Event agenda
Tuesday, 18 August 2026
18:00 - 21:00
Session 1 | Talks | Part 1 - Craig Bartlett, Bevin Linkhorn, Abba-Rose Vaiaoga-Ioasa
Talk 1 - Lessons from a Lifetime in Animation - Craig Bartlett Talk 2 - He Kauahi Catalyst Animation Applications: Year One Insights | Bevin Linkhorn & Abba-Rose Vaiaoga-Ioasa
21:00 - 23:00
Session 1 | Talks | Part 2 - Kate Goodwin, Wade Cowin & Rosie Howells | Arthur Struyf
Talk 3 - He Kauahi Catalyst Success Story: Rat Qween | Kate Goodwin, Wade Cowin & Rosie Howells Talk 4 - The Wellington Animation Film Festival | Arthur Struyf
Saturday, 29 August 2026
10:00 - 10:30
Session 2 | Open & Welcome
Drop in for a relaxed chat with the organiser and other participants to connect, ask questions, and get ready for the event.
10:30 - 11:30
Session 2 | Talks | Part 1 Rebecca Gibson
Talk 1 - Pitch Perfect: Selling Your Animation Project | Rebecca Gibson | Eagle Vision
11:30 - 12:00
Session 2 | Break
Break 1/2 hour
12:00 - 13:00
Session 2 | Talks | Part 2 - Iris Lamarr
Talk 2 - Find Your People: Marketing That Builds a Crowd Around Your Story | Iris Lamarr | Reframe Collective
13:00 - 14:00
Session 2 - 1:1 Speed Matching
Meeting duration:20 minutes time slots
Tuesday, 1 September 2026
18:30 - 19:00
Session 3 | Open & Welcome
Drop in for a relaxed chat with the organiser and other participants to connect, ask questions, and get ready for the event.
19:00 - 20:00
Session 3 | Talks | Part 1 - Ricard Cussó
Talk 1 - From Startup to Studio: The Growth of Cosmic Dino | Ricard Cussó | Cosmic Dino
21:00 - 21:30
Session 3 | Break
Take a brain break or join the organiser for drop-in session to ask any questions about the event.
21:30 - 22:30
Session 3 | Talks | Part 2 - Colin Bennett
Talk 2 - Geek out on Toon Boom | Colin Bennett
22:30 - 23:30
Session 3 - 1:1 Speed Matching
Meeting duration:20 minutes time slots
Saturday, 12 September 2026
10:00 - 12:00
Session 4 | Talks | Part 1 - Dave Mullins, Brad Booker & Garrick Rawlingson
Talk 1 - Producer & Director Relationship | Dave Mullins & Brad Booker | ElectroLeague Talk 2 - Surviving Earth Collaboration | Garrick Rawlingson & Jodie Camilleri
12:00 - 13:00
Session 4 | Break
1 hour lunch break
13:00 - 14:00
Session 4 | Talks | Part 2 - Joseph Bell
Talk 3 - Charting the World of International Co-Production | Joseph Bell | VFX World Atlas
14:00 - 14:30
Session 4: Roundtable 1 - Bevin Linkhorn - Investment and Development Executive - NZFC
Ask NZFC: Funding, Applications & Getting Your Project Ready
Session 4: Roundtable 1 - Elvis Chew - Animation Studio Director
Working Internationally: Co-Productions, Pipelines & Building Studio Capability
Session 4: Roundtable 1 - Iris Lamarr - Screen Marketing Specialist
Marketing Your Animation: Pitch Your Plan
Session 4: Roundtable 1 - Kate Goodwin - Producer
Pitch Your Animation Project to a Producer
Session 4: Roundtable 1 - Kirby Atkins - Writer & Director
Choosing Stories Worth Developing: Where to Invest Creative Energy
Session 4: Roundtable 1 - Nathan Santell - Executive Producer | Floating Rock
Pitch Yourself or Your Project to an Executive Producer
Session 4: Roundtable 1 - Ruby Meades - Animation Director
Behind the Scenes of Your Animation
Session 4: Roundtable 1 - Daisy Lawless - Writer & Producer
What Would You Do? Communication Through the Production Pipeline
Session 4: Roundtable 1 - Jo Luping - Producer
Looking for Animators: Pitch Your Skills to a Producer
14:30 - 15:00
Session 4: Roundtable 2 - Bevin Linkhorn - Investment and Development Executive - NZFC
Ask NZFC: Funding, Applications & Getting Your Project Ready
Session 4: Roundtable 2 - Elvis Chew - Animation Studio Director
Working Internationally: Co-Productions, Pipelines & Building Studio Capability
Session 4: Roundtable 2 - Iris Lamarr - Screen Marketing Specialist
Marketing Your Animation: Pitch Your Plan
Session 4: Roundtable 2 - Kate Goodwin - Producer
Pitch Your Animation Project to a Producer
Session 4: Roundtable 2 - Kirby Atkins - Writer & Director
Choosing Stories Worth Developing: Where to Invest Creative Energy
Session 4: Roundtable 2 - Matt Pitt - Animation Director
You Got the Funding. Now How Do You Actually Make It?
Session 4: Roundtable 2 - Nathan Santell - Executive Producer | Floating Rock
Pitch Yourself or Your Project to an Executive Producer
Session 4: Roundtable 2 - Jo Luping - Producer
Looking for Animators: Pitch Your Skills to a Producer
15:00 - 15:30
Session 4: Roundtable 3 - Bevin Linkhorn - Investment and Development Executive - NZFC
Ask NZFC: Funding, Applications & Getting Your Project Ready
Session 4: Roundtable 3 - Elvis Chew - Animation Studio Director
Working Internationally: Co-Productions, Pipelines & Building Studio Capability
Session 4: Roundtable 3 - Iris Lamarr - Screen Marketing Specialist
Marketing Your Animation: Pitch Your Plan
Session 4: Roundtable 3 - Kate Goodwin - Producer
Pitch Your Animation Project to a Producer
Session 4: Roundtable 3 - Kirby Atkins - Writer & Director
Choosing Stories Worth Developing: Where to Invest Creative Energy
Session 4: Roundtable 3 - Matt Pitt - Animation Director
You Got the Funding. Now How Do You Actually Make It?
Session 4: Roundtable 3 - Nathan Santell - Executive Producer | Floating Rock
Pitch Yourself or Your Project to an Executive Producer
Session 4: Roundtable 3 - Ruby Meades - Animation Director
Behind the Scenes of Your Animation
Session 4: Roundtable 3 - Daisy Lawless - Writer & Producer
What Would You Do? Communication Through the Production Pipeline
Session 4: Roundtable 3 - Jo Luping - Producer
Looking for Animators: Pitch Your Skills to a Producer
Tuesday, 15 September 2026
18:30 - 19:30
Session 5 | Break
Half hour break
Session 5 | Talks | Part 1 - Max Rose | SideFX
Talk 1 - Geek out with Houdini | Max Rose | SideFX
19:30 - 20:30
Session 5 - 1:1 Speed Matching
Meeting duration:20 minutes time slots
21:00 - 22:00
Session 5 | Talks | Part 2 - Arman Haque
Talk 2 - Arman Haque | How We Make Stuff at Glitch Productions
22:00 - 23:00
Session 5 - 1:1 Speed Matching
Meeting duration:20 minutes time slots
Saturday, 19 September 2026
08:00 - 09:00
09:00 - 10:00
Session 6 | Pre-Talk | Response and Feedback on last Saturday's AI Session
Talk .5 - Response and Feedback on AI
10:00 - 11:00
Session 6 | Talks | Part 1 - Nic Cabana
Talk 1 - The New Creator Playbook | Nic Cabana | Claynosaurs
11:00 - 12:00
Session 6 | Talks | Part 2 - Aaron Gilman
Talk 2 - Making Cool Stuff Isn't Enough | Aaron Gilman
12:00 - 12:30
Session 6 | Break
1/2 hour break
12:30 - 13:30
Session 6 | Talks | Part 3 - Kirby Atkins
Talk 3 - Choosing Stories Worth Developing | Kirby Atkins | Mosley
13:30 - 14:00
Session 6: Roundtable 1 - Iris Lamarr - Screen Marketing Specialist
Marketing Your Animation: Pitch Your Plan
Session 6: Roundtable 1 - Katy Bard - Writer
Animators: Pitch Yourself to a Writer
Session 6: Roundtable 1 - Luke - Writer
Animators: Pitch Yourself to a Writer
Session 6: Roundtable 1 - Matt Pitt - Animation Director
Finding the Right Visual Style for Your Story
Session 6: Roundtable 1 - Nathan Santell - Executive Producer | Floating Rock
Pitch Yourself or Your Project to an Executive Producer
Session 6: Roundtable 1 - Garrick Rawlingson - Co-Founder | Chief Business Officer | Floating Rock
Pitch Yourself: What Makes an Animator Stand Out?
14:00 - 14:30
Session 6: Roundtable 2 - Iris Lamarr - Screen Marketing Specialist
Marketing Your Animation: Pitch Your Plan
Session 6: Roundtable 2 - Luke - Writer
Animators: Pitch Yourself to a Writer
Session 6: Roundtable 2 - Matt Pitt - Animation Director
Finding the Right Visual Style for Your Story
Session 6: Roundtable 2 - Nathan Santell - Executive Producer | Floating Rock
Pitch Yourself or Your Project to an Executive Producer
Session 6: Roundtable 2 - Ruby Meades - Animation Director
Behind the Scenes of Your Animation
Session 6: Roundtable 2 - Garrick Rawlingson - Co-Founder | Chief Business Officer | Floating Rock
Pitch Yourself: What Makes an Animator Stand Out?
Session 6: Roundtable 2- Katy Bard - Writer
Animators: Pitch Yourself to a Writer
14:30 - 15:00
Session 6: Roundtable 3 - Iris Lamarr - Screen Marketing Specialist
Marketing Your Animation: Pitch Your Plan
Session 6: Roundtable 3 - Luke - Writer
Animators: Pitch Yourself to a Writer
Session 6: Roundtable 3 - Ruby Meades - Animation Director
Behind the Scenes of Your Animation
Session 6: Roundtable 3 - Garrick Rawlingson - Co-Founder | Chief Business Officer | Floating Rock
Pitch Yourself: What Makes an Animator Stand Out?
Session 6: Roundtable 3- Katy Bard - Writer
Animators: Pitch Yourself to a Writer