Young Audiences @ OIAF
All Ages Day @ OIAF
Saturday, September 27, 2025
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 Saturday, September 27, 2025, 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.
Screenings at All Ages Day
Saturday, September 27
Ottawa Art Gallery: Alma Duncan Salon (Level 3)
Tickets are free for kids 13 and under. High school students can use their free Teen Saturday Pass. General admission tickets for adults are $15.
The Animation Made For Young Audiences 7+ competition and the Animation Made for Teen Audiences 13+ competition are curated collections of short animated films made for kids, teens, and young at heart. The Young Audiences 7+ competition is judged by the OIAF Kids Jury, made up of local Ottawa kids aged 8-12. The Teen 13+ competition is judged by the high school students attending Teen Day.
“With children able to access more shows and animation than ever before in the history of human existence, the OIAF strives to find beautiful, engaging, and thoughtful works that families aren’t necessarily able to find on their favourite streaming gadgets.
Free All Ages Workshops & Activities
Saturday, September 27
Throughout Ottawa Art Gallery and Arts Court
Workshops and activities will be added here in August!
In the past, 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:
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 27th, 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.
The search begins on June 25th, 2025!
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 2025 takes place on Wednesday, September 24th, at the OAG, for elementary school field trips. Pre-registration is required.
Registration information for teachers will be sent out in mid-June. For questions or to join a waitlist, please email the OIAF Office at: office@animationfestival.ca
Sign up for the Teacher’s Mailing List for news on upcoming OIAF youth programming:
Teens @ OIAF
Teen Day @ 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 and catch presentations by the top animation schools and special guests.
- 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 2025 is a high school field trip event at the OAG on Thursday, September 25th, and Friday, September 26th. Pre-registration is required.
Registration information for teachers will be sent out in mid-June. For questions or to join a waitlist, please email the OIAF Office at: office@animationfestival.ca
Sign up for the Teacher’s Mailing List for news on upcoming OIAF youth programming:
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.
