SPARK ANIMATION 2022
October 27 - November 30, 2022



Terabyte Sponsor


CrBC



Megabyte Sponsors


Animal Logic


Capilano University


Netflix


AMPD


Trickfilm



Kilobyte Sponsors


ILM


Atomic Cartoons


Bardel


BRON Digital


DNEG


Mainframe Studios


Sony Pictures Imageworks


WildBrain


Image Engine


Kickstart Entertainment



Byte Sponsors


Scanline VFX


The Little Dev Shop


AMD Canada


Epic Games


Animasia


Versatile Media


Centre for Digital Media


Wacom Canada


CMPA


Vancouver Film School


DigiBC


Departure Lounge


Foundry


GhostVFX


NGX


NOX VFX



Partner


ACM SIGGRAPH



Alliance Partner


Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH



SPARK ANIMATION 2022
IGNITE YOUR PASSION, SPARK YOUR CREATIVITY, GET CONNECTED
October 27 - November 30, 2022

WELCOME!

BC’s only Oscar®-accredited festival, SPARK ANIMATION packs world-class films, talks and events in an intimate, grass-roots festival.

Learn, meet and be inspired by the industry’s top talent. In addition to films, SPARK ANIMATION features panels, talks and workshops from the most talented artists, directors and studio luminaries.


In-Person Festival

In-person programming is back! Don’t miss your chance to meet and mingle with other like-minded creatives and filmmakers. The full schedule of film screenings and talks is available below. Click on the Online Registration button to secure your seats early.

See Schedule Below >>


Online Festival

This year’s SPARK ANIMATION Festival and Conference is a ‘hybrid’ event, with the online component presented by our streaming partner Trickfilm. Selected films and conference content are available on-demand from 27 October to 30 November 2022 at trickfilm.com

Buy Passes >>


Career Fair: Loaded with Talent

Our second Career Fair of the year will be held on 12 November 2022 at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre from 9:30 am to 5 pm. For more info or to register, please visit our special event page.

Read More >>



SCHEDULE

DAY 1THURSDAY - OCTOBER 27, 2022
6:00 pmNETWORKING
RECEPTION (No Minors)
7:00 pmFEATURE FILM
MY FATHER'S DRAGON + Q&A (No Minors)
with Nora Twomey · Moderated by Marina Antunes
9:30 pmPRESENTATION
EXPLORING THE SURREAL STOP-MOTION WORLD OF HENRY SELICK
with Henry Selick · moderated by Marina Antunes
DAY 2FRIDAY - OCTOBER 28, 2022
6:30 pmSHORT FILMS
MOTHERS OF AN ARTFORM + MIXER
with Joan Gratz
9:00 pmFEATURE FILM
MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH MARRIAGE + SKYPE Q&A
with Signe Baumane
11:30 pmSHORT FILMS
AFTER DARK (No Minors)
DAY 3SATURDAY - OCTOBER 29, 2022
9:00 amPRESENTATION
BEHIND THE SCENES OF MY FATHER'S DRAGON
with Nora Twomey · moderated by Keith Blackmore
10:40 amPRESENTATION
THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE MAGICAL INDIGENOUS WORLD OF SPIRIT RANGERS
with Joey Clift & Karissa Valencia · moderated by Reena Bali
12:20 pmPRESENTATION
DEVELOPING SUPERPOWERS ON DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS
with Amilcar Herrera, Angela Ensele, Clementine Lo, David Burgess, Ed de Guzman & Jenny Li · moderated by Kristen Anderson
2:00 pmPRESENTATION
THE SEA BEAST: THE MAKING OF AN EPIC ADVENTURE
with Chris Williams & R. Stirling Duguid · moderated by Kaitlin Sutherland
3:40 pmPRESENTATION
TAKING THE CHANCE OUT OF MAKING LUCK
with David Eisenmann, Esdras Varagnolo, Kiel Murray & Peggy Holmes · moderated by Marina Antunes
5:15 pmFEATURE FILM
CLAYDREAM + Q&A
with Joan Gratz, Larry Bafia, Marilyn Zornado & Mark Gustafson · Moderated by Marina Antunes
7:30 pmFEATURE FILM
RIFT + Q&A
with Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull & Paula Crickard · Moderated by Marina Antunes
10:00 pmFEATURE FILM
UNICORN WARS (No Minors)
DAY 4SUNDAY - OCTOBER 30, 2022
9:00 amPRESENTATION
THE MAKING OF ONI: THUNDER GOD'S TALE
with Hikari Toriumi & Sara Sampson · moderated by Keith Blackmore
10:40 amPRESENTATION
LIGHTYEAR: THE JOURNEY TO BUILD THE WORLD AROUND BUZZ
with Nathan Fariss · moderated by Alyssa Zárate
11:30 amSHORT FILMS
NOT JUST FOR KIDS
12:20 pmPRESENTATION
PUZZLE PIECES: FINDING A THROUGHLINE ON THE MOOD AND FEEL OF WENDELL & WILD
with Robin Joseph · moderated by Kaitlin Sutherland
2:00 pmPRESENTATION
LOSING OLLIE: A HANDMADE STORY, A DECADE IN THE MAKING
with Brandon Oldenburg · moderated by Sue Rowe
2:30 pmSHORT FILMS
MADE IN CANADA
3:40 pmPRESENTATION
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO
with Brian Leif Hansen & Mark Gustafson · moderated by Larry Bafia
5:15 pmFEATURE FILM
THE FIRST SUPERHERO: MONKEY KING + Q&A
with Dick Zondag & Ralph Zondag · Moderated by Clara Chan
7:30 pmSHORT FILMS
THE SPARK ANIMATION CELEBRATION! (No Minors)
DAY 16FRIDAY - NOVEMBER 11, 2022
6:30 pmPRESENTATION
TIM MILLER'S JOURNEY TO MAKE LOVE, DEATH + ROBOTS
with Tim Miller · moderated by Marina Antunes
DAY 17SATURDAY - NOVEMBER 12, 2022
9:30 amMASTERCLASS
THE ART OF VISUAL STORYTELLING
with Jihyun Park & Shiyoon Kim · Moderated by Alyssa Zárate


Thursday

Thursday - October 27, 6:00 PM
NETWORKING
RECEPTION (No Minors)
19+ no minors

Regular: $30 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Celebrate the launch of SPARK ANIMATION 2022 at this intimate gathering. It’s your opportunity to connect and celebrate the art of animation with fans and creators alike! The evening will include appetizers and a cash bar.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · ATRIUM
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7



Thursday - October 27, 7:00 PM
FEATURE FILM
MY FATHER'S DRAGON + Q&A (No Minors)
2022 // Ireland · USA // Dir.: Nora Twomey // 99 min
Language: English
Advisory: Not rated
Premiere Status: Canadian Premiere
19+ no minors
with Nora Twomey · Moderated by Marina Antunes

Regular: $20 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

From five-time Academy Award®-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, Wolfwalkers) and Academy Award®-nominated director Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner), comes an exquisite film inspired by the Newbery-honoured children’s book from author Ruth Stiles Gannett. Struggling to cope after a move to the city with his mother, Elmer runs away in search of Wild Island and a young dragon who waits to be rescued. Elmer's adventures introduce him to ferocious beasts, a mysterious island and the friendship of a lifetime.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


My Father's Dragon © 2022 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.



Thursday - October 27, 9:30 PM
PRESENTATION
EXPLORING THE SURREAL STOP-MOTION WORLD OF HENRY SELICK
Presented by Netflix in partnership with VIFF Centre
with Henry Selick · moderated by Marina Antunes

Regular: $20 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Over the course of his 40-year career, Henry Selick’s name has become synonymous with stop-motion and the macabre. From his iconic cult-favourite feature film debut, The Nightmare Before Christmas, to Coraline, his work has entertained, and inspired in equal measures.

Join us for a special evening with the director in which we explore his life and career, including a dive into his latest film, Wendell & Wild, which he co-wrote with Jordan Peele.

ATTENTION!
Attendees of this talk will receive a complimentary code to watch Wendell & Wild during the film’s theatrical engagement at the VIFF Centre beginning 21 October.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


Henry Selick

© 2022 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.


Friday

Friday - October 28, 6:30 PM
SHORT FILMS
MOTHERS OF AN ARTFORM + MIXER
Classification: PG
Advisory: nudity; violence; coarse language
with Joan Gratz

Regular: $15 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Proof that female filmmakers are a creative force to be reckoned with, this year’s collection of shorts from female creators highlights the diversity of female animators.

These brilliant self-contained creative feats beautifully capture all the fun and foibles of human nature.

The program will open with a celebration of Oscar®-winning director Joan Gratz’s career, including a retrospective of her work, curated by the filmmaker herself. Titles include: The One-Minute Memoir, Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase, Lost and Found, No Leaders Please, and a sneak preview of her work-in-progress The Battle for Swan Lake.

  • The One-Minute Memoir // 2019 // USA // Dir.: Joan Gratz, various // 17 min
  • Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase // 1992 // USA // Dir.: Joan Gratz // 7 min
  • Lost and Found // 2020 // USA // Dir.: Joan Gratz // 7 min
  • No Leaders Please // 2020 // USA // Dir.: Joan Gratz // 2 min
  • Xanadu // 2022 // UK // Dir.: Marina Waltz // 9 min
  • The Liberties’ Collector // 2021 // France // Dir.: Auriane Chapot // 4 min
  • Soft Animals // 2021 // USA // Dir.: Renee Zhan // 3 min
  • Something More // 2022 // UK // Dir.: Mary Martins // 5 min
  • February 12, 2021 // 2022 // USA // Dir.: Nianshao Cheng // 4 min
  • Other Half // 2021 // USA // Dir.: Lina Kalcheva // 13 min
  • Jung & Restless // 2021 // USA // Dir.: Joanna Priestley // 6 min
  • Lost Souls // 2022 // USA // Dir.: Christina Giordano // 7 min
  • Stay // 2022 // UK // Dir.: Yu Sun // 5 min
  • Local Middle Schooler // 2021 // USA // Dir.: Sanjna Bharadwaj // 11 min

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


Mothers

No Leaders Please © 2020. Joan Gratz. All Rights Reserved.


Friday - October 28, 9:00 PM
FEATURE FILM
MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH MARRIAGE + SKYPE Q&A
2022 // Latvia · USA // Dir.: Signe Baumane // 107 min // PG
Language: English
Advisory: nudity; violence; coarse language; sexual content
Premiere Status: BC Premiere
with Signe Baumane

Regular: $15 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

From an early age, songs and fairytales convinced Zelma that love would solve all her problems as long as she abided by societal expectations of how a girl should act. But as she grew older, something didn’t seem right with the concept of love: the more she tried to conform, the more her body resisted. A story about the acceptance of the inner female rebellion.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7





Friday - October 28, 11:30 PM
SHORT FILMS
AFTER DARK (No Minors)
Advisory: Not rated
19+ no minors

Regular: $10 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Animation isn't all likeable superheroes and princesses. Reach beyond your comfort zone with this selection of edgy, unique visions. A must for fans of adult animation.

  • Mileage // 2022 // Canada // Dirs.: Jennifer Wu, Kym Santiana, Ruyee Lu, Christopher Hsueh, Nicole Taylor-Topacio, Joy Zhou, Ruby Saysanasy, Miranda Li, Saul Benavides // 8 min
  • Search for the Human // 2022 // France // Dirs.: Mélina Ienco, Lucie Juric, Caroline Leibel, Faustine Merle, Claire Pellet // 7 min
  • Let Sleeping Dogs Lie // 2021 // Israel // Dirs.: Sarai Abergel, Noy Friman, Guy Livnat // 9 min
  • A Beautiful Summer Night // 2022 // France // Dirs.: Arthur Dupuy, Enzo Leboucher, Sam Castelli, Aleksandar Savic, Yannis Brun, Barbara Derail // 7 min
  • I Had a Dream of a House at Night // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Charlie Galea McClure // 2 min
  • Apartment // 2022 // South Korea // Dir.: Ju-I Lee // 4 min
  • EONIA // 2022 // France // Dirs.: Amaury Renard, Bastien Foreau, Jason Mathieu, Eloïse Fontimpe, Carina Loiseau, Axel Leparmentier, Pauline Furon, Kilian Vandenhende // 4 min
  • Boxed In // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Bernhard Kerschbaumer // 3 min
  • Mom, What’s Up With the Dog? // 2021 // France // Dir.: Lola Lefevre // 7 min
  • The Sausage Run // 2021 // Germany // Dir.: Thomas Stellmach // 10 min
  • La Pursé // 2022 // Brazil // Dir.: Gabriel Nóbrega // 5 min
  • Mixed Messages // 2021 // USA // Dir.: Gabriella Antali // 2 min
  • VRDLK: Family of Vurdulak // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Samuel Chou // 13 min
  • Combustible // 2021 // France // Dirs.: Louis Grossot, Quentin Maillet, Betty Natale, Benoit Brissiaud, Pierre Picquot // 6 min
  • Love to Death // 2022 // Taiwan // Dir.: Yi-Xiang Lin // 8 min
  • Skinned // 2022 // France // Dir.: Joachim Hérissé // 15 min
  • Pour Games // 2022 // USA // Dir.: Patrick Smith // 4 min
  • Magical Caresses – Masturbation: A Short History of a Great Taboo // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Lori Malépart-Traversy // 4 min

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


After Dark

Mom, What’s Up With the Dog © 2021. Miyu Distribution. All Rights Reserved.


Saturday

Saturday - October 29, 9:00 AM
PRESENTATION
BEHIND THE SCENES OF MY FATHER'S DRAGON
Presented by Cartoon Saloon
with Nora Twomey · moderated by Keith Blackmore

Regular: $25 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

In this peek at the creative and production process of Carton Saloon’s latest feature film, Director Nora Twomey speaks about the origins of the film, its journey to the screen, the film’s art direction and working with a full feature production team, spread across the globe during the pandemic. Not to be missed. A Netflix release.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


My Father

My Father's Dragon © 2022 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.


Saturday - October 29, 10:40 AM
PRESENTATION
THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE MAGICAL INDIGENOUS WORLD OF SPIRIT RANGERS
Presented by Netflix
with Joey Clift & Karissa Valencia · moderated by Reena Bali

Regular: $25 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Showrunner Karissa Valencia will share how she created Spirit Rangers with Native American creatives to tell action and adventures inspired by tribal stories. Staff Writer/Consulting Producer Joey Clift will join to share some behind-the-scenes stories that went into bringing Spirit Rangers to screen.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


Spirit Rangers

Spirit Rangers © 2022 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.


Saturday - October 29, 12:20 PM
PRESENTATION
DEVELOPING SUPERPOWERS ON DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS
Presented by Animal Logic
with Amilcar Herrera, Angela Ensele, Clementine Lo, David Burgess, Ed de Guzman & Jenny Li · moderated by Kristen Anderson

Regular: $25 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

See behind the cape and hear from the heroes who helped create the world of DC League of Super-Pets! Over four years, the talented artists at Animal Logic worked on this epic animated adventure, bringing the world of DC Comics to life, while honing their skills and forging their careers. Discover how early career artists from Assets, Animation and FX were mentored by their supervisors and find out what they learnt along the way. The panel will also breakdown a scene from the film and share unique insight into the filmmaking process.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


DC

DC League of Super-Pets © 2022 Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved.


Saturday - October 29, 2:00 PM
PRESENTATION
THE SEA BEAST: THE MAKING OF AN EPIC ADVENTURE
Presented by Sony Pictures Imageworks
with Chris Williams & R. Stirling Duguid · moderated by Kaitlin Sutherland

Regular: $25 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Join Academy Award-winning Director Chris Williams (Moana, Big Hero 6) and VFX Supervisor Stirling Duguid as they discuss the inspiration, creativity and production innovations that helped bring the epic motion picture The Sea Beast to life. A Netflix release.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


The Sea Beast

The Sea Beast © 2022 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.


Saturday - October 29, 3:40 PM
PRESENTATION
TAKING THE CHANCE OUT OF MAKING LUCK
Presented by Skydance Animation
with David Eisenmann, Esdras Varagnolo, Kiel Murray & Peggy Holmes · moderated by Marina Antunes

Regular: $25 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Luck is a heartwarming film about Sam Greenfield, the unluckiest girl in the world, and the first film from Skydance Animation. As luck would have it, we have Director Peggy Holmes, along with producer David Eisenmann and screenwriter Kiel Murray to share the process of creating, researching and understanding the world of Sam, and her journey into the magical Land of Luck. An Apple TV+ release.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


Luck

Luck © 2022 Skydance Animation. All Rights Reserved.


Saturday - October 29, 5:15 PM
FEATURE FILM
CLAYDREAM + Q&A
2021 // USA // Dir.: Marq Evans // 96 min // PG
Advisory: nudity; sexual content; coarse language
with Joan Gratz, Larry Bafia, Marilyn Zornado & Mark Gustafson · Moderated by Marina Antunes

Regular: $10 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Known as the “Father of Claymation,” Will Vinton revolutionized the animation business during the 1980s and 90s, creating such iconic characters as the California Raisins and Domino’s The Noid. But after thirty years of being the unheralded king of clay, Vinton’s carefully sculpted American dream came crumbling down.

Structured around interviews with this charismatic pioneer and his close collaborators, along with a treasure trove of clips of their work together, Claydream charts the rise and fall of the Oscar®- and Emmy®-winning Will Vinton Studios.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7





Saturday - October 29, 7:30 PM
FEATURE FILM
RIFT + Q&A
2022 // UK // Dir.: HaZ Dulull // 99 min // PG
Language: English
Advisory: frequent violence; coarse language; drug use
Premiere Status: World Premiere
with Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull & Paula Crickard · Moderated by Marina Antunes

Regular: $10 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Max, a young boy held captive in a research facility, uses his ability to create rifts in the fabric of spacetime, across parallel universes, looking for the one in which his brother Leon, a former marine, manages to rescue him.

With its genre-bending plot and story that deals with sci-fi elements of time and multi-dimensions wrapped in a deep emotional layer fused with themes of love and redemption, RIFT is a bold, high-concept feature film aimed at the Young Adult audience.

Preceded by:

Prazinburk Ridge // 2022 // UK // Dir.: Martin Bell // 10 min

In World War One, a former rugby player for Great Britain must rely on his old skills to save himself and his fellow soldiers from shots, shells, and poison gas.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7




Saturday - October 29, 10:00 PM
FEATURE FILM
UNICORN WARS (No Minors)
2022 // Spain · France // Dir.: Alberto Vázquez // 80 min
Language: In Spanish w. English Subtitles
Advisory: Not rated
Premiere Status: BC Premiere
19+ no minors

Regular: $15 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

The little bear army indoctrinates young recruits to lead them to a war they have started against the unicorns that represent the threat to the security of their people. Two brothers; Azulín and Gordi, along with a group of new recruits without experience, will be sent on a dangerous mission to save the Magic Forest. Will the little bears be up to the challenge?

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7




Sunday

Sunday - October 30, 9:00 AM
PRESENTATION
THE MAKING OF ONI: THUNDER GOD'S TALE
Presented by Tonko House
with Hikari Toriumi & Sara Sampson · moderated by Keith Blackmore

Regular: $25 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Tickets available at the door.

Join Producer, Sara K. Sampson, and Episodic Director, Hikari Toriumi, as they share behind the scene stories from the Tonko House + Netflix breakout hit, ONI: Thunder God’s Tale. Sara and Hikari will discuss everything from ONI’s unique script process to developing the distinctive look in CG and will reveal how the team was able to create 154 minutes of film in under 2 years.

In a world filled with Japanese mythological oddball gods and monsters, one of the creatures' free-spirited daughters, Onari, is determined to follow in the footsteps of the mighty heroes of lore, but her unique powers are yet to be revealed. Does she have what it takes to fight to protect her peaceful village from the encroaching threat of the gods' mysterious enemies, the "Oni"?

PLEASE NOTE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Cartoon Network cancelled Genndy Tartakowsky's presentation. We are replacing it with a talk from Tonko House.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7





Sunday - October 30, 10:40 AM
PRESENTATION
LIGHTYEAR: THE JOURNEY TO BUILD THE WORLD AROUND BUZZ
Presented by Pixar Animation
with Nathan Fariss · moderated by Alyssa Zárate

Regular: $25 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Tickets available at the door.

Alien jungles, remote mining facilities, a growing Star Command base and a variety of space ships, large and small, were just some of the challenges tackled during the making of Lightyear. Crafted in a style reminiscent of the great science fiction films of the 1970’s and 80’s, join me for an exploration into the environments and vehicles of Lightyear. From the search for the style itself to some of the technical hurdles encountered by the team, we’ll cover what it took to craft one of Pixar’s most unique-looking films.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


Lightyear

Lightyear © 2022 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.


Sunday - October 30, 11:30 AM
SHORT FILMS
NOT JUST FOR KIDS
Limit of 2 tickets per person
Classification: G
Advisory: No advisory

Regular: FREE

Rush tickets available at the door.

Children's entertainment has come a long way. This program of kid-friendly entertainment is fun for all ages — from 2 to 102!

  • In the Woods // 2021 // Turkey // Dir.: Ilgın Saçan // 2 min
  • Code Rose // 2022 // France // Dirs.: Taye Cimon, Pierre Coëz, Julie Groux, Sandra Leydier, Manuarii Morel, Romain Seisson // 5 min
  • Kaghati // 2021 // USA // Dirs.: Stanley Soendoro, Amanda Jayapurna // 3 min
  • Laika & Nemo // 2022 // Germany // Dirs.: Jan Gadermann, Sebastian Gadow // 15 min
  • Snowflakes // 2022 // USA // Dir.: Sabrina Stoll // 6 min
  • Kayak // 2021 // France // Dirs.: Solène Bosseboeuf, Flore Dechorgnat, Tiphaine Klein, Auguste Lefort, Antoine Rossi // 6 min
  • The Most Boring Granny in the Whole World // 2022 // Germany // Dir.: Damaris Zielke // 7 min
  • Pete // 2022 // USA // Dir.: Bret Parker // 6 min
  • Superworm // 2021 // UK // Dirs.: Jac Hamman, Sarah Scrimgeour // 26 min

VENUE:   MONTALBANO FAMILY THEATRE · VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY
8th Floor · 350 W Georgia St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 6B1


Community Partner




Not Just for Kids

Superworm © 2021. Magic Light Pictures Ltd. All Rights Reserved.


Sunday - October 30, 12:20 PM
PRESENTATION
PUZZLE PIECES: FINDING A THROUGHLINE ON THE MOOD AND FEEL OF WENDELL & WILD
Presented by Netflix
with Robin Joseph · moderated by Kaitlin Sutherland

Regular: $25 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Tickets available at the door.

Henry Selick is a one-of-a-kind filmmaker. Best known for directing, The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, and Coraline, Selick now brings us his latest, the delightfully wicked stop-motion animation, Wendell & Wild.

In this very special presentation, Production Designer Robin Joseph not only takes us behind the scenes, showcasing the characters and sets in this amazing stop-motion world but also the external forces that literally made this one hell of a production. Not to be missed. A Netflix release.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


W&W

Wendell and Wild © 2022 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.


Sunday - October 30, 2:00 PM
PRESENTATION
LOSING OLLIE: A HANDMADE STORY, A DECADE IN THE MAKING
with Brandon Oldenburg · moderated by Sue Rowe

Regular: $25 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Tickets available at the door.

Sometimes the journey takes longer than you expect it. Sometimes the path weaves and turns in unexpected ways. Getting lost inevitably becomes a necessary part to finding the way back home. Feel the thrill, pain and joy that goes into a 10-year epic journey of development for a critically acclaimed Netflix series. See the development art, puppets and animation tests that go into crafting the vision for a lost toy story. It’s not about cowboys or spacemen but the profound emptiness a lost loved one leaves behind and how it’s proof of just how much room your love for them takes up. Hear some of the personal stories that are woven into the heart of Ollie.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


Lost Ollie

Lost Ollie © 2022 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.


Sunday - October 30, 2:30 PM
SHORT FILMS
MADE IN CANADA
Limit of 2 tickets per person

Regular: FREE

Rush tickets available at the door.

Animated short films and Canada are ubiquitous, and this program of Canadian-made projects highlights the continuing tradition of great Canadian animation.

  • Canary // 2022 // Canada // Dirs.: Pierre-Hugues Dallaire, Benoit Therriault // 12 min
  • AquaREEL // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Zsofia Opra-Szabo // 2 min
  • A Princess at the Train Station // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Lia Gomez // 2 min
  • Embrace // 2021 // Canada // Dir.: Clara Chan // 2 min
  • Krazy and Ignatz // 2021 // Canada // Dir.: Paul Johnson // 2 min
  • The Forest King // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Lubomir Arsov // 20 min
  • Corvine // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Sean McCarron // 10 min
  • Mort // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Weiwei Wu // 5 min
  • Nounours // 2021 // Canada // Dir.: Lou Rigoudy // 2 min
  • Little Piece of Hair // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Chris Shapones // 4 min
  • Train Project // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Luhan Wang // 4 min
  • About Dam and Hofit // 2022 // Canada // Dirs.: Gali Blay, Leila Zelli // 19 min
  • Oskar // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Max Vannienschoot // 9 min
  • Arctic Song // 2021 // Canada // Dirs.: Germaine Arnattaujuq, Louise Flaherty, Neil Christopher // 7 min

VENUE:   MONTALBANO FAMILY THEATRE · VANCOUVER PUBLIC LIBRARY
8th Floor · 350 W Georgia St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 6B1


Community Partner




Not Just for Kids

The Forest King © 2022. Lakeside Animation. All Rights Reserved.


Sunday - October 30, 3:40 PM
PRESENTATION
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO
Presented by Netflix
with Brian Leif Hansen & Mark Gustafson · moderated by Larry Bafia

Regular: $25 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Tickets available at the door.

Guillermo del Toro knows how to tell a fantastical story. GDT has brought magical realism to life in films like Pan’s Labyrinth, Crimson Peak, and The Shape of Water, the latter of which earned him Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. And to say he loves Pinocchio, is an understatement.

“No art form has influenced my life and my work more than animation, and no single character in history has had as deep of a personal connection to me as Pinocchio,” the acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro has said. Which makes GDT the perfect filmmaker to tackle Pinocchio.

In this very special presentation, the Director alongside Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson, and Animation Supervisor Brian Leif Hansen take us behind the scenes of the working film sets, the motion tests, and the time-lapse video installations in bringing this stop-motion feature to life. A Netflix release.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


Pinocchio

Pinocchio © 2022 Netflix. All Rights Reserved.


Sunday - October 30, 5:15 PM
FEATURE FILM
THE FIRST SUPERHERO: MONKEY KING + Q&A
2022 // China // Dir.: Dick Zondag, Ralph Zondag // 110 min // PG
Language: English
Advisory: violence
Premiere Status: Canadian Premiere
with Dick Zondag & Ralph Zondag · Moderated by Clara Chan

Regular: $10 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Tickets available at the door.

The future of Heaven and Earth rests in the fate of an innocent and uninhibited monkey god who must learn how to use his extraordinary transformative superhero-like abilities to prevent the powerful demonic forces that are threatening all creation from tumbling into chaos.

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7





Sunday - October 30, 7:30 PM
SHORT FILMS
THE SPARK ANIMATION CELEBRATION! (No Minors)
Advisory: Not rated
19+ no minors

Regular: $15 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Tickets available at the door.

Take in the best in the world of animation with this year’s SPARK ANIMATION FESTIVAL award-winners as selected by the Festival Jury.

  • Its a Gray, Gray World // 2022 // Iran // Dir.: Seyed Mohsen Pourmohseni Shakib // 6 min
  • Ice Merchants // 2022 // Portugal // Dir.: João Gonzalez // 14 min
  • A Journey with my Dad // 2022 // Israel // Dir.: Mor Israeli // 10 min
  • Tehura // 2022 // Canada // Dir.: Wei Li // 12 min
  • Wings to the Sun // 2021 // Canada // Dir.: Ken Mimura // 12 min
  • Pig // 2022 // Netherlands // Dir.: Jorn Leeuwerink // 8 min
  • Rosemary A.D. (After Dad) // 2021 // USA // Dir.: Ethan Barrett // 9 min
  • More Than I Want to Remember // 2022 // USA // Dir.: Amy Bench // 14 min
  • Of Wood // 2022 // USA // Dir.: Owen Klatte // 7 min
  • Airborne // 2021 // Poland // Dir.: Andrzej Jobczyk // 7 min
  • New Air // 2022 // China // Dir.: Leo Lee // 9 min
  • Day of the Dead // 2021 // Mexico // Dir.: Paulo Dantas Garcia // 2 min
  • Warm Hands // 2021 // Japan // Dir.: Tsuneo Goda // 4 min
  • "Diablo Immortal" Launch Trailer // 2022 // USA // Dir.: Anna Morgan // 2 min
  • Behind Your Walls, The Offspring // 2022 // UK // Dir.: Jeb Hardwick // 3 min
  • The House of Loss // 2022 // Japan // Dir.: Jinkyu Jeon // 9 min
  • Close Your Eyes // 2022 // France // Dirs.: Manon Bérardengo, Audrey Defonte, Léo Depoix, Denis Koessler, Clémentine Laurent, Pierre Guislain, Chloé Boursier // 7 min
  • The Other Shore // 2021 // France // Dirs.: Julia Wolff, Lison Lacour, Alexis Giraud, Gustave Soloy, Elora Toussaint du Wast // 5 min
  • Boom // 2022 // France // Dirs.: Gabriel Augerai, Romain Augier, Laurie Pereira de Figueiredo, Yannick Jacquin, Charles di Cicco // 5 min
  • Little Things // 2021 // France // Dirs.: Camille Burles, Andréea Ciora, Lou Fraleu, Manon Lambert, Clara Mesplé, Chloé Viala // 5 min
  • Persona // 2022 // Korea // Dir.: Sujin Moon // 7 min
  • 5-Stars // 2022 // Taiwan // Dir.: James Wei // 4 min

VENUE:   VIFF CENTRE · VANCITY THEATRE
1181 Seymour St · Vancouver · BC · V6B 3M7


Celebrations

Ice Merchants © 2022 AGÊNCIA – Portuguese Short Film Agency. All rights reserved.


Friday

Friday - November 11, 6:30 PM
PRESENTATION
TIM MILLER'S JOURNEY TO MAKE LOVE, DEATH + ROBOTS
with Tim Miller · moderated by Marina Antunes

Regular: $25 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Tickets available at the door.
All major credit cards, debit cards and cash accepted.

Followed by Industry Mixer. One drink ticket per admission. Cash bar available.

Since it first aired on Netflix in 2019, Love, Death + Robots has become one of the best animated series ever produced. Over three seasons, the celebrated animated anthology series has accumulated an astonishing 13 Emmy Awards for character design, animation, production, and much, much more. By expertly bringing together a disparate mix of animators, blending a variety of genres and animation styles, Netflix has introduced us to a truly kick-ass series.

Join us as Executive Producer, Academy Award–nominated Writer, Director, and Founder of Blur Studio, Tim Miller, sits down for a fireside chat, to talk about all things Love, Death + Robots.

VENUE:   ROUNDHOUSE · PERFORMANCE THEATRE
181 Roundhouse Mews · Vancouver · BC · V6Z 2W3


Saturday

Saturday - November 12, 9:30 AM
MASTERCLASS
THE ART OF VISUAL STORYTELLING
with Jihyun Park & Shiyoon Kim · Moderated by Alyssa Zárate

Regular: $125 (incl. GST + transaction fees)

Tickets available at the door.
All major credit cards, debit cards and cash accepted.

VENUE:   ROUNDHOUSE · PERFORMANCE THEATRE
181 Roundhouse Mews · Vancouver · BC · V6Z 2W3

Whether it’s told by words or by visuals, works of art often tell stories, and artists can present a narrative in many ways.

In this masterclass, Shiyoon Kim and Jihyun Park will discuss the union of art and story while navigating changing points of view, all while bringing a production to a satisfying completion.

1. IN THE BEGINNING – PREPARATION
Discussion of Shiyoon Kim and Jihyun Park’s career and the projects they have worked on as designers and story artists.

While every story involves words, characters and structure, an animated film involves a lot of visual language. How meaningful collaboration between story and artist can elevate a film.

2. EXECUTION

  • How imagery is used to convey story ideas or meanings.
  • Perspective, colour, and shape can be used to support a story.
  • How line is used to convey meaning and emotion within the frame.
  • How shape influences where you look and what meaning and emotion is conveyed.
  • How the illusion of depth and using positioning, weight, location, and size of lines or objects can support the story.
  • How colour directs the viewer’s eye, conveys meaning, expresses emotion, and supports your story.

3. FEEDBACK
Improving skills is very important to artists and writers. So feedback is very important and necessary. Yet, feedback is not a one way road, there are many directions to take:

  • Asking for feedback
  • Giving feedback
  • Receiving feedback

These might look simple, but they are far more complex than they seem. Examining the right attitude and approach to working with others, while resolving problems and reaching a common solution is an important part of the process.

4. ART & STORY
The road your art and story take is often long and windy and often you will have to change your point of view and yet find satisfaction in what you create. How do you create work that you love while finding your audience?


BIOGRAPHIES

Alyssa Zárate
Art Director // Independent
(The Sea Beast, The Mitchells vs the Machines, Mulan, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)

AlyssaAlyssa Zárate is an Art Director based in Vancouver, BC. She is also a co-founder at The VFX Mentor. Up until recently, she served as Environment and Matte Painting Supervisor at Sony Pictures Imageworks. For over a decade, she has worked on films such as Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Mitchells vs The Machines, Game of Thrones, The Wolverine, Jurassic World, Prometheus, The Chronicles of Narnia to name a few; and various shows produced by HBO, Starz, National Geographic, Amazon Prime, Disney, and Netflix.

She started working in the Art Department as an on-set production illustrator and designer for film and television productions around New Zealand and Australia. She is passionate about leadership, mentoring, and inspiring current and future generations of artists in Visual Effects and Animation, especially those from underrepresented communities.

Amilcar Herrera
Effects Artist // Animal Logic

AmilcarAmilcar is an FX artist who honed his skill for creating photo-realistic and stylized effects after completing his Communication Sciences degree in 2015. Since then, Amilcar has contributed to both animated and live-action productions. He worked as FX Artist on the feature film Belzebuth, which went on to win an Ariel Award for Best Visual Effects in 2020.

He is currently working at Animal Logic’s Vancouver Studio and worked on the recently completed DC League of Super-Pets as FX Artist.

Angela Ensele
Modelling Supervisor // Animal Logic

AngelaAngela joined Animal Logic in 2015 as a Senior Modeller, working on The LEGO Ninjago Movie and is now a Modelling Supervisor for Toto. She most recently worked as the Lead Modeller on DC League of Super-Pets and was a Senior Modelling Artist for The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part and The LEGO Batman Movie.

Before joining Animal Logic, Angela worked at PDI/DreamWorks as a modeller for nine years, contributing to many of their successful films such as Shrek 3 and 4, the Madagascar films, Monster vs Aliens, Megamind, and Home.

Brandon Oldenburg
Founder, Artistic Director // Department of Wonder
(Lost Ollie, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, Chipotle Presents: The Scarecrow, Dolby Presents: Silent, Radio Flyer Presents: Taking Flight)

BrandonBrandon Oldenburg is an Academy Award-winning film director (The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore), designer and immersive storyteller. Beside the Oscar, Brandon has received 4 Emmys, multiple Gold Lions at Cannes, including the Grand Prix, and a host of other industry accolades. Speaking of hosts, Brandon once co-hosted a show, Movie Camp for Turner Classic Movies.

Today as founder and head of creatives for the Department of Wonder, Brandon leads a team of artists and actors who produce mixed-reality stories where the veil between physical and digital evaporates. Prior to the Department of Wonder, Brandon co-founded Reel FX, Moonbot Studios and Flight School Studio, all leaders in animation and emerging technology.

Most recently Brandon has served as an executive producer of the critically acclaimed series, Lost Ollie, a show Brandon developed, pitched and sold to Netflix.

Brian Leif Hansen
Animation Supervisor // ShadowMachine
(GdT's Pinocchio, Missing Link, Kubo and the Two Strings, The Boxtrolls, ParaNorman)

BrianFrom Denmark, Brian has been animating for over twenty years now. He originally trained as a chef and worked at restaurants in Denmark and France. One day, Brian took a chance and applied to The Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark, home to many talented animators, both teachers and students, and so began his second career.

Since then, Brian has worked on TV shows, ads and feature films. Among them: Missing Link, ParaNorman, Kubo and the Two Strings, The Boxtrolls, Frankenweenie, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Max & Co, and most recently as the Animation Supervisor on GdT’s Pinocchio.

Brian comments that “My real enjoyment comes from the process of animating, of taking a still object and giving it life. I enjoy the process of performance, being the offscreen actor, bringing the words and action from the script to life. I have been lucky enough to work on some amazing films that have been loved and appreciated by many around the world.”

Chris Williams
Director, Writer, Producer // Netflix
(The Sea Beast, Moana, Big Hero 6)

ChrisChris Williams is an Academy Award®-winning director and writer of animated films. Chris has been drawing since he could hold a pencil, and growing up, he was obsessed with visual storytelling. He wrote comic strips, made stop-motion films, and loved all things movies. He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo‘s Fine Arts program and Sheridan College‘s animation program. Upon graduation, he moved to Los Angeles and began his career in animation, which spans across iconic films such as the Academy Award®-nominated Bolt, Academy Award®-nominated Moana, and Big Hero 6 which won the Academy Award® in 2015, along with many others. The Sea Beast, William‘s debut at Netflix, released globally on July 8th.

Clara Chan
Director, VFX Supervisor // Sony Pictures Imageworks
(Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story, Over the Moon, Hotel Transylvania)

ClaraClara Chan is a visual effects supervisor at Sony Pictures Imageworks with over two decades of industry experience. In 2001, Chan joined Imageworks as a technical director in the lighting department. Her credits include the animated feature Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the Academy Award®-nominated Over the Moon, first three Hotel Transylvania films, Storks, The Emoji Movie, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Oz the Great and Powerful, The Amazing Spider-Man, Cats & Dogs 2, G-Force, Beowulf, the Academy Award-nominated Monster House, The Polar Express, and Stuart Little 2.

Earlier in her career, Clara worked as a software engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab. Clara earned a B.S. in computer science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree in visualization sciences from Texas A&M University.

Clara is also directing and producing an animated short film in her spare time, funded by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Clementine Lo
Effects Lead // Animal Logic

ClementineClementine has worked as a 3D Artist and FX Technical Director since starting her career in 2008, after completing her Master of Advanced Studies in Computer Graphics in 2007. She is currently the FX Supervisor at Animal Logic Vancouver on an unannounced Netflix feature animation. She recently worked as a FX lead on DC League of Super-Pets and was the Senior FX Artist for The LEGO Ninjago Movie and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part.

Previous iconic titles Clementine has contributed to while working at Imagine Engine Design, include Spider-Man: Far From Home, Lost in Space Season 2, The Mandalorian, Final Fantasy XV: Kingsglaive and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

David Burgess
Animation Supervisor // Animal Logic
(DC League of Super Pets, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, Trolls, Turbo, Megamind, Tarzan, The Lion King)

Dave BurgessDave has almost three decades of experience in the animation industry, working on some of the most iconic 2D and CGI animated films of our time. Dave is the Animation Supervisor at Animal Logic’s Vancouver studio, where he was the Animation Director on DC League of Super-Pets and the Animation Supervisor on The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part.

In 1991, Dave started at Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he was an animator and supervising animator on many of their most successful 2D films, including Beauty and The Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King and Tarzan.

In 2001, he switched his pencil for a computer and started at PDI/DreamWorks, working as an animator, supervising animator and head of character animation. His credits during this time include Shrek 2, Madagascar, Over the Hedge, Megamind and Trolls.

Dave graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver with Honours in Animation.

David Eisenmann
Producer // Skydance Animation

DavidDavid Eisenmann is a feature film producer, computer graphics supervisor, and creative leader. Prior to his time at Skydance, David worked at Pixar Animation Studios since 1997, where he co-founded and supervised the Set’s division responsible for creating Pixar’s elaborate worlds for almost 18 years. David has worked as Computer Graphics Supervisor, Technical Supervisor, and Sets Supervisor on such films as A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Toy Story 3, Monster’s University and the short film Piper.

David Eisenmann is the former Technical Project Lead and Sr Producer of Google Spotlight Stories (an immersive media R&D group) and AI Technical Project Lead at Google’s Advanced Technology & Projects group.

David produced 9 Google Spotlight Stories short films including the Oscar Nominated and Emmy Award-winning Pearl with Patrick Osborne (Feast), the Emmy Nominated 360° short film Son of Jaguar with Jorge Gutierrez (Book of Life) and the Emmy Award-winning short film Age of Sail with John Kahrs (Paperman) and producer Gennie Rim (Over the Moon).

David received an Emmy for Innovation in Interactive Programming and a Peabody Futures of Media award from his work producing Pearl and an Emmy Nomination for his work producing Son of Jaguar. Pearl received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short, 3 Annie Awards, an American Music Producers Award, and a Motion Picture Sound Editing Award.

In addition to being a feature film Producer with Skydance Animation, David is currently Technical Officer at Eisenmann Architecture and resides in the Bay Area with his wife, two creative daughters, and a chocolate labrador.

Dick Zondag
Director, Writer, Producer // ECPG

DickDick Zondag has over 30 years of experience in both traditional 2D and 3D digital animation as an animator, storyboard artist, character designer, director and writer.

He began his career animating and storyboarding on a variety of animated projects for television and feature films, including George Lucas’ hit television series Ewoks and Droids, Nelvana’s feature film The Care Bear Movie, and Steven Spielberg’s Oscar Award-winning feature film An American Tail. Then as a directing animator and story artist on Steven Spielberg’s Land Before Time, Don Bluth’s All Dogs Go to Heaven, Rock a Doodle and Troll in Central Park. Dick went on to co-directing alongside his brother, Ralph, on Steven Spielberg’s feature film We’re Back: A Dinosaur’s Story. Later, Dick continued on as Supervising Animator for Steven Spielberg’s Balto, while directing the very first digitally animated television series, ReBoot, for Mainframe Entertainment.

At Walt Disney Studios, Dick continued as a supervising animator and story artist on the feature films Dinosaur, Wild Life, 102 Dalmatians, Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, Bolt and King of the Elves. After leaving Walt Disney Studios, Dick was a character animator on Maleficent for Digital Domain Vancouver, a character animator and previs shot creator for The Third Floor, a character animator for Blur Studio, an animation director on a WDI projection mapping project for Mousetrappe Studios, a director on QQ Speed for Original Force, a story artist for Blue Sky Studios and Prana Studios, and a storyboard artist and senior animator on Sherlock Gnomes for Rocketpictures and Paramount Studios. Dick wrote, directed and produced with his brother, Ralph, First Superhero for ECPG.

Ed de Guzman
Modelling Lead // Animal Logic

EdgarEdgar is the Character Modelling Lead at Animal Logic and has been working in the animation industry for over 14 years as a 3D artist. After completing studies for Mechanical Engineering and graduating with honours from Digital Animation at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, he went on to work on a range of animation productions at Nerd Corps Entertainment.

He started at Animal Logic’s Vancouver studio in 2016 as Senior Character Modeller to work on The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part and DC League of Super-Pets, and is currently Lead Character Modeller, working on an unannounced animated feature.

Esdras Varagnolo
SVP, Creative Production // Skydance Animation

EsdrasEsdras Varagnolo currently serves as SVP, Creative Production at Skydance Animation overseeing overall visual effects supervision at the studio. Most recently, he worked on the first animated feature from Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation, Luck. As well as their inaugural animated short film, Blush.

Prior to his time at Skydance, Esdras worked at Pixar Animation Studios on a number of feature films including Incredibles 2, The Good Dinosaur, Finding Dory, serving in a variety of roles from technical lead to lighting and compositing supervision. He also worked on a number of the studio’s shorts including Lou, Piper and Toy Story That Time Forgot.

Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull
Director, Producer // HaZimation
(Disney’s Fast Layne, Disney’s Under the Sea: A Descendents Story, The Beyond, 2026 Origin Unknown)

HaZHaZ started his career in video games cinematics before moving into visual effects, where he was nominated for several VES awards for his VFX supervision work on CG-heavy docu-series for BBC, Discovery and History Channel. His short films (Project Kronos and SYNC) gained traction in Hollywood leading him to transitioning over to directing and producing with his breakout feature film, The Beyond. This indie sci-fi was released in 2018 and was number 2 in the iTunes Charts before being licensed on Netflix and turning into a profitable movie. His second feature film, 2036 Origin Unknown, starring Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, The Mandalorian) earned a limited theatrical release before landing on Netflix. He was then hired by Disney to helm the pilot for action comedy series Fast Layne, where he also served as EP / Creative Consultant on the entire series. HaZ is the co-founder of production company HaZimation, producing animated feature films, series and video games based on their propriety pipeline utilising Unreal Engine.

HaZ is represented in Hollywood by The Vendetta Group.

Henry Selick
Director, Writer, Producer // Netflix
(Wendell and Wild, Coraline, James and the Giant Peach, A Nightmare Before Christmas)

HenryHenry Selick is the director, writer, production designer and producer whose films have defined a generation of animated storytelling. Coraline, based on the beloved novella by Neil Gaiman, was adapted for the screen and directed by Mr. Selick, who also was a producer and the production designer on the LAIKA film. He directed the iconic Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach. He is a member of a handful of animated film creators whose work inspires a devout worldwide fandom. Alongside Jordan Peele, Mr. Selick is co-writing and directing Wendell & Wild for Netflix, scheduled for release in 2022.

Hikari Toriumi
Director // Tonko House

Hikari Toriumi is a Japanese filmmaker based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Originally from Tokyo, she came to the U.S. to attend the California Institute of the Arts, where she created three animated short films, Koishi, The Walldwellers, and Polaris.

After her sophomore year, she started her career at Pixar Animation Studios where she interned as a 3D animator and contributed to the Academy award-winning film COCO.

Upon graduating college, she pursued storyboarding and worked on the Academy Award-nominated film Over the Moon directed by Glen Keane. Hikari also worked on the Emmy-nominated Netflix Original Series, Trash Truck.

She is an episodic director of the Tonko House + Netflix Animated film, ONI: Thunder God’s Tale, and is currently a storyboard supervisor at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Jenny Li
Animator // Animal Logic
(Leo, DC League of Super-Pets, Vivo, The Mitchells vs. The Machines)

JennyAfter completing her studies in 2018 in Character Animation at Animation Mentor, Jenny was accepted in the Sony iCAD internship program. While finishing her Masters in Mechanical Engineering, she worked on The Mitchells vs. The Machines and Vivo for Sony Pictures Animation. Jenny joined Animal Logic's Vancouver studio in 2020 as an Animator to work on DC League of Super-Pets and has just wrapped on Leo, which is set for release in November this year.

Jihyun Park
Story Artist
(Avatar: The Way of Water, The Sea Beast, The Willoughbys, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Frozen)

JihyunJihyun Park is a highly sought after story artist. Working at such studios as Disney, Paramount, Sony, and Netflix, Park has boarded, The Sea Beast, Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, Frozen, Hotel Transylvania, and many other projects. Park loves telling engaging stories in original ways and enjoys watching movies and TV shows. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her family.

Joan Gratz
Director // Gratzfilm
(The One-Minute Mistake, The retention Department of Perpetual Exhaustion, No Leaders Please, The One-Minute Memoir)

JoanJoan Gratz is an Academy Award-winning director of animated short films and commercials. Her films range in content through painterly expressions of poetry, improvised abstraction, and animated social documentary. The technique she pioneered is "claypainting." Mona Lisa Descending a Staircase, an animated history of art, won the Oscar in 1992. Gratz is a producer of multi-director films, currently in production, The One-Minute Mistake.

Joey Clift
Writer, Consulting Producer // Netflix
(Spirit Rangers, New Looney Tunes, Molly of Denali)

JoeyJoey Clift is a comedian, TV writer, and enrolled Cowlitz Indian Tribal Member currently working as a writer and consulting producer on Spirit Rangers on Netflix. Other writing credits include Cocomelon Lane on Netflix, New Looney Tunes on Cartoon Network and Molly of Denali on PBS. He was named one of Uproxx’ “26 Native American Comedians to Follow in 2020” and his award-winning short films have screened everywhere from Comedy Central and Just for Laughs to The Smithsonian Museum. Most importantly, he created the LA Underground Cat Network, which is a 15,000-member strong Facebook group for Los Angeles comedians to share pictures of their cats. He’s kind of a cat guy.

Kaitlin Sutherland
Assistant Director // WildBrain Studios
(LEGO Monkie Kid, Snoopy Presents:One-of-a-Kind-Marcie, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder)

KaitlinKaitlin Sutherland is an industry director living and creating in Vancouver, British Columbia. A graduate of Sheridan College, Kaitlin is currently working on a personal short film after having risen through the ranks from layout/posing artist to Assistant Director at WildBrain Studios. At WildBrain Kaitlin has overseen productions including LEGO Monkie Kid, The Snoopy Show, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, and most recently, Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie.

Kaitlin is inspired by the storytelling and art styles of French and Eastern animation. She wants to continue working with a motivated team on fun, creatively fulfilling projects while telling impactful stories.

Karissa Valencia
Creator, Showrunner, Executive Producer // Netflix
(Spirit Rangers, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins)

KarissaKarissa is a California Native... literally! She grew up between sunny San Diego and the Santa Ynez Chumash Reservation. Karissa studied English and Communication at the University of San Diego and then pursued a graduate degree in Television and Film at Syracuse University. Karissa is passionate about animation and has written for preschool favourites such as Disney Junior’s Vampirina, Doc McStuffins, T.O.T.S. and The Chicken Squad. She is currently the Showrunner and Executive Producer of the Netflix preschool series, Spirit Rangers, which follows the fantastical adventures of a modern day Native American family.

Keith Blackmore
Producer // Spark CG Society

KeithVancouver-born and raised, Keith Blackmore is a passionate supporter for all things animated in the Vancouver area. A producer for the SPARK ANIMATION Festival, Keith has presented, interviewed and moderated at many festivals and studios. Most recently, he was on the Film Jury for the 2022 Taiwan International Student Design Competition, the largest student design competition around the world. Keith is also the host of the monthly Vancouver Civic Theatres’ film series, Silent Movie Mondays, at the opulent and historic Orpheum Theatre.

Besides his work with the Spark CG Society, Keith continues to educate and inspire students at the Vancouver Film School, in his weekly History of Animation classes.

Kiel Murray
Writer // Skydance Animation

KielPrior to serving as the writer on Luck, Kiel Murray wrote Pixar’s Cars 3 as well as the Academy Award-nominated original film, Cars. While at Pixar, she helped develop many other hits including Finding Nemo, Inside Out, Ratatouille, Brave, and Up. She also wrote for Walt Disney Animation on Raya and the Last Dragon and penned the live-action Saint Seiya film, Knights of the Zodiac, releasing sometime next year.

When she is not writing movies, Kiel can be found at home with her husband Phil, kids Eden, Bosco and Beach, and their awesome dog Mocha in Piedmont, California.

Kristen Anderson
Art Director // Animal Logic
(Leo, DC League of Super-Pets, The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Park, Matrix 2 & 3)

KristenKristen has over 15 years experience in Film and TV. She has worked as a set designer and art director for live-action TV and film, and, more recently, as a digital set designer and art director on animated features.

Kristen first joined Animal Logic’s Sydney Studio in 2012 as a concept artist and designer on The LEGO Movie. She was Set Designer for The LEGO Batman Movie and Digital Set Designer for The LEGO Ninjago Movie. In 2016, Kristen moved to Vancouver to take on the role of Art Director on The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part, where she worked closely with the Director and Production Designer to develop and execute the look of the film. She then worked on DC League of Super-Pets as the Art Director. She has just wrapped on Animal Logic’s latest film, Leo.

Kristen’s additional credits include Top of the Lake, Gods of Egypt, Narnia, Wolverine, Terra Nova, Australia, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Matrix 2 & 3, and Superman Returns.

Larry Bafia
Creative // Independent
(Shrek, Antz, Batman and Robin, Mission Impossible II)

LarryAn animator and educator who works with various media, Larry started his career in stop motion and Claymation with Crocus Productions in Chicago and then the Will Vinton Studios in Portland, Oregon. At the Vinton studio for nearly a decade, Larry worked on stop-motion projects such as the California Raisins and Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker. During a seven-year stint as Commercial Animation Director at PDI/DreamWorks, Larry directed commercials for many top clients including Coca-Cola, Sega, Intel, Kraft, Target, Circle K, and Saturn. As an active member of the SIGGRAPH Conference Committee, Larry has chaired the 2018 Computer Animation Festival, the 2019 Creative Development Team, and the 2021 VR Theater. He has also chaired several SPARK ANIMATION conferences and has participated in SPARK FX.

From 2002 through 2008, Larry was Department Head of Animation and Visual Effects at the Vancouver Film School. Larry has also served as VP of Faculty and Development at VanArts as well as the Director of the Master of Digital Media Program at The Centre for Digital Media, Vancouver BC.

Marilyn Zornado
Artist, Educator // Pacific Northwest College of Art

MarilynMarilyn Zornado is a director, animator, motion graphics artist, and calligrapher. She was Senior Producer at Will Vinton Studios, for about twenty years producing award-winning national commercials and short films, and was the Vinton producer for clay painter, Joan C. Gratz.

She now works as an artist and educator, combining her love of animation, quirky lettering, and book arts, both on her own projects and on commissions. She is currently teaching in the Animated Arts Department at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR.

Marina Antunes
President // Spark CG Society · Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH

MarinaMarina has been writing and discussing film for over 15 years, first on a personal blog, followed by a decade-long tenure on the now retired Row Three. In 2008, she joined the writing staff at Quiet Earth, becoming Editor-In-Chief in 2014, a role she still holds. Over the years, she has also produced and hosted a number of podcasts including Before the Dawn, a long-running podcast on the Twilight franchise, Girls on Pop, a podcast on film and popular entertainment from women’s perspective and After the Credits, bi-monthly film podcast with nearly 300 episodes.

Marina is a member of ACM and ACM SIGGRAPH, the Online Film Critics Society, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, and the Visual Effects Society. She is the President of Spark CG Society and the Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH chapter. She has also served on juries for several film festivals including DOXA, St. Louis International Film Festival, and the Whistler Film Festival. She joined the Spark CG Society in 2014.

Mark Gustafson
Co-Director // Netflix
(Pinocchio, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The PJ‘s)

MarkMark Gustafson got his start in Animation at the legendary Will Vinton Studios in Portland, Oregon. There he honed his skills as an animator and went on to create the award-winning short film Mr Resistor.

Mark worked as a Director on over two hundred television commercials including the iconic California Raisins and a Nisan spot that Time magazine named “Best Commercial of the Year.”

He has received numerous awards, including two Emmys, two Annies, a Clio and the Tri Cities Intramural bowling prize for ”High Average.“

Mark also served as Supervising Director on Eddie Murphy‘s The PJ‘s and as Animation Director on Wes Anderson‘s Fantastic Mr. Fox.

He recently directed Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio alongside the filmmaker, which has kept him mostly out of trouble since 2018.

Nathan Fariss
Sets Supervisor // Pixar Animation Studios
(Lightyear, Soul, Incredibles 2, Finding Dory, Toy Story 3)

NathanNathan Fariss has spent the last 19 years in the feature film industry, the past 14 of which were at Pixar. He was the Sets Supervisor on Lightyear and Incredibles 2, and the Set Dressing Lead on Finding Dory and Monsters University. His other credits include Soul, Coco, Inside Out, Toy Story 3, The Host (Korean), Pirates of the Caribbean 2, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Sin City, and The Day After Tomorrow. His non-film clients include Disney, Saab, Wrigley, Motorola, Popular Mechanics, Fortune Magazine, and many others.

Nora Twomey
Co-Founder, Creative Director // Cartoon Saloon
(My Father's Dragon, The Breadwinner, The Secret of Kells)

NoraNora Twomey is an Academy Award®, BAFTA and Golden Globe-nominated Director. She is also Partner and Creative Director at Cartoon Saloon, Ireland. In a career spanning over two decades, Nora has worked in a number of capacities on Cartoon Saloon‘s creative output. She was co-director to Tomm Moore’s Academy Award®-nominated The Secret of Kells, while also guiding the development processes on a number of series, including Emmy-nominated Puffin Rock and Dorg Van Dango. She was Head of Story on Academy Award®-nominated Song of the Sea and Producer on Wolfwalkers. She directed The Breadwinner, which was also nominated for an Academy Award® and Golden Globe, and won several international awards including multiple Annies and the Audience and Jury Awards at Annecy. My Father‘s Dragon is Nora‘s third feature and second solo-directed film. She lives in Kilkenny with her husband, children, two cats and one fish.

Paula Crickard
Producer // HaZimation
(1992, Jolt, The Protege, The Beyond)

PaulaPaula has worked in the film industry for almost 30 years, debuting as award-winning documentary director in 1994 with Northern Vision in Belfast. Her career has spanned a variety of roles for multi award-winning companies such as Killer Films in NYC, Elle Driver and Wild Bunch in Paris, where she managed the Ghibli Studios slate. Paula spent several years as Head of Production at Finite Films and TV developing and producing live-action and animation, earning a BIFA nomination as breakthrough producer along the way. She has also worked across multiple genres as a post-production supervisor on over 45 feature drama and documentaries. Paula is co founder of HaZimation, an animation and gaming company, formed with director HaZ Dulull.

Peggy Holmes
Director // Skydance Animation
(Luck)

PeggyEmmy Award-winner Peggy Holmes currently serves as director of “Luck,” the first animated feature from Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation. Holmes is an animation veteran with more than 30 years of industry experience as a director, writer and choreographer. She previously served as Supervising Director of Television at Skydance Animation, where she helped oversee the creative development and production of the upcoming slate of TV series for the company’s expanding animation division. Prior to joining the Skydance team, Holmes served as director on Walt Disney Studio’s The Pirate Fairy and Secret of the Wings—two of the most successful ‘Tinker Bell’ films in the Fairies Franchise for the studio. Her first full-length directorial debut was the film The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning.

Before her work as a director, Holmes served as a choreographer on various films including The Country Bears, A Very Brady Sequel, Hocus Pocus, Newsies, Wayne’s World, Mulan 2, Jungle Book 2 and The Fabulous Baker Boys. She has worked extensively in television winning an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Achievement in Choreography” for her work on Fame L.A. Other television choreography projects include the first two seasons of American Idol and Gypsy starring Bette Midler. With her background as a choreographer and dancer, Holmes relishes bringing that emotion life through animated characters that make us laugh, cry and dance.

Holmes’ choreography work also includes commercials for companies such as Coca-Cola and Mercedes; tours for Barbra Streisand and Michael Jackson; and The Academy Awards.

R. Stirling Duguid
VFX Supervisor // Sony Pictures Imageworks
(The Sea Beast, The Angry Birds Movie 2, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs)

StirlingStirling Duguid is a visual effects supervisor at Sony Pictures Imageworks. He most recently supervised The Sea Beast, an animated feature for Netflix.

Duguid most recently served as visual effects supervisor on the animated adventure The Angry Birds Movie 2 and previously served as CG supervisor on numerous features including: Sony Pictures Animation’s Smurfs: The Lost Village, Columbia Pictures/Rovio Animation’s The Angry Birds Movie, Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful, Sony Pictures Animation’s Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2, Arthur Christmas, the Academy Award®-nominated Surf’s Up, and Disney’s Academy Award®-nominated The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Having spent more than a decade at Imageworks, Duguid also served as a lighting and compositing lead and an FX technical director on features including: The Polar Express and The Matrix Reloaded for Warner Bros., Stuart Little 2 and America’s Sweethearts for Columbia Pictures, Disney’s The Haunted Mansion and Cast Away for 20th Century Fox.

With over 20 years of experience in live-action and CG feature film production, Duguid has extensive experience in supervising FX animation, modeling and look development, cloth and hair simulation, lighting and compositing and stereoscopic production departments.

Duguid began his career at VisionArt Design and Animation working as an FX technical director. He is a graduate of the University of the Nations in Kailua-Kona, HI.

Ralph Zondag
Director, Writer, Producer // ECPG

RalphHas over 25 years of experience in traditional 2D and 3D digital animation as an animator, storyboard artist, character designer, director, writer and producer. He began his industry career animating and storyboarding on a variety of animated projects for television including George Lucas’ Ewoks and Droids series and made his feature debut as an animator on the Oscar Award-winning and box-office hit, An American Tail.

In 1987, he moved to Dublin, Ireland for 4 years to animate on several feature and commercial projects for Sullivan Bluth Studios that included box office hits Land Before Time and All Dogs Go to Heaven. After Ireland, Ralph lived in London, England for 2 years to co-direct with his brother, Dick Zondag, on the animated feature, We’re Back: A Dinosaur Story for Executive Producer Steven Spielberg. He then joined Walt Disney Feature Animation in 1993 as one of the principal storyboard artists on the Oscar Award-winning Pocahontas. He was then brought on to direct and write Walt Disney’s Dinosaur which went on to earn over $350,000,000 worldwide. Ralph has since written, directed and produced The First Superhero: Monkey King

Reena Bali
Director, Talent Acquisition & Community // Kickstart Entertainment

ReenaReena Bali (she/her) is the Director of Talent Acquisition & Community at Kickstart Entertainment who has a background and education in Human Resources. She has been in the HR industry for the last 10 years. Reena, being a South-Asian woman, has spent her career dedicated to creating strong practices within organizations that truly emphasizes a company’s ability to be diverse, equitable and inclusive. During the last 2 years she has expanded into talent acquisition within the animation industry. Reena is a growing leader in DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging) initiatives and practices not only at Kickstart but within the general animation community. Reena was born on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish people and she is grateful to live, work and play on the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), QayQayt First Nation, Kwantlen, q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), Semiahmoo, Tsawwassen First Nations, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), and Stó:lō Nations. She is actively taking steps towards reconciliation by opening herself up to becoming a better ally.

Robin Joseph
Production Designer // Netflix

RobinBorn and raised in Kerala, India, Robin has worked as a designer and development artist in animation since 2005. He directed and produced the animated short Fox and the Whale which earned a nomination at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards and was Shortlisted for the 90th Academy Awards. Robin recently served as the Co-Production Designer on the new Henry Selick film Wendell & Wild, and currently lives and works as an independent filmmaker and designer from British Columbia, Canada.

Sara Sampson
Producer // Tonko House

Sara K. Sampson is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker based in Oakland, CA. Born and raised in Kentucky, she moved to California in 2012 to launch her career at Pixar Animation Studios. While there, Sara contributed to several features such as the Academy award-winning films Coco and Inside Out.

After five years at Pixar, Sara left to oversee production on three films, which include the first narrative Unity real-time rendered short, Sonder, the Emmy award-winning Love, Death + Robots episode, The Witness, and Emmy award-winning Google Spotlight Stories film + VR experience, Age of Sail.

Sara recently produced the Emmy-nominated Glen Keane Productions + Netflix Original Series, Trash Truck, as well as the Academy Award-nominated short, Opera. She is the producer and co-executive producer of the Tonko House + Netflix Animated film, ONI: Thunder God’s Tale, and continues to write and direct independent films.

Shiyoon Kim
Lead Character Designer
(The Sea Beast, Raya and the Last Dragon, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Zootopia, Big Hero 6, Tangled)

ShiyoonShiyoon Kim is a Korean-American character designer and concept artist previously at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Sony Pictures Animation, where he designed the characters for Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. He is most prominently known for his work on the major motion features: Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, Big Hero 6, Zootopia and most recently, The Sea Beast. Kim credits his high-school teacher for opening him up to the power of storytelling through drawing. A graduate from CalArts’ Character Animation Program, Kim currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters.

Signe Baumane
Director // Independent

SigneLatvian-born, Brooklyn-based Signe Baumane is one of the most instantly recognizable voices in independent animation filmmaking today. Her provocative films on various narrative themes, including sex, the body, pregnancy, love, marriage and depression. Baumane’s films are unapologetically personal and told from a strong female point of view. For Baumane, animation is the perfect medium to tell layered, complicated stories to incorporate different art forms. Her latest project — the feature film My Love Affair With Marriage — fuses animation with music, theatre, science, photography, lighting, papier-mâché stop-motion sets and traditional hand-drawn animation (inspired by Bill Plympton).

Sue Rowe
VFX Supervisor // Scanline VFX
(Meg 2: The Trench, Slumberland, The Adam Project, Eternals)

SueSue Rowe is a visual effects supervisor with over 25 years of experience in the film industry. As a child, Sue loved drawing, so it was no surprise that she went on to study for a BA in Animation at university. Following this, Sue went on to study for her MA in Computer Animation back in the day when it was all programming! This is where she experienced the creative buzz of Visual Effects, with her first job in the industry on Space Jam with Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny! Sue’s latest project was as Scanline’s co-VFX Supervisor for Meg 2: The Trench, where she brought three huge Megalodons and a T-Rex to life!

Tim Miller
Producer, Director, Writer // Blur Studio
(Love, Death + Robots, Terminator: Dark Fate, Deadpool)

TimDirector, Tim Miller is a founder of Blur Studio in Los Angeles, California.

Tim made his feature directorial debut with the Fox/Marvel blockbuster hit Deadpool. In 2019, he directed the James Cameron produced Terminator: Dark Fate, the same year Netflix launched Love, Death + Robots, which Tim created with director David Fincher.

Tim began his career as a VFX artist and animator, starting Blur in 1995, which quickly became one of the top CG animation companies creating short stories and cinematic content for the game industry. Blur is an Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated company that produces Love, Death + Robots, and develops future projects in TV, film, and games.

© 2024 · Spark CG Society