TAC, The Animation Conference, has undergone some big changes for its 10th anniversary this year including a new vision, a new venue and an additional day.
This year’s conference runs Sept. 18-20 in Ottawa, Canada, in conjunction with the Ottawa International Animation Festival.
Corus Entertainment Executive Vice President and General Counsel Gary Maavara, will kick off a series of hot topics discussing the state of the Canadian animation industry as well as the impact of some recent changes.
A new addition to TAC dedicated to bridging the gap between these creators and the business community is the ART + BIZ day, a networking event for OIAF filmmakers and TAC delegates. The day will include a brunch hosted by Craig Bartlett, creator of Hey Arnold!, who also will deliver a keynote address.
This year, TAC will invade the Canadian Museum of Nature, taking advantage of its historic, haunted and boney features. The venue — a new one for TAC — will be hosting TAC’s signature networking event amid the dinosaurs in the Talisman Energy Fossil Gallery.
TAC offers networking and pitching opportunities to its attendees every year. Fast Track gives creators the opportunity to pitch projects one-on-one to broadcasters, distributors, and production companies. Pitch THIS! gives two producers the chance to wow hundreds of industry contacts and a panel of major broadcasters including executives from Teletoon, Nickelodeon, Corus Entertainment and Walt Disney Television Animation.
Other industry panels cover high-interest subjects such as the evolution of digital distribution, creating for YouTube, incorporating educational S.T.E.M. content for kids into fun cartoons, how American indie studios remain successful, and making the leap from service work to developing original content.
In addition to all of the pitching and networking opportunities, TAC is providing its attendees with a series of Case Studies including a candid look at the writing room, a visually unique U.K. preschool hit and CMT’s first foray into original animated programming.
