Animation Dingle Festival Preps Fourth Edition

DINGLE: The fourth annual Animation Dingle Festival, celebrating creativity and excellence in Irish and international animation, is planning two days of keynote speeches, conferences and more, featuring industry executives from Disney and Amazon Studios, among others.

Held March 18 to 19, Animation Dingle Festival, presented by JAM Media and Dingle International Film Festival, will feature keynote speeches by Tara Sorensen, the head of kids’ programming for Amazon Studios, and David Levine, the general manager of Disney Channels UK & Ireland. Creative master classes will include an Animated Feature Panel – Making Movies, a Development Panel – The Green Light Club, an Irish Producers Panel – Producers Pitch, a Broadcasters Panel – Broadcasters Basics and more.

In addition, on March 18 the Animation Dingle Conference will see Alan Shannon (JAM Media), Paul Cummins (Telegael) and Deirdre Barry (Salty Dog) speak with Sheila de Courcy of RTÉ about producing in Ireland. Other notable participants are Oscar-winner Patrick Osborne, Jackie Edwards and Lucy Prkye from Children’s BBC, Pauline MacNamara of RTÉ, Alexi Wheeler of Nickelodeon and storyboard artist Christian de Vita.

The festival will also present several awards. The Murukami Award will go to Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, who were instrumental in helping establish Ireland as a hotbed of animation. Their studio employed more than 400 people in the ’80s and ’90s. They were behind blockbuster features such as An American Tale and The Land Before Time. The Student Animation Awards will be presented in 14 categories.

Co-founder of Animation Dingle and CEO of JAM Media John Rice said: “We’re chuffed with the quality of the speakers, the large attendance and the quality of the screening and awards. Animation Dingle has really struck a chord with both students and industry at home and internationally. Of course, it would not be possible without the support of bodies like Enterprise Ireland and the IFB, among others.”

“Dingle IFF are honored to partner with JAM Media in presenting this creative and inspiring animation event,” added Maurice Galway, the CEO and co-founder of Dingle International Film Festival.