This mentorship offers creators a rare opportunity to step inside the real-world production of an independent animated feature film and learn directly from acclaimed animator and filmmaker Signe Baumane. Through hands-on participation, observation, and collaboration inside her New York City studio, mentees will gain insight into the creative, technical, and logistical processes behind building a stop-motion animated feature from the ground up. You can learn more about Karmic Knot on the project's website.

ABOUT THE  TONGAL BRANDED CONTENT MENTORSHIP PROGRAM:

Tongal's Branded Content Mentorship Program is a new initiative designed to equip emerging creators with the tools and experience to excel in a branded content environment. By developing real-world lessons around branded content skill development and pairing emerging creators with seasoned Mentors from within the Tongal community, the program will teach Mentees how to pitch creative, interface with clients, meet deadlines, address feedback, and deliver a final product. Each Mentee will work towards developing a specific skill based on their Mentor’s lesson plan (e.g. editing a video for social, or animating a logo) that will help them further their career as a branded content creator. By the end of the program, each Mentee will walk away with a completed piece of content for their own portfolios.

ABOUT TONGAL:

Tongal believes creativity drives human potential and that everyone has the potential to be creative. We empower Creators by connecting them to each other and to opportunities for top networks, studios, and brands, setting into motion a never-ending cycle of opportunity and growth.

Independent animated films are built piece by piece, frame by frame, through years of artistry, experimentation, collaboration, and persistence. From sculpting and painting practical sets, to organizing thousands of animation files, to carefully lighting and photographing scenes, every single stage of the process requires immense care and attention to detail. That’s why we’re incredibly excited to partner with acclaimed independent animator, filmmaker, and fellow Tongal community member Signe Baumane for a new edition of Tongal’s Branded Content Mentorship Program focused on stop-motion and independent feature animation production. 

Born in Latvia and based in New York City, Signe Baumane is one of the most celebrated voices in independent animation today. Her award-winning films, including Rocks in My Pockets and My Love Affair With Marriage, have screened at hundreds of festivals around the world, earned international critical acclaim, and helped redefine what independent animated storytelling can look and feel like. Now, Tongal creators will have the rare opportunity to step directly inside her creative process during production on her upcoming stop-motion animated feature film Karmic Knot, starring the voices of Patrick Wilson, Dagmara Dominczyk, Gracie Lawrence, Emma Kenney, Stephen Lang, Erica Schroeder, and Matthew Modine.

This mentorship is designed as a hands-on, weeklong studio experience taking place in New York City, for a week during the Summer of 2026, where selected mentees will work alongside Signe and her team inside the production studio itself. Participants will receive an overall view of what it takes to run an independent animation studio creating feature-length films, while also gaining insight into the specific workflows and creative processes behind Karmic Knot, Signe’s third animated feature. Mentees will learn how animation files are organized and managed, assist with scanning and organization tasks, help texture and paint practical background sets, observe how sets are lit and photographed, and depending on production timing, may participate in lighting strike work or observe scene photography in progress. Participants will also be included in team screenings and reviews of line tests, animatics, and completed scenes, with opportunities to ask questions and contribute feedback alongside the production team.

In addition to the technical and artistic experience, mentees will have the opportunity to read the script for Karmic Knot, ask questions about the filmmaking process, and learn more about how independent animated features are funded and sustained. Team lunches will also provide additional opportunities for informal conversations and mentorship throughout the week.

Participation in this mentorship requires being physically present in New York City for the duration of the program. The studio operates from 10am to 6pm daily with a 45-minute lunch break, and participants are expected to arrive on time and remain fully engaged throughout the experience. In keeping with the studio environment, cell phones are not permitted at workstations and must remain stored during production activities.

As with any mentorship program, the value received is directly connected to the amount of curiosity, focus, and dedication brought into the experience. This program is ideal for creators who are passionate about animation, eager to learn how independent feature films are truly made, and excited to immerse themselves in a real working studio environment.

Check out more information in the Background, and for any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

DELIVERABLES: There are 6 total assets.

• You'll be required to write up a summary description of your experience and what you've gained from it
• 3-5 behind the scenes photos of your experience

EXPECTED TIMELINE: 

The timeline for this project is flexible and will take your availability into consideration, but the goal is complete this mentorship before the end of August 2026.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Anyone is welcome to apply to become a Mentee in this program, but you must be registered for a Tongal account to apply.

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects do move forward, we'll notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any submissions via the Project Forum. Regardless of the result, all submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and project team.

In order to be considered, include the below materials in your submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery. All Pitches remain private, even after a Pitch is selected, and Tongal strives to have Pitch selections made by the end of the Evaluation period,but additional time may be required by the Sponsor, depending on any number of factors. Unless specifically requested, there's no need to include a budget with your submission.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and produce the content listed in the Deliverables, and make sure to include your availability through the end of August 2026.
  
  
• RESUME (REQUIRED): Please include your resume as part of this application. Experience with Stop-Motion Animation is not necessary for this mentorship.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, editor, artist, etc.) but do not include links to your showreel. Please link to individual videos.

• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show what you're capable of. Consider a video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect, or consider test videos, proof-of-concept edits, animatics, etc. For examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery.

1. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, greenlit Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their Videos, as well as a photograph/headshot OR copy of a photo ID for all On-camera Talent releases. You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec to claim your earnings. Tongal also reserves the right to request all raw files associated with the project.
   
   
2. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information of your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.
   
   
3. In the event you utilize any third-party materials, such as music provided by a third-party music provider not provided by Tongal, you must obtain full written license and consent from the owner of such third-party materials and provide such license and consent forms to Tongal.
   
   
4. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Videos without providing additional compensation. Remember it's easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.
   
   
5. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p and formatted for the aspect ratios listed in the Deliverables (e.g. 16x9). Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. Should your submission be greenlit, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec.
   
   
6. BY SUBMITTING A VIDEO ENTRY, YOUR SUBMISSION IMMEDIATELY BECOMES THE SOLE PROPERTY OF TONGAL OR ITS ASSIGNEES - SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES. YOU MAY NOT PUBLICLY SHARE OR PUBLISH YOUR SUBMISSION IN ANY MANNER AND YOU MAY NOT POST OR UPLOAD YOUR SUBMISSION TO ANY WEBSITE OR VIDEO HOSTING SITE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), WITHOUT THE PRIOR EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF TONGAL. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR ENTRY IN THE PROJECT.
   
   
7. You may not contact any employees or members of the Sponsor's organization, their affiliates, or any of their partners. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification of your entry in the project.
   
   
8. In addition to the judging criteria stated in the OFFICIAL RULES, Pitches will also be evaluated on that member's ability to execute the final Video based on their prior work and experience as a creator.
   
   
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
   
   
10. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor, nor can Submissions contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
    
    
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. See OFFICIAL RULES for additional contest information, terms and conditions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between these requirements and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of these requirements shall prevail.