Young Audiences @ OIAF
All Ages Day @ OIAF
Saturday, September 26, 2026
9:30 am to 2:30 pm, at the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG), 10 Daly Avenue, and Arts Court, 2 Daly Avenue
- All Ages @ OIAF is a full day of screenings and hands-on activities for animation fans of all ages.
- Family-friendly events take place on the Saturday of the Festival throughout the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) and Arts Court.
- Screening tickets are free for kids 13 and under, and adult general admission tickets are $16 each.
- Teens can register for a free Saturday Teen Pass, which gives them access to all OIAF screenings and talks on Saturday before 6:00 pm, including Animation Exposé.
- Sit with the OIAF Kids Jury at the Animation Made For Young Audiences 7+ competition screening, where winners are decided!
- Teens, have your say! OIAF needs your help to decide the winner of the Animation Made for Teen Audiences 13+ competition screening.
- Learn how to animate at various free hands-on workshops and demonstrations throughout the building.
Screenings at All Ages Day
Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG): Alma Duncan Salon (Level 3)
A collection of the best new short animated films made for kids! Watch along with our Kids Jury and meet some of the filmmakers!
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm, Competition Screening: Animation Made for Teen Audiences 13+, including an extended Q&A with filmmakers, OAG: Alma Duncan Salon (Floor 3)
A collection of the best new short animated films made specifically for teens! After the competition, teens are all asked to have their say and vote for their favourite as part of the Teen Vote @ OIAF, which awards one film the Category Award for best Animation Made for Teen Audiences 13+.
Free All Ages Workshops & Activities
More details coming soon!
Kids @ OIAF
Kids Jury
The OIAF Kids Jury is a unique opportunity for animation enthusiasts ages 8-12 to judge animation made for young audiences at North America’s largest animation festival. Join them at the All Ages @ OIAF competition screening: Animation Made For Young Audiences 7+ on Saturday, September 26th, in the Alma Duncan Salon. After the screening, the Kid Jurors will deliberate in private to determine the film they will award at the OIAF Awards Ceremony on Saturday night.
Applications for the OIAF 2026 Kids Jury are now closed! Please come back in May 2027 to apply.
OIAF 2026 Kids Jury
Alex
Kid Juror
Jack
Kid Juror
Auston
Kid Juror
Mána
Kid Juror
Alice
Kid Juror
Orrin
Kid Juror
Deckard
Kid Juror
Pilar
Kids Jury Coordinator
Kids Day @ OIAF
Field Trip! Every year the OIAF invites elementary school students and their teachers to attend a one-hour screening or the films in the Animation Made for Young Audiences 7+ competition. The presentation is often followed by a Q&A or short talk with an animation professional that will give students an inside look at the art of animation.
Kids Day @ OIAF (formerly called Animation Celebration) has featured many special guests including Aardman Animation (Wallace and Gromit), Laika (Coraline), and the National Film Board of Canada. In 2022, guest animator Britt Raes screened her short film Luce and the Rock and then led a captivating and exciting Q&A session about how she made the film! There were also fun rock characters and colouring crafts for after the presentation.
Attend:
Kids Day @ OIAF 2026 takes place on Wednesday, September 23rd, at the OAG, for elementary school field trips. Pre-registration is required. Sign Up Here!
Teachers, check out the films in competition this year here!
For questions, please email outreach@animationfestival.ca
Teens @ OIAF
High school students interested in animation will not want to miss this event. Teachers, bring your students to check out amazing animated films from around the world, followed by a special presentation from top animation schools or guest filmmakers – program to be determined!
- Teens, OIAF needs your help to decide the winner of the Animation Made for Teen Audiences 13+ competition. As part of your field trip to OIAF, you’ll watch this screening and then vote for your favourite and help decide the winner of the Teen Vote @ OIAF Public Prize. The awards are given out on Saturday night at the OIAF Awards Ceremony.
- Teens & Teachers, check out the films in competition for 2026 here!
Attend:
Teen Day @ OIAF 2026 takes place on on Friday, September 25th at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC)* for high school aged students. Pre-registration is required. Sign Up Here!
*Note a venue change for 2026: high school field trips will take place at the National Gallery of Canada.
For questions, please email outreach@animationfestival.ca
FREE Saturday Day Pass for Teens
- The Saturday Day Pass for Teens grants all local teens access to all OIAF screenings and programming on the Saturday of the Festival before 6:00 pm, including All Ages Day, Animation Exposé talks, the Exhibition fair, and the Awards Ceremony.
- Don’t miss Animation Exposé: featuring live Talks with animation artists and the opportunity to meet representatives from animation schools as part of the career fair.
- Secondary school teachers can also get a free Saturday Day Pass! Tell your colleagues!
Volunteer at OIAF
Need to do some volunteer hours? We’ve got you.
Being a Volunteer with the OIAF presents some excellent opportunities and benefits:
- Get a FREE volunteer pass to attend screenings & workshops
- Get a FREE OIAF t-shirt
- Learn about the world of animation
- Make new friends and get work experience
There are also year-round opportunities with the Canadian Film Institute including the International Film Festival of Ottawa (IFFO) in March.
@tinyleviacosplay
Calling all cosplayers!
OIAF is actively recruiting Cosplayers to model for live drawing events, if you are interested click the form below for more information and to apply: