The Spark Computer Graphics Society (Spark CG), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and fostering the computer graphics industry, has announced the in-person program for its hybrid Oscar-accredited festival, Spark Animation 2023 which will be held in person in Vancouver, BC from November 9-12, and online from November 13 to December 31.
Western Canada’s biggest animation-focused event, Spark Animation’s 2023 edition will be full of premiere screenings, expert talks and illustrious guests. Tickets and passes are now on sale at sparkcg.org.
Conference Highlights
This year’s Spark conference (November 11 & 12) features presentations on some of the most high-profile animated projects of the year, including:
- Nimona with co-director Troy Quane and animation supervisor Ted Ty
- Elemental with animation supervisor Allison Rutland
- Blue Eye Samurai with supervising director Jane Wu
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem with director Jeff Rowe
- Agent Elvis with animation director Robert Valley
Spark Animation will also welcome award-winning author and historian Mindy Johnson to present on her latest ground-breaking discovery of the work of pioneering animator Bessie Mae Kelley.
Premiere Screenings
Feature films making global and local premieres at the festival (November 9-12) include:
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World Premiere — The Worlds Divide, the latest film from Victoria-based independent director Denver Jackson, who will be in attendance.
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BC Premiere — Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget; director Sam Fell in attendance.
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Canadian Premiere — Pencils vs. Pixels; producer Tom Bancroft in attendance.
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Canadian Premiere — Scarygirl; co-director Tania Vincent & creator Nathan Jurevicius in attendance.
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Canadian Premiere — Slide; director Bill Plympton in attendance.
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World Premiere — Ostinato, the latest project from Women in Animation Vancouver’s ACE Program; program participants in attendance.
The festival will also screen over 100 short films across seven short film programs, among them a number of North American, Canadian and regional premieres including the Canadian Premiere of Oscar-winning director Andrew Ruhemann’s The Day I Became a Bird, the Canadian Premiere of legendary director John Musker’s short film I’m Hip and the BC Premiere of legendary Canadian director Janet Perlman’s The Girl with the Red Beret.
Getting Together
As part of Spark’s commitment to engage and support the local community, the festival is expanding the offering of free screenings, including community screenings of Scarygirl and Kensuke’s Kingdom, and three programs of short films.
A Career Fair (November 11) and Artist Alley featuring over 50 creators (November 12), will also be taking place during the festival and are free to attend.
