EU.Webtoons: grand concours de création de webtoons européens / Unleashing European Creativity The UE Webtoon Project redefines digital comics

Afin de développer le secteur du webtoon en Europe, le projet UE Webtoons propose de lancer un concours à grande échelle pour trouver des créateurs de webtoons en Europe / With its sights set on dedicating the entire year of 2024 to webtoons, Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l’image the foremost European comics museum, will provide a dynamic and supportive environment for artists to flourish and express their creativity. 

Le projet

Dans le cadre du programme Europe Creative, la Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l'image lance ce concours en partenariat avec des acteurs clés de l'industrie de la bande dessinée: les principaux festivals européens en Pologne (Varsovie) et en Italie (Lucca), la Société finlandaise de la bande dessinée et son projet CUNE Comics rassemblant tous les pays nordiques.
Le monde de la bande dessinée numérique évolue rapidement grâce à l'essor du webtoon en Asie et aux États-Unis et désormais dans le monde entier. Cependant, les créations et diffusions de webtoons réalisés par des Européens restent très limitées, malgré l'engouement croissant des lecteurs pour ce format. Afin de stimuler l'expansion de cette production en Europe, le projet EU Webtoons organise un concours à l'échelle du continent, avec des dotations allant de 1000 à 15000 euros pour les lauréats. 

Collaborating with key players in the European comics landscape, the project has garnered the support of prominent partners. Major comic festivals in Poland (Warsaw) and Italy (Lucca) will ensure comprehensive promotion across southern and eastern Europe, while the Finnish Comics Society, through its CUNE Comics project, will unite and bolster the action in the northern part of the continent, encompassing all Nordic countries.  The UE Webtoon project endeavors to invigorate the European webtoon scene, empowering talented artists and fostering a vibrant, inclusive community. By bridging the gap between continents and embracing the unique perspectives of European creators, this initiative will amplify the diversity and richness of webtoons, captivating audiences across Europe and beyond. Webtoon is a groundbreaking form of eComics that has garnered immense success in Asia and the USA. Now, global platforms offering webtoons from diverse origins, such as South Korea, are venturing into Europe to expand their reach and captivate new audiences. However, the creation and production of European Webtoons remain limited, despite the format's rising popularity among the digitally native younger generations. To propel this sector's growth in Europe, the UE Webtoon project aims to launch a large-scale competition to discover and celebrate exceptional webtoon artists in the region. To stimulate the expansion of this production in Europe, the EU Webtoons project is organizing a continent-wide competition, with prizes ranging from 1,000 to 15,000 euros for the winners.
 

Objectif : dénicher les nouveaux talents du webtoons et les promouvoir partout en Europe. Vous avez jusqu'au 10 septembre pour candidater / Objective: to find new webtoon talents and promote them throughout Europe. You have until September 10 to apply.

Durée du projet / Project duration 

Ce projet va durer 24 mois et se séparera en deux phases principales / This project will last 24 months and will be divided into two main phases:

  • Première phase : Cette première phase consiste à préparer l'appel à projet, à le communiquer et à constituer un jury pour sélectionner les 10 meilleurs projets qui obtiendront des prix et une visibilité unique dans des festivals d'Europe.
    First phase: This first phase consists of preparing the call for projects, communicating it and forming a jury to select the 10 best projects that will obtain awards and unique visibility in European festivals.
  • Deuxième phase : Les douze mois suivants se concentreront sur l'exposition et la promotion des webtoons retenus et sur les opportunités d'accords de publication avec différentes plateformes et éditeurs. L'impact attendu est de développer du contenu européen de webtoon et d'aider les artistes à accéder à des offres d'exposition et de publication pour leur travail. L'objectif est également de mettre davantage en avant les artistes européens présents sur les plateformes mondiales de webtoons et leurs contenus à l'étranger.
    Second phase: The next twelve months will focus on exposure and promotion of the successful webtoons and opportunities for publishing deals with different platforms and publishers. The expected impact is to develop European webtoon content and help artists access exhibition and publication offers for their work. The aim is also to further promote European artists present on global webtoon platforms and their content abroad.

Unleash Your Creativity and Win Big!

Are you an aspiring webtoon artist ready to make your mark on the European comics scene? Look no further! The UE Webtoon Contest is here to ignite your passion and reward your incredible talent. Get ready for an exhilarating journey where your artistic prowess can propel you to extraordinary heights!

With an impressive array of prizes, this contest is not to be missed. Imagine the thrill of being crowned a winner and receiving the recognition you deserve. Brace yourself for the remarkable rewards that await:

  • Seven (7) Finalist Prize Winners: Be among the elite and seize the opportunity to claim One Thousand Euros (€1000 EUR). It's a stepping stone to showcase your brilliance to the world.
  • One (1) 3rd Place Prize Winner: Stand out from the crowd and secure your spot on the podium. With a remarkable prize of Six Thousand Euros (€6000 EUR), your artistic journey will flourish like never before.
  • One (1) 2nd Place Prize Winner: Prepare for the breathtaking moment when you ascend to the ranks of the top contenders. A magnificent reward of Ten Thousand Euros (€10,000 EUR) awaits, propelling you towards fame and success.
  • One (1) 1st Prize Winner: Embrace the spotlight as you claim the ultimate victory. As the prestigious 1st Prize winner, you will be awarded a staggering Fifteen Thousand Euros (€15,000 EUR). Your talent will shine brightly, captivating audiences far and wide.
  • One (1) Readers' Choice Prize Winner: The power of the people is in your hands. Rally your fans, engage your audience, and secure their votes. The exceptional Readers' Choice Prize winner will not only bask in the glory of their triumph but also receive an additional Two Thousand Euros (€2000 EUR) on top of their other prize sum. It's a testament to your ability to capture hearts and minds.

But the accolades don't end there! As a contest winner, your work will be prominently showcased at our esteemed partner festivals, including the renowned International Comics Festival in Angoulême in January 2024. Picture your creations taking center stage in a captivating exhibition, captivating audiences and industry professionals alike.
Don't let this extraordinary opportunity slip through your fingers. Unleash your creativity, seize the moment, and make your mark on the European comics landscape. The UE Webtoon Contest is your gateway to success, offering financial rewards, recognition, and invaluable exposure.
Are you ready to embrace the challenge? Submit your webtoon masterpiece and embark on an adventure that could change your life forever. Let your artistic brilliance shine and captivate the world with your unique vision.
Dare to dream, dare to create, and let the UE Webtoon Contest be your launchpad to greatness. The stage is set. It's time for your talent to take center stage!

Terms and Conditions of Participation: Rules
a. Maximum one (1) chapter.
b. Minimum of twenty (20) panels, maximum of sixty (60) panels. 
c. Language of the submission can be anything. Submissions that aren’t in English must be accompanied with a translation to english for easier judging. 
d. Submission files must be in JPG-format, with each file being less than 900px wide and 1300px long. They must be under 2MB each. Entrants can submit up to 100 files in total, with a maximum total size of 20MB.
e. All copyright to the submission must be owned by the individual or group submitting it. 
You can find more complete rules here . 

Qu'est ce que le webtoon ?

Le webtoon est une nouvelle forme d'eComics qui connaît déjà un grand succès en Asie et aux USA. Des plateformes mondiales proposant des webtoons originaires de Corée du Sud par exemple viennent désormais en Europe pour développer leurs activités et toucher de nouveaux publics en Europe. La création et la production de Webtoons européens sont encore très limitées alors que le format rencontre de plus en plus de succès auprès des jeunes générations.
Webtoon is a groundbreaking form of eComics that has garnered immense success in Asia and the USA. Now, global platforms offering webtoons from diverse origins, such as South Korea, are venturing into Europe to expand their reach and captivate new audiences. However, the creation and production of European Webtoons remain limited, despite the format's rising popularity among the digitally native younger generations. To propel this sector's growth in Europe, the UE Webtoon project aims to launch a large-scale competition to discover and celebrate exceptional webtoon artists in the region.

Pour aller plus loin

au sujet des webcomics

Jury EU Webtoons

Julien Baudry, France

Julien Baudry is currently a librarian at the University of Bordeaux Montaigne. A former student of L’Ecole des Chartes and a Ph.D. holder, he has dedicated his research to the history of comics. He is particularly interested in the digital transition of comics, which he traced for France in his book "Cases.Pixels" in 2018 (François-Rabelais University Press).

Unka Odya, Poland

Unka Odya was born in 1986, shortly after the Chernobyl disaster. Scientists claim these two events are not linked. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk with a Master of Fine Arts degree. Since then her comics won Grand Prix and Polish Album of the Year award at International Comicbook Festiwal in Łódź. Unka works in gamedev and is a fan of cartoons and horror movies.

Mētra Saberova, Latvia

(b. 1991) is a Latvian queer feminist performance and moving-image artist. Mētra has used her own orchestrated experiences of medical tourism and bodily interventions to encourage discussions about the female body and its capabilities. Mētra gained her BA at the Art Academy of Latvia and completed her postgraduate studies at Central Saint Martins in London. The co-founder and manager of Baltic Drag King Collective (est. 2019)- a fluid community of drag performance artists from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. 

Atla Hrafney, Island

Atla is a comics writer and editor hailing from Iceland! Writer of projects like Gzhel Guardian and Wooden Bones, Atla has been in the webcomics business for over 5 years.

Lorenzo Ghetti, Italy

Lorenzo Ghetti ) resides in Bologna, where he graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts with a degree in Comic Art Languages. He was a part of Delebile Edizioni and collaborates with Hamelin Cultural Association and the BilBOlBul International Comic Festival. He has also worked on the ERCcomics.com website, a platform dedicated to webcomics related to research projects funded by the ERC. Since 2014, he has been spearheading the "TO BE continued Comics" project, which includes a webcomic (awarded Best Webcomic at COMICON and Treviso Comic Book Festival in 2015), the print series "MILLENNIALS," illustrated by Claudia Nuke Razzoli and Caterina Cappelli (awarded Best Self-Publishing at Treviso Comic Book Festival 2019), and various micro-publishing products. Lorenzo has collaborated with Smemoranda, Dayjob Studio, Attaccapanni Press, and Apple. He has published graphic novels with Coconino Press, including "Dove non sei tu" (2018), "Non dimenticarti di me" (2019) for the MiC project "Fumetti nei Musei," and "In alto abbastanza" (2021). He also published "Fabula" (2021), illustrated by Francesco Guarnaccia, with Saldapress. He is the creator and curator of the "APRI" project, a subscription-based service for epistolary correspondence stories.

Pour aller plus loin

Règlement du concours / Rules contest

Les partenaires 

Suomen sarjakuvaseuran - Finlande.
La Société finlandaise de la bande dessinée a été fondée en même temps qu'une exposition internationale à Helsinki en 1971. C'est une association de créateurs, de lecteurs, de collectionneurs et de chercheurs de bandes dessinées. Il vise à promouvoir la prise de conscience et la lecture critique de la bande dessinée et à faire respecter cette forme d'art. Ces dernières années, l'association a été active dans le lancement de plusieurs nouveaux projets d'exportation culturelle et de nouveaux sites web et services en ligne pour les amateurs de bandes dessinées.
Association of makers, readers, collectors, and researchers of comics. Promotes awareness, critical reading, and respect for the art form. Active in launching cultural export projects and online services for comics lovers. 

Lucca Crea Srl - Italie
Née en 2015 de la fusion de Lucca Comics & Games et Lucca Polo Fiere e Congressi, cette entreprise vise à valoriser le contexte monumental et à favoriser le développement du tissu économique de la ville de Lucca, en promouvant son image à travers l'organisation d'événements culturels et de foires d'envergure nationale et internationale. Il exerce ses activités dans l'un des centres historiques les plus fascinants et les mieux conservés de la Toscane.
Aims to enhance the monumental context of Lucca and foster economic development. Organizes cultural events and fairs of national and international scope. Collaboration with institutions, associations, and cultural events worldwide.

Komiksowa Warszawa (Varsovie de la bande dessinée) - Pologne 
Varsovie de la bande dessinée est l'un des plus grands festivals de bande dessinée d'Europe centrale. Son histoire a commencé en 2010, lorsqu'un groupe d'artistes, d'éditeurs et simplement de passionnés de bande dessinée, s'est réuni au sein de l'Association polonaise de la bande dessinée et a décidé de faire revivre la tradition des festivals annuels de bande dessinée. Malgré des débuts difficiles, notamment des événements tels que : le grand incendie d'une imprimerie, l'éruption d'un volcan islandais (qui a entravé l'arrivée d'invités internationaux) et un certain nombre de tragédies vraiment dévastatrices, Komiksowa Warszawa a pris vie. Un an plus tard, ce festival a établi une coopération avec la Foire du livre de Varsovie et, par conséquent, en 2013, il a déménagé dans son nouveau domicile, le remarquable stade national. Depuis ses débuts, le festival a été visité par des milliers de fans de Pologne et de l'étranger.
One of the largest comics festivals in Central Europe. Established cooperation with Warsaw Book Fair. Welcomes guests and participants from around the world

Nous contacter / To contact us

For more informations on the webtoon contest, contact the team