Today the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) announced its keynote speakers for the official TAAFI INDUSTRY 2018 event. The two-day conference will offer exclusive talks from top animation artists and content creators who have done work for Walt Disney Animation Studios, WOW! Unlimited, Skyship Entertainment, Netflix, National Film Board of Canada, Nickelodeon, and more. The event will run from November 3-4 at Corus Quay.

The following keynote speakers are:

Fred Seibert, CEO of Frederator Networks and CCO of WOW! Unlimited
Jessica Borutski, Supervising Director of Loud House (Jam Filled Entertainment, Nickelodeon)
Joe Ksander and Kevin R. Adams Directors and Writer of Next Gen (Tangent, Netflix)
Dan Haskett, veteran animator, and designer (The Little Mermaid, The Simpsons, Batman The Animated Series, Animaniacs)
Michael Hirsch, CEO of WOW! Unlimited, co-founder of Nelvana Limited, co-founder Cookie Jar Entertainment
Morghan Fortier, Co-Owner / CEO of Tinman Studios and Skyship Entertainment (Super Science Friends, Super Simple Songs)

“We are proud to provide the animation community with two days of programming consisting of world-class speakers, panels, and industry mixers,” said Barnabas Wornoff, co-founder and chair, TAAFI. “This year’s conference is the first of its kind for Toronto as TAAFI continues to focus on bolstering its programming to celebrate animation in Toronto, including our most important asset – the community of talented artists and creators!”

In addition to the programming, the conference will host The Big Pitch competition and Pitchapalooza, a speed-dating pitch meeting with production executives. This pitching series connects creators with broadcasters and production studios looking for the next break out hit.

Submission Deadlines
The Big Pitch – October 18th: https://goo.gl/86fefN
Pitchapalooza – October 16th: https://goo.gl/5ki6sB

Limited early bird tickets are available until October 5th on taafi.com with more speaker announcements and the final program arriving Oct. 18th.

TAAFI INDUSTRY 2018 Event Details:
November 3-4, 2018
Corus Quay — 25 Dockside Drive, Toronto, ON M5A 1B6
Purchase tickets here: taafi.com

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Jerry Beck

Writer, cartoon producer and author of more than 15 books on animation history. A former studio exec with Nickelodeon and Disney; currently on the faculty at both CalArts in Valencia and Woodbury University in Burbank, California.

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