Young Audiences @ OIAF
All Ages Day @ OIAF
- 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 $15 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. Stay after the screening to vote for your favourite and help decide the winner of the Teen Vote @ OIAF Public Prize.
- Learn how to animate at various free hands-on workshops and demonstrations throughout the building.
At OIAF 2022, Family Day was presented by Shaw Rocket Fund and saw kids and their families from the community attend screenings and workshops at the OAG. Enjoy this sample of the stop-motion animation made at OIAF:
At OIAF 2025, kids, teens, and their families had the opportunity to collaborate on a short 16mm black-and-white 2D animation in a hands-on workshop using IFCO’s Oxberry camera and animation stand. Check out the finished film:
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 the Saturday of the Festival, 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 OIAF 2026 will be available on this webpage in May 2026!
OIAF 2025 Kids Jury
Luna
Kid Juror
Paul A.
Kid Juror
Evelyn H.
Kid Juror
Sam D.
Kid Juror
Cole Squires
Kid Juror
Estelle Parent
Kid Juror
Kids Day @ OIAF
Field Trip! Every year the OIAF invites elementary school students and their teachers to attend a one-hour screening and 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 usually takes place on the Wednesday of the Festival, at the OAG, for elementary school field trips. Pre-registration is required. A sign-up form will be circulated in late May or early June and again in early September. For questions, please email office@animationfestival.ca or sign up for the Teacher’s Mailing List to receive field trip invites and news about OIAF Youth Programs.
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 screening. 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.
Attend:
Teen Day @ OIAF 2026 is a high school field trip event at the OAG, usually on Thursday and Friday of the Festival. Pre-registration is required. A sign-up form will be circulated in late May or early June and again in early September. For questions, please email office@animationfestival.ca or sign up for the Teacher’s Mailing List to receive field trip invites and news about OIAF Youth Programs.
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: