 2009.

It had started with the first Ordinary Meeting of the association, inserting it in the legal regularity that rules the activity of nonprofit associations. After they had approved the Minutes, Balance & Memory of AACA, the Board Committee that worked in the first three years of operation of the Association, since its launch on April 14, 2007, was said goodbye with an applause. There was also conducted the election of the new Board Committee that took charge of the destiny of the Association until 2012. Then, took place the screening of short films grouped into two categories of students: Argentine films and from graduated from France, China and Japan. The exhibition of awarded argentine Shorts closed the screening. Photo 32a): AACA-ASIFA Argentina in Expotoons: R.Desplats, S.Nanni y OM Desplats. Photo 32b): OM Desplats with Rosanna Manfredi, President of Expotoons, and Raul Garcia, Writer and Director from Spain.

Photo 33): O.M.Desplats, R.Manfredi, L.Romero, D.Benditti, M.Truco y M.Nanni during AACA-ASIFA Argentina meeting.

AACA- ASIFA Argentina in the FESTIVAL EXPOTOONS ’09.

Our association conducted during this Festival two major events that take place almost traditionally concentrating the interest of the animators, artists and technicians. November 26 and 28 were part of the celebrations at EXPOTOONS 2009, which took place at the Sheraton Libertador Hotel.

. Photo 34): T. Loschi, from CITIA, delivering the award for “Employment”. Photo 35): M.Garcia Ferre, producer and Director of five animated features, with OMDesplats. Photo 36): Animators Meeting of ASIFA Argentina in Expotoons.

November 26 Conference: The Argentine Animation towards its Cen tenary. At the conference organized by AACA-ASIFA Argentina, industry repre sentatives met to discuss the argentine animation, its strengths, needs and ways to follow towards its centenary. They spoke about the need to create a regulatory framework for the animation market in Argentina, as already exists in other Latin American countries that developed appropriate legislation to encourage the industry to benefit from the joint experience. The animators also spoke about the importance of the union of all those involved in the animation industry to grow as a whole and to develop in that way a stable market in Argentina. Representatives of the education sector, video game industry and filmmakers, also spoke to stress the need to support and encourage the training of animators in 3D, taking advantage of the support of the most experienced pioneers in 2D.

Photo 33): Year 2009: OM.Desplats, R.Manfredi, L.Romero, D.Benditti, M.Truco y M.Nanni during AACA-ASIFA Argentina meeting. Photo 34): T. Loschi, from CITIA, delivering the award for “Employment”.

EXPOTOONS closed the 28th, with the special exhibition Festival of Festivals, where were projected selected short films from Annecy, PISAF, Ottawa and Future Film Festival, at the Sheraton Libertador Hotel. It was also under taken the traditional ANIMATORS MEETING, open to the public, to discuss the state of the animation within the audiovisual industry in Argentina, and to support the dissemination of activities and training of new professionals. The talk focused on the concern of the animators, the vindication of their work, and the imperative to work together producers, animators, television, and the State, to give the animation the place it deserves as a professional and industrial activity.

Photo 35): Animators Meeting of ASIFA Argentina in Expotoons: S. Nanni. Photo 36): M.Villegas Gonzalez.

The main focus was on the need to educate and unite the work of the producers with the animation school’s ones. Management of the AACA was also explained for having created within the INCAA a specific area of animation, with its own bud get, legal advice, and a place different from the rest of audiovisual production.

. Photo 37): Recognition to J.Surraco, documentalist author of Q.Cristiani live document. Photo 38): M.Garcia Ferre, producer and Director of five animated features, with O M Desplats. Photo 39): Awards: Medals to Honorary members.

Diplomas and medals for honorary membership were awarded for his remarkable contribution to the argentine animation to Jorge Surraco, author of the documen tary on the making of the Apostle, the world’s first animated long feature film, made in Argentina by Quirino Cristiani. To Manuel Garcia Ferre, creator of famous argentine cartoon characters and producer and director of TV series and feature films starring them. To Pedro (Pelusa) D. Suero, creator of many of the very memorable character voices, even today. Today EXPOTOONS is a success ful achievement in seeking access to the objective of providing the country with an Animated Film Festival of international importance, significant of the different areas that pursue the common goal of the development of animation art-industry. The way to build this is to work together. The important thing is that we get invol ved, because we love the animation; this is what drives us and will help us to keep growing.