Volunteer at OIAF
The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) is one of the world’s leading animation events providing screenings, workshops, and entertainment since 1976. OIAF is an annual five-day event bringing art and industry together in a vibrant hub, attracting artists, producers, students, and animation fans from around the world.
From September 23-27, the OIAF transforms the ByTowne Cinema, Arts Court, Club SAW, Strathcona Park, the National Arts Centre and the Ottawa Art Gallery into the epicentre of animation.
A festival of this scale would not be possible without the enthusiasm, commitment, and hard work of the volunteers who support OIAF each year.
The Why, What, and How
Why volunteer with OIAF?
Volunteering at OIAF is a fun way to get involved in the animation industry, earn volunteer hours for school, meet new people, and learn new skills.
Volunteers who complete more than two shifts (a total of eight hours) will earn a Volunteer Pass which gives access to most of the Festival’s exciting events outside of volunteer shifts. Volunteers also get to keep their stylish OIAF 2026 Volunteer t-shirts and their sweet memories.
What do volunteers do at OIAF?
Volunteers are essential to our events in all kinds of ways. Volunteer roles range from Airport Greeter to Wrecking Crew. Experienced volunteers can level up to Volunteer Leaders in roles like Assistant Volunteer Coordinator.
How do I register to volunteer?
Sign up for our newsletter to be notified when 2026 volunteer applications open in July!
Why volunteer with OIAF?
Volunteering at OIAF is a fun way to get involved in the animation industry, earn volunteer hours for school, meet new people, and learn new skills.
Volunteers who complete more than two shifts (a total of eight hours) will earn a Volunteer Pass which gives access to most of the Festival’s exciting events outside of volunteer shifts. Volunteers also get to keep their stylish OIAF 2026 Volunteer t-shirts and their sweet memories.
What do volunteers do at OIAF?
Volunteers are essential to our events in all kinds of ways. Volunteer roles range from Airport Greeter to Wrecking Crew. Experienced volunteers can level up to Volunteer Team Leads in roles like Assistant Volunteer Coordinator. All roles, and their requirements, can be reviewed in our Volunteer Position Guide.
The Volunteer Handbook is also available to review with more details about what is expected of volunteers at OIAF.
Event locations are included below:
Volunteer Team Leads
Volunteer Team Leads are essential to successfully coordinating volunteers and the whole Festival. Team Leads work closely with the Volunteer Coordinator and other OIAF staff at the OIAF office and across Festival venues to oversee and facilitate their respective volunteer teams. These positions are best suited for seasoned OIAF volunteers, people with expertise in certain fields, or those seeking leadership experience.
Volunteer Team Lead positions include:
- Assistant Volunteer Coordinator
- Assistant Special Events Coordinator
- TAC Volunteer Team Lead
- Animation Exposé Team Lead
- All Ages @ OIAF Team Lead
- Chez Ani Team Lead
- Airport Greeter Team Lead
- Reception Team Lead
- Animators’ Picnic Team Lead
- Saturday Night Party Team Lead
Find more details about each position and what they entail in our Volunteer Positions Guide. Being a Volunteer Team Lead is a bigger commitment than just volunteering. These positions require availability for longer shifts over more days.
If you are ready to be a Volunteer Team Lead at OIAF 2026, indicate so in the volunteer form available in July and upload your resumé to the form.
Contact the Volunteer Coordinator by email with any further questions.
Volunteer Leadership Roles
For those looking to take on more substantial volunteer responsibilities at the Festival, we are recruiting for several key leadership positions. These positions are best suited for experienced OIAF volunteers, people with expertise in certain fields, and those who want to gain serious experience (beef up that resume!). Volunteer Leaders must be more available– and flexible with that availability– than regular volunteers, as these positions require longer shifts on multiple days. Being friendly, confident, mature, and reliable is a must!
If you are interested in applying, read through the Volunteer Leadership Positions listed below, or in the Volunteers Position Guide. When filling out the volunteer form available in July, answer ‘Yes’ to the ‘Are you interested in Volunteer Leadership Roles?’ question, and upload your resume into the form. You will be contacted by the Volunteer Coordinator if you are chosen to interview for a position.
Here is a preview of the Volunteer Leadership Roles that will be available:
Animators’ Picnic Team Leader
The Animators’ Picnic is a Festival favourite with big industry names in attendance. Guests at this Passholders-only event enjoy a complimentary lunch and a pumpkin carving contest.
Location: Strathcona Park
Day/Hours: Friday, September 25, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Requirements: SmartServe certification, experience overseeing a team, responsible. First Aid and CPR certification is an asset.
Responsibilities: Assist with event coordination, train and oversee volunteers, delegate tasks and resolve issues as needed.
Assistant Special Events Coordinator
Parties and special events are a huge part of OIAF. Work directly with the Special Events Coordinator in the office and on-site at some amazing parties!
Days/Hours: Late August/early September to early October, shifts to be determined
Requirements: Willingness to run around and do what needs to be done, flexibility, availability
most nights during Festival Week (September 20 to 27), having own transportation. SmartServe certification is an asset.
Responsibilities: Assist with logistics and collection of supplies, prepare and post signage for each event, mai
ntain constant communication with other teams to ensure successful execution of events, be on location for most parties to ensure that everything runs smoothly (and to troubleshoot as needed), handle a variety of other tasks that will pop up when least expected!
Saturday Night Party Team Leader
The Saturday Night Party late-night pa
rty filled with music, gaming, animation, drawing, and drinks, and is a chance for festival attendees to let loose after a busy few days.
Location: Arts Court
Day/Hours: Saturday, September 26, 6:00 pm to 3:00 am
Requirements: Arrange your own safe transportation home, SmartServe certification, able to work in a fast-paced and highly stimulating/energetic environment, able to multitask
Responsibilities: Assist with event coordination, oversee and delegate tasks to volunteers, assist guests as needed and handle any issues that arise.
All Ages @ OIAF Team Leader
All Ages @ OIAF is a full day dedicated to sharing the many wonders of animation with younger audiences. The day includes screenings of Young Audiences and Teen categories and hands-on workshops aimed toward kids and their families.
Location: Ottawa Art Gallery & Arts Court
Day/Hours: Saturday, September 26, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Requirements: Responsible, friendly, enthusiastic, enjoy working with kids, good with directions
Responsibilities: Assist Festival staff with event logistics, train volunteers, oversee and delegate tasks to volunteers, interact with and assist kids and people of all ages. Help attendees find their way around the building and troubleshoot with staff and volunteers as needed.
TAC Assistant
TAC (The Animation Conference) is held at the National Arts Centre. The three-day event brings together key players in the North American and international markets and provides a forum for active networking, practical information exchange, and trade in a comfortable and intimate environment. If you want to produce animation and meet people in the industry, this is the position for you!
Days/Hours: Wednesday, September 23 to Friday, September 25, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Requirements: Professional demeanour, casual business attire, ability to work independently, leadership, excellence at multitasking
Responsibilities: Assist Festival staff with pre-event logistics and venue move-in, supervise volunteers, delegate tasks, assist with registration, ensure everything is running smoothly, assist wherever necessary, and help with move-out at the end of the conference.
Animation Exposé Team Leader
Animation Exposé is a full-day event, hosting a number of talks that bring the animation industry to the public. It is an opportunity for those looking to break into the industry to get to look behind the scenes of the industry and meet with studios and schools at the Animation Exposé Fair.
Location: National Arts Centre
Day/Hours: Friday, September 25, 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Saturday, September 26, 8:30 am to 8:30 pm
Requirements: Responsible, personable, lifting heavy equipment
Responsibilities: Assist Festival staff with event logistics, train volunteers, oversee and delegate tasks to volunteers, and interact with and assist guests.
Chez Ani Café Team Leader
Chez Ani Café is se
t up in the Arts Court and will be open during the Festival,serving coffee, snacks, and alcoholic beverages.
Days/Hours: Tuesday, September 22 to Sunday, September 27, 8:00 am to 9:30 pm (You will not be scheduled for the entirety of these hours, but your shifts will be within these hours.)
Requirements: SmartServe certification, experience with serving/bartending, personable, energetic, able to multitask, able to delegate
Responsibilities: Manage the café, train volunteer bartenders and baristas, keep the café organized, handle cash and card transactions, and provide excellent customer service.
Assistant Volunteer Coordinator
Work directly with the Volunteer Coordinator on-site and in the OIAF Office.
Days/Hours: Early September to early October, shifts to be determined
Requirements: A willingness to learn, personableness, ability to delegate, ability to adapt, and a willingness to do a variety of tasks. Lots of availability during Festival Week (September 23 – 27) is an asset.
Responsibilities: Help coordinate the volunteer shift schedule, assist with volunteer orientation, oversee volunteers, delegate tasks, prepare volunteer passes, answer phone calls and emails, and be willing to complete the plethora of unforeseen tasks that will come up during Festival Week!
Airport Greeter Team Leader
The Festival receives a large number of international guests at the beginning of Festival week and we need your help greeting them as they arrive inOttawa. You will be in charge of a team of greeters, who will welcome guests and escort them to our Festival Drivers, so they can be shuttled to their destination.
Location: Ottawa International Airport
Days/Hours: Tuesday, September 22 to Wednesday, September 23, 2026, hours to be determined
Requirements: Friendly, personable, welcoming, and able to delegate
Responsibilities: Retrieve the day’s flight schedule and signage for each guest from Guest Services. Assign a team to locations in the airport, oversee and ensure that guests and luggage get to the drivers in a timely manner. Anticipate flight delays and plan accordingly. Maintain constant communication with the Guest Services Coordinator.
Registration Team Leader
The OIAF Registration desk is open the week of the festival to provide pass purchases and pick-up.
Location: Arts Court Studio
Day/Hours: Monday, September 21 to Sunday, September 27, 8:00 am to 9:15 pm
Requirements: Thrive in a fast-paced environment during peak times. Personable, energetic, and able to multi-task
Responsibilities: Assist Festival staff with Registration logistics, train volunteers, handle cash and card transactions, and provide excellent customer service.