Guide to the OIAF for Animation Students

→ Which OIAF Pass Should I Get?

→ How do I get to OIAF?

→ Where can I stay?

→ FAQ

Why OIAF?

The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) is one of the world’s leading animation events providing screenings, exhibits, workshops and entertainment since 1976. Attracting artists, producers, students and animation fans from around the globe, the OIAF brings together art and industry to experience world-class animated works.

This world-class event is the place for animation students to get inspired and hired.

At OIAF, students can:

• Experience films by the best animators from around the world
• Meet their favourite animators and make friends for a lifetime
• Learn from professional development talks from top artists and industry leaders

Just watch!

When and where is the OIAF?

When?

The OIAF’s 50th anniversary will take place between Wednesday, September 23rd and Sunday, September 27th 2026!

Where?

You’ll find the OIAF in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It’s the nation’s capital, located between Toronto and Montreal.

You can get here by plane, train, or automobile!

Animation Students from colleges and universities across North America travel to Ottawa every September to take in world-class animation and join an incredible animation community.

On your way or already here? Check out our Venues page to see exactly where you’ll be watching, learning, and partying in September.

What happens at OIAF?

Animation students won’t want to miss these events!

Friday Morning: Art + Biz Day
A full morning of programming focused on helping all creators find their career paths. Open to all TAC and AnimaPass holders, you can participate in ‘Meet a Mentor’ sessions (pre-registration required), connect with industry professionals one-on-one, and catch the talks designed to further your professional development.

Friday Afternoon: The Animators’ Picnic
Sharpen your pumpkin carving skills for Spooky Season in our annual contest. No need to BYOP, we supply the pumpkins! This afternoon outdoor party is a refreshing way to socialize with studio reps and fellow animators over lunch and drinks. Located outside of downtown, you can get there in a 20-minute walk or grab one of our shuttles running all afternoon.

Friday Night Student Party
This one’s for you! Meet OIAF pass holders from across the country (and from around the world) while enjoying special guest DJs, dancing, and making memories.

Saturday: Animation Exposé
Animation Exposé is a day of artist talks, recruiting opportunities, and animation activities curated to enhance your experience and understanding of the world of animation. Check the Animation Exposé page to see this year’s line-up.

Saturday Night Party
This forward-thinking, artist-driven Ottawa event features eclectic musical, visual, and multimedia artists. The OIAF adds our ever-popular Drink & Draw event: join fellow animators with their pencils and sketch pads to draw cosplay models posing to music from an extraordinary vinyl DJ!

Everyday: Screenings
The reason we’re all here: the films! Catch competition screenings of shorts and features, panorama screenings, and special screenings. See them all on the Screenings page updated in August.

Over the years, OIAF has screened…

• [Your future animated project HERE!]
• KPop Demon Hunters (2025)
• The Girl Who Cried Pearls (2025)
• Flow (2024)
• The Wild Robot (2024)
• Memoir of a Snail (2024)
• Hilda: Season 3 (2023)
• The Swallows of Kabul (2019)
• I Lost My Body (2019)
• Steven Universe: The Movie (2019)
• I Like Girls (2016)
• Over the Garden Wall (2015)
• It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012)
• Mary and Max (2009)
• Persepolis (2007)
• The Powerpuff Girls Movie (2002)
• The Wrong Trousers (1992)

…And many, many, many more!

Who comes to OIAF?

The OIAF attracts 26,000+ attendees each year, with around 1600 animators, filmmakers, and students attending! Mix and mingle with fellow students at parties, bump into your favourite animator while waiting in line, and talk to studios looking to hire students like you at the Exhibitor Fair.

Previous VIP guests include…

• Maggie Kang, Director, and Chris Appelhans, Director, KPop Demon Hunters
• Kevin Gillis, Creator of The Raccoons
• Gints Zilbalodis, Director, Flow
• Chris Sanders, Director, The Wild Robot, How to Train Your Dragon, Lilo & Stitch
• Kris Wimberly, Director, Firebuds, Elena of Avalor, Spongebob SquarePants, Teen Titans Go!
• Trent Correy, Director, Once Upon a Studio, Zootopia+; Animation Supervisor, Frozen 2
• Dan Abraham, Director, Once Upon a Studio, Baymax!; Story Artist, Encanto
• Masaaki Yuasa, Creator of Mind Game, Night is Short and Walk on Girl
• Hisko Hulsing, Director, Montage of Heck, Undone, Sandman
• Luke Pearson, Creator of Hilda; Storyboard Artist, Adventure Time 
• Nick Bruno, Director, and Troy Quane, Director, Nimona, Spies in Disguise
• David Silverman, Producer, The Simpsons
• Rebecca Sugar, Creator of Steven Universe; Storyboard Artist, Adventure Time, Hotel Transylvania

• Dino Stamatopoulos, Comedy Writer, Actor & Producer, Community, Anomalisa
• Henry Sellick, Director, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Coraline
• John Musker & Ron Clements, Directors, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules
• Ronnie del Carmen, Story Artist, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, WALL-E, Coco
• Jan Pinkava, Creative Director, Monster’s Inc., Toy Story 2, Ratatouille, 
• Don Hertzfeldt, Director & Animator, It’s Such a Beautiful Day
• Lauren Faust, Creator of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic; Animator, The Iron Giant, The Powerpuff Girls
• Matthew A. Cherry, Director, and Bruce W. Smith, Director, Hair Love
• Peter Lord, Creative Director, Aardman
• Peter Ramsey, Director, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
• Richard Williams, Animator, Who Framed Roger Rabbit
• Seth Green, Director & Actor, and Matthew Senreich, Director, Robot Chicken
• Vivienne Medrano, Animator & Creator of Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss
• Seth MacFarlane (attended as a student! now Actor & Creator of Family Guy)

Which OIAF pass should I get?

Find a student pass or discount option that fits your budget! Early bird pricing will last until Tuesday, July 28th 2026.

Follow OIAF on social media or subscribe to the OIAF newsletter to learn about early bird pricing! 

Student AnimaPass – $198 (Canadian students), $216 (International students)

Wednesday Sept 23 – Sunday Sept 27 2026

Proof of enrolment in post-secondary school is required (ie. a student ID card).

Entrance to:

• OIAF screenings and talks throughout the festival
• Opening Night Party
• Salon Des Refusés Party
• Animators’ Picnic
• Friday Night Party
• Animation Exposé talks + Exhibitor Fair
• Awards Ceremony
• Saturday Night Party

Other benefits:

• OIAF Delegate Bag
• Digital Program Book
• Listing in the online Artist Gallery

Excludes:

• TAC events on Wednesday and Thursday

Weekend Pass (Student Discount) – $112.50

Friday Sept 25 at 3:00 pm – Sunday Sept 27 2026

Proof of enrolment in post-secondary school is required (ie. a student ID card).

Entrance:

• All OIAF screenings, talks, and parties from Friday, September 25, 3:00 pm to Sunday, September 27, including:
• Friday Night Party
• Animation Exposé talks + Exhibitor Fair
• Awards Ceremony
• Saturday Night Party
• Closing Night party

Other benefits:

• OIAF Delegate Bag
• Digital program book
• Listing in the online Artist Gallery

Excludes:

• TAC events (Wed. – Fri.)
• Animators’ Picnic (Friday, 12pm – 4pm)

See all pass options on the Box Office page.

Individual screening tickets ($15), 6-packs of screening tickets ($75), and tickets to Animation Exposé talks will be available in August.

How do I get to OIAF?

OIAF will not be offering a private Toronto to Ottawa coach bus service this year. However! There are plenty of public transport options within Ontario (and Quebec!) for students to use what works best. All prices listed below are estimated and could change without notice. 

• Bus: Large public coach buses which routinely run between Toronto and Ottawa
  • FlixBus – avg. cost $75 rt
  • Rider Express – avg. cost $60 rt
  • Megabus – est. cost: $70 rt

• Rideshare: These services allow you to book a seat in a carpooling car or van between Ottawa and Toronto (similar to Uber).
  • Kangaride – est. cost: $50
  • Poparide – est. cost: $50

• Train: VIA rail offers discounts for students and an escape fare which lets you travel with a bit more comfort!
  • VIA Rail Student Discount – 12% off
  • Tuesday Sale – avg. cost $100 rt
  • Escape Fares – vg. cost $180 rt
  • Group Rates available

• Air: Regional flights from Toronto to Ottawa can be fast and easy if you are short on time
  • Air Canada 
  • West Jet 
  • Porter Airlines 

Where can I stay?

Reserve ASAP
Booking early will allow the best choice as accommodations in Ottawa tend to sell out during the beautiful autumn season.

Hotels
We highly recommend reserving your hotel accommodations as early as possible to avoid disappointment; please see our partner hotel page here. 

Hostels
These backpacker-style budget hotels are all great economic options and walking distance of Festival venues:
Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel
Ottawa Backpackers Inn
Barefoot Hostel (affordable group rates available!)

Some other hotels we’d recommend that are close to OIAF venues and are reasonably priced:

The Business Inn. (Currently around $175/night on Expedia)
Holiday Inn Express on King Edward (Currently around $180/night on Expedia) OIAF’s first choice for attending filmmakers.  Breakfast included.
Courtyard by Marriott Ottawa East (Currently around $200/night on Expedia) Super nice new hotel is right on the LRT or a 5-minute Uber.
Comfort Inn East (Currently around $200/night on Expedia) Right on the LRT next to the St. Laurent Mall or a 5-minute Uber.  Breakfast included.

Tips to save money on accommodations:  

• Stay up to four people in a room with two beds. Some hotels don’t charge extra for additional people.
• Book early! Prices go up the longer you wait.
• Consider staying near public transit routes, like the LRT, for quick and easy access to the downtown area. Two areas with reasonably priced hotels are around the Ottawa Via Rail station and close to the St. Laurent Shopping Centre.
• Hostels are a budget-conscious way to stay with a group of people, whether you’re looking to meet new people or are travelling solo.
• Airbnb is a good place to look for alternative places to stay. Read the reviews and contact the accommodation directly with any questions. 
• The main neighbourhoods to consider staying in are called Sandy Hill, Lowertown, ByWard Market, and Centretown. Other neighbourhoods like New Edinburgh and Vanier are budget-friendly but further away; they’re about a 15-minute bus ride or 30-minute walk from the Festival venues.

Top FAQs from Students going to OIAF 

What should I bring?

• • Stay hydrated! Bring a refillable water bottle and pocket-sized snacks.
  • A physical or digital copy of your portfolio & socials
  • A portable phone charger never hurts!
  • A notebook/sketchbook for writing down important names and sketching our talented cosplayers during live drawing sessions!
  • If you’re coming from Toronto or Hamilton, your Presto Card works on public transit here too!

I’m just happy to be here, what does my pass get me?

• A Student AnimaPass gets you access to all OIAF screenings, talks and parties for all 5 days of the festival
• A Student Weekend Pass gets you access to all OIAF screenings, talks and parties (excluding the Animators’ Picnic) after 3pm on Friday the 25th

I’m new here! Where is everyone hanging out?

• In your hotel lobby
• Chez Ani or the Aniboutique (Arts Court Studio)
• In line for screenings (OAG, Arts Court, ByTowne Cinema, NAC)
• Everywhere!

How do I start networking?
Shoot your shot! Say hello and introduce yourself. Like someone’s art? Tell them! Bring a business card with your contact details or have a QR code ready to show off your portfolio or socials. 

We recommend attending the following events (included with the student AnimaPass!) for networking:

• Opening Night Party (Wed. Sept. 23 @ Lowertown Brewery)
• Salon des Refusés Party (Thurs. Sept. 24 @ Club SAW)
• Art + Biz Day (Fri. Sept. 25 @ NAC)
• Animators’ Picnic (Fri. Sept. 25 @ Strathcona Park)
• Friday Night Party (Fri. Sept. 25 @ Club SAW)
• Animation Exposé talks & Exhibitor fair (Sat. Sept. 26 @ NAC)
• Saturday Night Party (Sat. Sept. 26 @ NAC)
• Closing Night Party (Sun. Sept. 27 @ Arts Court Studio)

What’s the dress code?

Dress in a way that best represents yourself! Our events are fun, casual, and loose. A good graphic tee showing off your favourite animated series is a great way to spark a conversation. You can also take a look at our Flickr page to see how our attendees have dressed over the years.

Where can I grab a bite to eat around the festival?

Check out our restaurant guide to see what we recommend!

Meals will be provided during the Animator’s Picnic @ Strathcona Park on Fri. Sept. 25th (accessible with Student AnimaPass)

Is there somewhere I can securely store my belongings throughout the day’s activities?

Travel light! We recommend bringing a good backpack or tote bag for your belongings, and to keep valuables on your person at all times.

• The coat check at the NAC is monitored by NAC staff
• The coat check at the OAG – Alma Duncan Salon is NOT monitored.

Help! I have more questions!
Check out the staff page, email us, or call us at 613-232-8769.

What do others say about OIAF?

Don’t just take our word for it- people love the OIAF!