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Toronto Animation Film Festival

Toronto Animation Industry Conference

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Where: Corus Quay, Toronto, Canada, 25 Dockside Dr.

When: Saturday to Sunday, November 2-3, 2019

Previous Events:

Toronto Animation / VFX Job Fair

speaker

Michelle Melanson Cuperus

Headspinner Productions Inc., President

Emmy and Bafta Nominated, Michelle Melanson has over 25 years experience in the production business with hundreds of episodes produced and over 50 awards and nominations.

In early 2018, Michelle started Headspinner Productions with husband Ken Cuperus, an Emmy Nominated creator and showrunner. They currently have several shows in active development with broadcasters including a reboot of the Canadian classic series Hilarious House of Frightenstein.

Michelle was vice president and then president of Radical Sheep Productions from 2009-2018, executive producing such shows as the worldwide hit The Next Step, as well as Fangbone!, The Bagel & Becky Show, Tee & Mo, Stella and Sam, The Yup Yups and Ollie The Boy Who Became What He Ate. Michelle has won the Canadian Screen award, the Grand Prize of the Youth Media Alliance, mulitiple Kidscreen Awards and Cynopsis Awards. She also has a Juno Award for producing the Stella and Sam Album.

Michelle is also the founder of Women Drawn Together -a free organization that fosters learning, networking and mentorship for Women in the Animation community. In the past four years, the group has grown to 4 cities and well over 1500 members. The organization is open to all, with a focus on opportunities to learn about various departments in the animation field in a safe, comfortable environment.

Michelle graduated in 1990 from Ryerson with a BAA in Radio and Television Arts and is a Wall of Fame Alumni recipient, an award she received in 2019. 

1:00PM - 3:00PM

Corus West
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Meet & Greet

Speed Dating For Professionals! 

This is your chance to have a 10 minute one-on-one meeting with various industry experts from studios such as Guru, Headspinner, CBC, Industrial Brothers and more!

NOTE: PRE-REGISTRATION FOR MEET & GREET IS REQUIRED - REGISTRATION CLOSES OCTOBER 22nd

With Alexandra Kavalova Art Director, Spin Master Andrew Healey Development Executive, Portfolio Entertainment Alan Gregg VP of Development, Industrial Brothers Brandon Lane Development Producer, Nelvana Drew Mullin Executive in Charge of Production Children's Content, CBC Kids Dave Padbury Developer Manager, Originals, Guru Studio Kirsten Hurd Acquisitions, TVOkids, TVOkids Lorna Withrington Director of Development, Spin Master Martha Sepulveda Director of Development, 9 Story Media Group Marlene Schmidt Head of Production, Epic Story Media Michelle Melanson Cuperus Headspinner Productions Inc., President Miklos Perlus Executive Producer, Development and Production, Pipeline Studios Shannon Bishop Manager, Creative Affairs, Entertainment One, Family & Brands Shaleen Sangha Vice President, Development and Production, Boat Rocker Studios, Kids and Family Shabnam Rezaei Co-Founder / Producer, Big Bad Boo Studios Sam Chou Creative Director of Development, Kickstart Entertainment Todd Brian Director of Development, Animation, WildBrain

1:00PM - 2:00PM

Corus 8th Floor Theatre
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Welcome to Toon Town!

It’s time to put a spotlight on some of the new players in town! Epic Story Media and Headspinner Productions are two new players into the animation market led by a couple of industry veterans. Join us as they talk about launching new properties in this new world of global streaming and how they are doing things differently.

With Ben McEvoy TAAFI Chair, Friends & Enemies Ken Faier El Presidente and CEO, Epic Story Media Inc. Michelle Melanson Cuperus Headspinner Productions Inc., President
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