The Ottawa International Animation Festival’s (OIAF) industry counterpart, The Animation Conference (TAC), celebrates 20 years as an industry hotspot, focusing on international partnerships, including co-productions with Ireland and Spain. Founded in 1994 in Ottawa, the Conference is a unique forum where Canadian and international animation markets can connect, providing insights into trends and the state of the industry.
This year’s Conference runs from September 25 to 27 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
“Since its founding, TAC has brought together hundreds of production executives and creatives from across Canada and around the world, generating millions in production dollars,” says the OIAF’s Managing Director Kelly Neall, who founded TAC. “We welcome these delegations and look forward to many potential collaborations from this year’s event.”
Presented by Enterprise Ireland and moderated by Mary Bredin of Green Tiger Club Ltd, “The Emerald Lens: Exploring Ireland’s Animation and Storytelling Legacy” panel features the expertise of:
- Ben Harper, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Giant Animation
- Andrew Kavanagh, Founder & CEO, Kavaleer Productions Limited
- Vanessa Robinson, CEO & Co-Founder, Little Moon Animation
- Stephen Fagan, Co-Founder, Studio Meala
- Graham Holbrook, Creative Director, Treehouse Republic
While “Animation from Spain: Upcoming Original Films,” presented by ICEX Spain Trade and Investment and moderated by Carolina López Caballero, Curator at ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, includes insights from:
- Daysi Cruz, Business Development Director, Morgana Studios
- Álvaro García González, Executive Producer, Hampa Studio SL
- Chelo Loureiro, Founder & CEO, Executive Producer, Abano Producións
Ireland and Spain have emerged as European leaders in the animation industry. Known worldwide for their storytelling, the animation industry has become a central component of Ireland’s digital and creative economy. Home to award-winning studios, the country’s industry employs over 2,000 full-time staff. Spain’s animation industry continues to grow, with more than 300 companies dedicated to animation and VFX. Last year, six feature films, 25 short films and 68 seasons of TV series were produced and distributed by Spain.
TAC attendees will learn about upcoming coproduction opportunities with both countries and preview new and in-the-making projects from Spain. To further celebrate 20 years of TAC and the Canadian animation industry’s international relationships, IDA Ireland and ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, respectively, will host a TAC Luncheon on September 25 and September 26 at the Conference.
Additional TAC programming will be announced in the weeks leading up to the Conference.
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