ASIFA-South presents two-day animation festival and conference at Kennesaw State University

The ASIFAC Animation Festival and Conference (ASIFAC) returns this year with two days of programming including panels, roundtable discussions, portfolio reviews, workshops, and screenings.

This year’s theme, “Animation Re:Launch,” was conceived as a response to a challenging year and the resiliency of creatives in the animation industry.

ASIFA , which is an acronym for Association Internationale du Film d’Animation, was founded in 1960 in Annecy, France. The international non-profit organization has expanded to include more than 30 chapters located around the world, and is dedicated to cultivating the art, craft, and profession of Animation. ASIFA-South, based here in Atlanta, is the Southern American chapter of the association.

“The goal of ASIFA-South is to foster and unite the animation community locally and globally to promote artists and the art of animation,” reads a statement on the non-profit’s GuideStar profile. Their mission includes education, networking, promotion, and increased visibility for the animation industry.

This year’s ASIFAC programming includes roundtables which are intended to encourage engagement and community involvement beyond the traditional panel structure.

“Our roundtables are interactive,” explained Ginger Marisa Tontaveetong, Operations Director of ASIFA-South.

“We want it to be inclusive so instead of just panels where people are talking at you, our roundtable have 1-2 industry experts and 5-6 people per table engaging in topics [in a] conversational style.”

Veteran sound designers and editors who have worked for industry giants such as Pixar, Blue-Eyed Samurai, and the like will be joined by VO artists during “Sounds that make Animation.”

Another discussion, “Ethics of AI and Changing the Landscape of Animation” led by Asante Bradford, the Georgia Department of Economic Development Industry Manager, and Chris LeDoux from Crafty Apes, will get into the nitty gritty of the influence and impact of Artificial Intelligence on the industry.

This year’s highlight panel will break down the 2024 animated promo created for ASIFAC with Head of Production and Lead Animator Min Kyung Cho alongside Animator Wasan Hayajneh and Compositor Neko Pilarcik-Tellez.

“As a professional animator, I’m excited to share my experience taking people through the pipeline of creating an animated short from start to finish and all the coordination that goes on behind the scenes to create a successful short,” said Min Kyung Cho in a statement.

Attendees can also take part in a 1-on-1 professional development session, portfolio reviews, panels that demonstrate the latest advancements in animation technology, plus an array of booths and exhibits. Budding animators and established professionals alike will find something of value from this year’s robust lineup of events. The festival will culminate with an invite-only awards ceremony and mixer.

Learn more and register for the 2024 ASIFA Animation Festival and Conference here .

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