The 11th edition of The Animation Conference (TAC) will be running alongside this year’s Ottawa International Animation Festival, taking place in the Canadian capital September 17-19 at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier. Taking advantage of North America’s largest animation event, TAC invites members of the artistic and business communities involved in animation to engage in unique networking opportunities.
Among key sessions to participate in are the speed-pitching event Fast Track — which will be attended by nearly 40 major companies including Cartoon Network, CBC, Corus Ent., PBS and Teletoon; and Art+Biz day, which was launched last year as a way for featured Ottawa Fest filmmakers to connect with industry pros. Art+Biz will have a keynote from SpongeBob SquarePants creative director Vincent Waller.
TAC attendees will also get to hear from animation professionals in in-depth one-on-one sessions. This year’s schedule opens with a discussion between Tom Warburton (creator, Codename: Kids Next Door) and Ottawa artistic director Chris Robinson, followed by Marc Landsberg (Social Deviant) on social media content and its consumers. Then Clint Eland (president, Mercury Filmworks) will talk Disney TV Animation with Eric Coleman (SVP original series) and Mike Moon (VP creative). The day will close with Melissa Wolfe dishing on one of the newest players in original streaming content, Amazon Studios.
Seminars, panels, additional sessions and case studies will explore practical aspects of development and production. And once you’ve filled up your brain with expert tips, unwind with the TAC Boat Cruise for two hours of sightseeing and hobnobbing with execs who have no way to escape (not that they’d want to, of course)!
Visit animationfestival.ca for more information.
