<h3>Where</h3><p>Online</p><h3>When</h3><p>March 24-26, 2022</p>

Toronto Animation Film Festival

<h3>Where</h3><p>Online</p><h3>When</h3><p>March 24-27, 2021</p>

<h3>Where</h3><p>Hot Docs Cinema | Toronto, Canada | 506 Bloor Street West</p><h3>When</h3><p>Monday April 25th</p>

<h3>Where</h3><p>Online</p><h3>When</h3><p>November 11-13, 2021</p>

Toronto Animation Industry Conference

<h3>Where</h3><p>Online</p><h3>When</h3><p>November 18-22, 2020<span class="ql-cursor">﻿</span></p>

<h3>Where</h3><p>Corus Quay, Toronto, Canada, 25 Dockside Dr.</p><h3>When</h3><p>Saturday to Sunday, November 2-3, 2019</p>

Toronto Animation / VFX Job Fair

TAAFI News

<p>Rachel Reade Marcus is the VP of creative development at Guru Studio where she leads the company’s development of new original IP. Her passion is creating innovative, quality animated content for all ages through nurturing and mentoring new talent, and fostering long-term creative partnerships. Rachel has played a pivotal role in growing the company’s roster of Originals, including co-creating the studio’s newest preschool series <em>Pikwik Pack</em> which airs on Disney Junior US, Hulu and Treehouse Canada, as well as serving as executive producer on the comedy adventure series <em>Big Blue </em>with CBC in Canada. Previous to her time at Guru Studio, Rachel worked at Nickelodeon developing new IP across their digital platforms.</p>

<p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);">Rachel Reade Marcus is the VP of creative development at Guru Studio where she leads the company’s development of new original IP. Her passion is creating innovative, quality animated content for all ages through nurturing and mentoring new talent, and fostering long-term creative partnerships. Rachel has played a pivotal role in growing the company’s roster of Originals, including co-creating the studio’s newest preschool series </span><em style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);">Pikwik Pack</em><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);"> which airs on Disney Junior US, Hulu and Treehouse Canada, as well as serving as executive producer on the comedy adventure series </span><em style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);">Big Blue </em><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);">with CBC in Canada. Previous to her time at Guru Studio, Rachel worked at Nickelodeon developing new IP across their digital platforms.</span></p>

Rachel Reade Marcus

<p>Most recently the animation director on <em>Maya and the Three</em>, Rob is an experienced director, animation supervisor and animator.&nbsp;His directorial debut came with the animated short of his own creation, <em>Ormie</em>.&nbsp;Having won several prestigious festival awards, including TIFF’s Sprockets Kids Film Festival, the project earned him directing duties for multiple major toy brands.&nbsp;He is currently working on several projects in development.</p>

<p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);">Most recently the animation director on </span><em style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);">Maya and the Three</em><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);">, Rob is an experienced director, animation supervisor and animator.&nbsp;His directorial debut came with the animated short of his own creation, </span><em style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);">Ormie</em><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);">.&nbsp;Having won several prestigious festival awards, including TIFF’s Sprockets Kids Film Festival, the project earned him directing duties for multiple major toy brands.&nbsp;He is currently working on several projects in development.</span></p>

Rob Silvestri

<p>Join leaders in animation from Canada and the Commonwealth Caribbean state of Guyana to discuss the tools needed to build Guyana, South America as a creative and digital arts and animation hub. The panel will offer an opportunity for studios and creative groups in the Caribbean to understand the inner workings of animation production and studio building while preserving and demonstrating their rich cultural experiences for a global audience. It will also offer young Caribbean animators and studios to connect with Canadian experts to strengthen cross-cultural partnerships.</p>

Building New Animation Ecosystems in Guyana

<p>Dorielle Retemyer is an animator, writer and digital artist. Born in Guyana,&nbsp;Dorielle moved to Canada and is a Seneca College graduate in Arts and Animation. She worked on projects such as the animated episode of the hit sitcom One Day at a Time which aired on Pop TV. Dorielle also did work in animation production for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and other animation studios in Toronto. Together with the Guyana Animation Network she is actively involved in the development of the animation and digital arts in Guyana.</p>

Dorielle Retemyer

<p>Jubilanté Joanna Cutting is a Youth Leader in Guyana and the Commonwealth who is championing ICT, technology, animation and digital media skills-training and employment opportunities. As founder of the Guyana Animation Network (GAN) Inc, Jubilanté pioneers, facilitates and manages cross-cultural, skills-training and service delivery opportunities for children, youth and young adults. She consults experts, professionals and stakeholders within the Digital and Creative Technology Industries in Guyana, the Caribbean and international markets to remain relevant. Her organization's work has appeared before Her Majesty the Queen of England, Graça Machel, Kofi Annan and Mary Robinson.</p><p>She is a trained lawyer with corporate, civil, commercial and criminal law experience. She uses research strategy to develop and create ecosystems through a cross sectional approach of the law, business and technology initiatives that empower youths and prepare them for the future ICT, technology, STEAM and creative economy. As an award-winning innovator and the CEO of a budding studio venture, GAN Studios, Jubilanté is committed to developing animation and digital arts solutions that will transform youths into innovators and entrepreneurs in their world.</p>

Jubilanté Cutting

<p>Martin A. R. Massiah is a business development consultant and innovative problem solver with almost eight years of diverse hands-on leadership experience. With his network at Massiah Capital, he has coordinated and produced 2D and 3D animated assets for the gold mining industry and the energy sector. His projects range from basic character model design to industrial process animation. Most recently he has hinted at developing either his first video game or manga influenced by his Caribbean heritage.&nbsp;</p>

Martin Massiah

<p>Mark Jones is the Chair of the School of Creative Arts and Animation at Seneca College in Toronto, a department with over 1300 students in programs such as interactive media, graphic design, documentary filmmaking, music and acting, animation, gaming, and visual effects. He has worked as producer for many award-winning animated short films, and is a founding board member of The Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI). In 2019, Mark was author of the study “The Ontario College Survey for Screen Industry Workforce Development” for the Heads of Media, Art, and Design. He holds an M.A. in Communication and Culture from Ryerson and York Universities. </p>

Mark Jones

<p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);">Robert Reid is the Animation Specialist, the Office of the Prime Minister in Jamaica. He works on a project funded by the World Bank aimed at positioning Jamaica to participate in the global animation industry. Under the project, he organizes the </span><a href="https://kingstoonfest.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04); color: rgb(63, 81, 181);">KingstOOn Animation Festival</a><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.04);">.&nbsp;Robert also organized several training initiatives to equip Jamaican educators and animators with the tools to allow better fit into the labour market. On the demand side, he is involved in the organization of Jamaican delegations to major markets where local studio executives and producers were able to market their products and services.</span></p>

Robert Reid

Seneca College

<p>Robert Reid is the Animation Specialist, the Office of the Prime Minister in Jamaica. He works on a project funded by the World Bank aimed at positioning Jamaica to participate in the global animation industry. Under the project, he organizes the <a href="https://kingstoonfest.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KingstOOn Animation Festival</a>.&nbsp;Robert also organized several training initiatives to equip Jamaican educators and animators with the tools to allow better fit into the labour market. On the demand side, he is involved in the organization of Jamaican delegations to major markets where local studio executives and producers were able to market their products and services.</p>