07 · 17 · 19

Guillermo del Toro and Cinépolis granted the 2019 ANIMEXICO scholarship to a young Mexican talent

Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro, with the support of Cinépolis, granted young Mexican talent Deborah Balboa a scholarship to study in the Master of Arts in Character Animation and Animated Filmmaking at GOBELINS, the most renowned animated cinema school in the world.

The scholarship will help the beneficiary, previously admitted to GOBELINS Master of Arts, in Paris, by covering her living expenses and tuition, from September 2019 to June 2021.

"We are very proud to contribute to the studies of talented young Mexicans. This scholarship of art, animation and film making at GOBELINS will be an excellent opportunity for Deborah. We could not have a better ally than Guillermo del Toro, not only one of the best directors in the world and a close friend, but also an example of social commitment and support of Mexican talent," said Alejandro Ramírez, CEO of Cinépolis and President of the Morelia International Film Festival.

Promoting equality in opportunities: "GOBELINS for all"

The ANIMEXICO scholarship program is part of GOBELINS' desire to promote equal opportunities by opening its training to all talents. Deborah Balboa will be part of the 2019-2021 class of the GOBELINS Master of Arts, a group made up of 26 students from 16 different nationalities.

"The financial dimension must not be a hurdle. We privilege above all the creative potential, the mastery of the art of movement and finally the personal universe. At GOBELINS, the diversity of profiles and cultures is a real asset," explains Nathalie Berriat, Director of GOBELINS.

"It is of great importance to give a chance to female talents which are under-represented in the animation sector internationally. We are glad to award this grant to a young artist as talented as Deborah. Her motivation and her work capacity are outstanding. Her creativity and joyful style will blossom at Gobelins where she will meet talents from all around the world with whom she will work on her first movie while strengthening her skills," said Cécile Blondel, Head of International Development at Gobelins.

The submissions were selected based on the following criteria:

• Their technical and artistic excellence
• Their motivation
• Their social and economic circumstances

This animation course allows students to deepen their knowledge of filmmaking and storytelling. At the end of the course, they participate in a graduation film project in conditions close to those of the professional world. They work in teams on different projects and can thus acquire a versatility combined with a level of excellence recognized by professionals, in France and internationally.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DEBORAH BALBOA