GOCA recently staged concurrent two-week intensive workshops for multimedia and animation creatives. The In Focus and In Motion masterclasses, which were introduced last year, were facilitated in partnership with AnimaxFYB Studios, an international award-winning multimedia studio headquartered in Accra, Ghana.
“Grenada is at an important stage in the development of its multimedia industry. There is clear talent and growing momentum, and the work GOCA is doing to build skills, create opportunities and connect local creatives to international practitioners is laying an important foundation,” noted Francis Y. Brown, Founder and Creative Director of AnimaxFYB Studios, who served as Lead Facilitator for the two-week masterclasses. “The two weeks were very intensive and deliberately practical, with a strong emphasis on applying what was being taught rather than simply absorbing information. That made the sessions more dynamic and allowed us to go deeper into the creative and technical aspects of filmmaking and video production.”
Stephen O’Keefe, a 2D animation specialist from Ireland, returned this year to lead the 2026 In Motion masterclass, which focused heavily on fundamental skills. “This year the lessons were structured around the 12 Principles of Animation and core human actions while animating simple characters. This allowed the students to focus more on the 12 principles rather than the minutia of how to use any given software,” explained O’Keefe. “Creativity is in the bones here in Grenada, similar to Ireland, which means people are hungry to tell stories and create whatever the medium is.”
Commenting on GOCA’s masterclass initiatives, Tracy Garrett-Baptiste, Operations Manager shared: “We have recognized how critical it is to align education with practical production experience in a way that positions Grenada to participate competitively in the global digital creative economy. During these recent masterclasses, not only were our creatives able to refresh their skills and learn new techniques from excellent facilitators, but they were also able to apply them immediately using state-of-the art equipment and software, while also forging relationships and connections for collaboration. We remain committed to ensuring that our creatives have access to the tools they need to take their businesses to new heights.”
“This In Focus masterclass guided me in the right direction,” shared Kellon Ogiste, owner of Spark Media. “As a self-taught practitioner, the opportunity to participate in this masterclass has levelled up my thinking and appreciation for what I do. You will definitely see a difference in my work going forward.” Similarly, Anika George feels better equipped to support her marketing clients and noted that “every aspect was valuable, from the storytelling and how to build the story structure to the technical aspect of editing.”
Samuel Ogilvy, who has been operating solo in the multimedia industry since 2013, reflected that the class gave him the space to test himself within a collaborative creative environment. “I was able to network and meet some truly remarkable talent and cool folks. I got some great instruction on story, screenwriting, camera and editing principles, and the whole experience has allowed me to refine where I could possibly position myself in a Grenadian film industry that doesn’t require one person to do every part of the project.”
Over in the In Motion animation masterclass, Nyara McDonald, a graphic designer and video editor, expressed her appreciation to GOCA for the opportunity to harness her creative abilities. “My experience was spectacular. I learned how to make my little character move, rigging, and the other principles of animation, which I will use in my day-to-day work, and one day my own animation project.”
“For me, this experience goes beyond learning software or creating animations. I have designed many characters inspired by Grenada, and the masterclass strengthened my belief that we Grenadians have stories to tell and the talent and creativity to bring those stories to life,” shared Alleyne Gulston, a graphic designer turned animator who represented Grenada at the Annecy International Animation Festival in June. “Our stories deserve to travel beyond our shores. Through film and animation, we have an opportunity to share Grenada’s creativity, culture and imagination with audiences around the world. GOCA’s masterclasses are giving us more than technical skills. They are giving us tools, confidence and a foundation to build professional portfolios and develop projects that can meet global industry standards.”
