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TAAFI News

Toronto Animation Film Festival

Toronto Animation Industry Conference

The ConferenceAbout TAAFISubscribeScheduleSpeakersDiscordFAQ

Where: Online

When: November 11-13, 2021

Previous Events:

Toronto Animation / VFX Job Fair

Presented by:

sponsor

The Big Pitch presented by WildBrain

Fri, Nov 12th

8:00PM - 9:00PM

Online

Watch the two finalists of TAAFI's Big Pitch go head to head in front of three Industry judges. The winner takes it all in this exciting live pitching event (plus a cash prize!). If you want to have a shot, submit your pitch in the link on our Industry home page. Or email bigpitch@taafi.com

The Big Pitch is brought to you by WildBrain.

speaker

Ben McEvoy, Producer, Friends & Enemies

Ben leads creative initiatives for agencies, brands, media companies, entrepreneurs and educators, providing brand and content strategy, as well as hands-on creative production in animation, live-action, interactive web, apps, VR/AR, game development, events and interactive public activations, on projects throughout Canada, and internationally in the US, India, Singapore and China. 

As partner / executive producer, Friends & Enemies, Ben works with his team of senior creatives and a broad network of multi-disciplinary production partners creating original and branded content experiences for brands, agencies and media clientele. 

Notable clients include: Google, VICE Studios, 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, CBC, Doc Channel, Teletoon, YTV, CTV, Discovery Channel, The History Channel, TVO Kids, Shaftesbury, and the National Film Board of Canada.

Ben is also co-founder of the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) and a former board member.


speaker

Darin Bristow, Executive Creative Director, Pipeline Studios

Darin Bristow is a 27-year veteran of the animation industry and has lent his creative, technical and production skills to over 25 TV series and feature films. Darin has held such notable positions as design supervisor, art director, CG supervisor, VFX artist, and currently currently serves as Pipeline Studios' supervising producer and executive creative director, focusing on developing the studio's top brands, such as Nina's World, Sunny Day, the Emmy-nominated Elinor Wonders Why! and the recently released Fred Rogers Productions/PBS series, Alma's Way

speaker

Dave Padbury, Development Executive, Guru Studio

Dave Padbury joined the Guru development team seven years ago to help guide development on the Netflix Original series True and the Rainbow Kingdom. Since then, he has worked across several of Guru’s properties, including its newest preschool series Pikwik Pack which airs on Disney Junior US, Hulu and Treehouse in Canada, and the upcoming comedy adventure Big Blue. In his role as development executive, Dave focuses on finding and fostering new voices and perspectives to bring strong creator-driven stories to life.

speaker

Lorna Withrington, Vice President, Development–Animation, WildBrain

Lorna Withrington, Vice President, Development–Animation, is a recognized leader in the creative development and acquisition of kids’ and family properties with franchise appeal for the global market. As a key member of WildBrain’s content team, she helps drive the strategic vision behind the company’s diverse, multi-genre slate of original animation, collaborating closely with creators, writers, artists and other production stakeholders to instill creative excellence in WildBrain’s shows. Ms. Withrington possesses wide-ranging experience on international co-productions and in the creation of 2D, CG and hybrid series. With a career spanning such properties as Paw Patrol, PJ Masks, Peppa Pig, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam and Thomas & Friends, Ms. Withrington has worked for some of the biggest brands in children’s content and brings this knowledge to finding and creating the next generation of children’s hits. Prior to WildBrain, Ms. Withrington held management roles in development, creative affairs, acquisitions and production with Spin Master, eOne Entertainment and HIT Entertainment / Mattel.

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