Inaugural Okanagan Animation Festival Set for Fall 2017

KELOWNA: The first annual Okanagan International Festival of Animation (OkIFA), meant to celebrate the many forms of animation and digital media from around the globe, is slated to take place next year from October 2 to 6 in Kelowna, British Columbia.

The animation and digital festival, market and conference will offer animated and digital media screenings that include indie and big-budget productions, blockbusters, commissioned and non-commissioned films, and student projects. There will also be opening and closing galas; an awards ceremony; a Nuit Blanche; a career day during which aspiring animators and artists can meet face-to-face with reps from world-class animation schools, studio recruiters and industry professionals; and an animation marketplace.

OkIFA will have a different artistic director each year. Animation veteran Danny Antonucci has been appointed to oversee the 2017 event. Anne Denman, OkIFA’s executive director, said: “Danny’s remarkable body of work from the Lupo the Butcher film to MTV’s The Brothers Grunt to Cartoon Network’s Ed, Edd n Eddy have inspired countless artists and entertained millions. We’re thrilled that he is working with us to help make this a first-rate animation and digital media event that will attract industry professionals and fans from around the world.”