Talks, Presentations, and Panels
Meet the Filmmakers
Arts Court Theatre
OIAF Artistic Director Chris Robinson moderates a revealing, moderately amusing, and occasionally silly open forum that connects audiences and filmmakers, and allows for deeper insight into the creative thinking behind some of your favourite Festival films.
Short Film Competition 1
Thursday, September 25, 9:30 am
Attending filmmakers
Richard Reeves, Fusion (Canada)
Isabelle Lee Aspin & Brian Daniel Smee, Across My Jaw (USA)
Jenny Jokela, Dollhouse Elephant (Finland)
Christopher Rutledge, Allied ABLE (USA)
Marvin Hauck, States of Matter (Germany)
Short Film Competition 2
Friday, September 26, 9:30 am
Attending filmmakers:
John W. Lustig, I Beg Your Pardon (USA)
Matea Radic, Paradaïz (Canada)
Nicole Altan, Anklebones (USA)
Chris Lavis, The Girl Who Cried Pearls (Canada)
Short Film Competition 3
Saturday, September 27, 9:30 am
Attending filmmakers:
Simon Hamlyn, Green Lung, (United Kingdom)
Naomi Noir, Mother’s Child, (Netherlands)
Dale Hayward, CNESST ‘Qu’à un fil’ (CNESST ‘Hanging By A Thread’) (Canada)
Zharko Ivanov, Долго доаѓање на огнот (The Long Coming of the Fire) (North Macedonia)
Brennan Bova, Join (Canada)
Short Film Competition 4
Saturday, September 27,11:00 am
Attending Filmmakers
Lilli Carré, Evacuations (USA) – From Short Film Competition 3
Lucas Ansel, The 12 Inch Pianist (USA) – From Short Film Competition 3
Ryo Orikasa, Rakugaki (The Graffiti) (Japan)
Yiorgos Tsangaris, The Weaver (Cyprus)
Thomas Schmid, Natlan Impressions Trailer ‘Blaze to Natlan’ (USA)
Short Film Competition 5
Sunday, September 28, 9:30 am
Attending filmmakers:
Alex Boya, Bread Will Walk (Canada)
Benjamin Fox, Body Burden (United Kingdom)
Jordan Minkoff, Nap Eyes ‘Dark Mystery Enigma Bird’ (Canada)
Dario Boger, Two Point Five Stars (Switzerland)
Marko Mestrovic, How (Croatia)
OIAF Indie Talks
The Secret of Japanese Indies
Sunday, September 28, 2025, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Arts Court Theatre
Join the six Japanese filmmakers from the NeW NeW program as they reveal their creative methods, share ideas or clips from upcoming films, and discuss the current landscape of the Japanese independent animation scene.
Guest Speakers:
Sarina Nihei, Small People with Hat, Grand prix 2015
Honami Yano, Bite of Bones, Grand prix 2021
Ryo Orikasa, Miserable Miracle, Grand prix 2023
Ryo Hirano, Paradise, in competition 2016
Kazuki Sekiguchi
Isaku Kaneko
Animation Exposé Artist Talks
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Babs Asper Theatre, National Arts Centre (NAC)
Step behind the scenes into the world of animation at Animation Exposé! This incredible day at the National Arts Centre offers a rare look at how your favourite films and shows come to life. Meet the artists, studios, and storytellers shaping the industry today, and explore how imagination turns into art, frame by frame. From hands-on demos to inspiring conversations, whether you’re a casual fan or a budding creator, discover pathways to celebrate or turn your passion for animation into a career. Animation Exposé is a vibrant showcase—an exposé in the truest sense—of the talent, tools, and ideas behind the screen.