Buenos-Aires based Universidad del Cine has launched a scholarship search across Latin America to find and foster young talented animators.

The school is looking to give away five full US$30,000 scholarships to a student in each Latin American country (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico). An additional 15 students will receive 50% scholarships.

The university will provide all of the funds for the scholarships, with support from five festivals including Anima Mundi, Pixelatl, Chile Monos, Siggraph and Anima Cordoba.

Applications are due on February 13 and the winners will be announced by February 20. One of the organizers behind the search is Maria Martina Santoro, CEO of OKAM studio who also works in the animation department at the university.

Martina says that so far the majority of applications have been from men, and she is hoping to see more women apply. She would like to see a female-only scholarship in the future in order to bring more women into the animation field, according to Martina.