Taking place March 18-19 in Dingle, Ireland — on the most westerly peninsula of Europe — the fourth Animation Dingle festival will celebrate excellence in local and international animation. Presented by Jam Media and the Dingle International Film Festival, the 2016 event will welcome representatives from Amazon, BBC, Disney, RTE and Nickelodeon who will share industry insights.
“We’re chuffed with the quality of the speakers, the large attendance and the quality of the screening and awards,” says event co-founder and Jam Media CEO John Rice. “Animation Dingle has really struck a chord with both students and industry at home and internationally. Of course, it would not be possible without the support of bodies like Enterprise Ireland and the IFB among others.”
This year’s keynote speeches will be delivered by by Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming for Amazon Studios, USA and David Levine, General Manager of Disney Channels UK & Ireland. On March 18 at the Animation Dingle Conference, Ireland’s top producers — including Alan Shannon (Jam Media), Paul Cummins (Telegael) and Deirdre Barry (Salty Dog) — will chat with Sheila de Courcy of RTÉ about producing in Ireland. Storyboard artist Christian de Vita (Fantastic Mr. Fox) and Cecile Blondel from Gobelins are also participating this year.
Other notable participants are Oscar winner Patrick Osborne (FEAST), Jackie Edwards and Lucy Pryke of CBBC, Pauline MacNamara of RTE and Alexi Wheeler from Nickelodeon. Animation Dingle will be bringing together industry leaders from home and abroad for events like the speed pitching session and career workshops aimed at animation students. Young animators will also be celebrated with the Animation Dingle Student Awards.
Masterclass panels will include: Making Movies (animated features), The Green Light Club (development), Producers Pitch (Irish producers), Broadcasters Basics, Colleges Get Creative (Irish and European schools), and creative masterclasses with Osborne and de Vita.
