Animation Matchmaking Online Series 2026

18 Aug – 19 Sept 2026

Event agenda

Tuesday, 18 August 2026

09:00 - 23:00

Session 1 Tech Check

Session 1 Tech Check -Craig, Bevin, Abba-Rose, Kate, Wage & Rosie

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

Thursday, 27 August 2026

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

Meetings

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

Meetings

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 | Floating Rock

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

Tuesday, 15 September 2026

18:30 - 19:30

Session 5 | Break

Half hour break

Session 5 | Talks | Part 1 - SideFX

Talk 1 - Geek out with Houdini | SideFX

19:30 - 20:30

Meetings

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 | Glitch Studio

22:00 - 23:00

Meetings

Session 5 - 1:1 Speed Matching

Meeting duration:20 minutes time slots

Saturday, 19 September 2026

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 - China NZ Co-Productions | Kirby Atkins | Mosley