The Ottawa International Animation Festival, one of the world’s biggest and best-known animation events, will be held online for an extended run from September 22 to October 3. Organizers were hoping that an in-person event might be possible in 2021, but the current forecast for the pandemic indicates that a safe and enjoyable event would be difficult to stage.
“Online OIAF 2020 was a huge success for showcasing films, and the artist and industry talks were a hit with the animation community including students and fans from across North America and around the world. This year will be even better,” said Managing Director Kelly Neall.
Online OIAF will feature all the favourite events of the live Festival, including the Official Competition and Panorama screenings showcasing the best new animated films from around the world. Participants will once again be able to take part in a wide range of artist and industry talks, meet with animation schools and recruiters, and just hang out with some of the world’s best animators. InGenius Jr Day for Families will return, along with free events for high school students. The event will extend its dates, giving participants two full weeks to take in all the content at home.
The Animation Conference, OIAF’s industry event, will move online again as well, offering up some enhanced networking opportunities that will give delegates unprecedented access to development executives from around the world.
Passes will be going on sale this summer. Animation students will once again have access to a heavily discounted pass that will provide access to all screenings and talks.
“Having to run online again is not what we had envisioned this year,” said Artistic Director Chris Robinson. “But so be it. We’re up for the challenge again and we will still give audiences the usual OIAF mix of entertaining, hilarious, inspiring, infuriating and pleasantly bizarre as we all eagerly await a return to being in person again in 2022.”
More information about the Festival will be rolling out throughout the summer, including pass and ticket prices along with programming details. Currently, OIAF is still accepting entries for this year’s online edition. As always there is no entry fee and the deadline is May 31.