The call for the first edition of the Zinemaldia Startup Challenge, the contest for entrepreneurs and recently created startups proposing new business projects based on the incorporation of new technologies to the audiovisual sphere, received 32 submissions from nine European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland).

The business project proposals submitted to the first call, promoted by the Basque Government Department of Economic Development and Infrastructures, address innovative solutions for the audiovisual world based on the application of new technologies including big data, augmented reality, virtual reality, Internet of Things, blockchain, machine learning and 3D printing.

The five finalist projects, whose heads will pitch their proposals at the Zinemaldia & Technology event taking place in the framework of the Festival, are: Flow Cut, an augmented reality project developed by the entrepreneurs Elbio Nielsen y Fernando Chiarri settled in Bizkaia (Spain); LargoAI, an artificial intelligence project promoted by a Swiss startup; Shield, a project also falling within the artificial intelligence field by a company from Alava (Spain); Scenso.TV, a blockchain application produced by a French company; and Volograms, an innovative proposal for creating augmented reality and virtual reality contents by an Irish firm.

The five finalists will have the possibility to work at an incubation space for a year at one of the BICs (Business Innovation Centers) in the Basque Technology Park Network, as well as access to funding of up to 500,000 euros to develop their projects. The winning project, to be decided by an independent jury, will also receive 10,000 euros.
As well as the pitchings by the five finalists and presentation of the award, the second edition of Zinemaldia & Technology, to take place on September 22 at Tabakalera, will include a masterclass and four company presentations and demonstrations.

The Basque Government, through its Department of Economic Development and Infrastructures, promotes the Zinemaldia Startup Challenge, the central initiative of the second edition of this activity, organised by the San Sebastian Festival, Tecnalia, Tabakalera (through its 2deo audiovisual lab) and Petronor. The applied research centre Vicomtech will also collaborate in the initiative.

With the support of Creative Europe MEDIA through the European Film Forum

The event also enjoys, thanks to the European Film Forum initiative, the support of Creative Europe MEDIA, whose objective is to strengthen the European film and audiovisual industry.

 Zinemaldia & Technology is a strategic commitment by the San Sebastian Festival, which aims to position itself as a benchmark space for reflecting on the audiovisual industry and technology.