LIAF presents the 2023 UK Animation Industry Event – 6 panels giving insider access to some of the hottest topics of the year. We’ve gathered together some of the most passionate, honest and insightful experts from a wide range of different areas and backgrounds who are ready to cover all manner of vital topics to give you much food for thought.
Animation doesn’t stand still; and debates and discussions with animators and creative experts are the best way to get in touch with what’s happening. This year we’ll be looking into the minds of some of the most creative forces currently working in the field of the animated documentary, discussing the intrinsic role of the Animation Producer and how do you get to become one, finding out whether animation can be a viable and satisfying career for people who are neurodiverse, looking back at the meteoric growth of the UK animation industry over the last 20 years and looking forward to how the next 20 years might develop in CGI, 3D and general technology.
The panels will be chaired by Saint John Walker, Dean/Director of Industry Engagement at Escape Studios and Julian Scott, animation consultant at Film London.
For anyone currently working in the film and animation industry, thinking of working in the industry or just plain curious, these 6 talks are indispensable. They are free to everyone and take place live and online on our streaming platform over the 2 days of December 2 and 3.
UK Animation Industry Event 1: How Animated are you about Feature Films?
Ever wondered how to take your animated feature script to screen? Join Film London and a panel of producers and writers who have done exactly that - and lived to tell the tale. Find out what makes an idea both commercially and creatively viable, what the key steps in the development stage are and how to keep control of your idea.
Panellists
Moderator: Julian Scott, Animation Consultant at Film London
Julian Scott is a BAFTA-nominated Executive Producer. He has been developing, financing and co-producing feature films and television in the international arena for over 25 years. As animation consultant for Film London, his focus is on generating inward investment for London’s animation studios, by finding partners outside the UK seeking creative and financial soulmates and advising on the UK animation tax credits. Other areas of his work include tackling skills and creative gaps in the animation industry and lobbying to get proper recognition for animation in the UK creative sector and advising studios on business and creative development.
Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull
HaZ Duull started his career in VFX before transitioning to directing & producing feature films (The Beyond, & 2036 Origin Unknown, both licensed to Netflix) and series (Disney’s Fast Layne), before founding production company HaZimation, along with co-founder Paula Crickard producing animated feature films, series and video games based on their propriety pipeline utilising Unreal Engine. The company has recently completed RIFT (animated feature film) and is in production on their next animated feature film (based on the game IP: Mutant Year Zero) at their newly launched Belfast office. As well as original PC / Console video games which includes a spin off game to RIFT called Max Beyond (signed with Microsoft ID@Xbox), and most recently released an original UEFN game – Moontopia, available on PC and consoles via Fortnite.
Robert Chandler: Managing and Creative Director, Space Age Films
Robert is an award-winning writer, director and producer with a varied career, spanning three decades in film and television, drama and documentary, live-action and animation, and in Radio 4 comedy. In 1992, he set up and was Creative Director of the Mercury Music Prize, directing its multi-camera live-events. He ran the Chase animation studio in London for five years, specialising in anime and manga. On setting up Space Age Films in 2009, he developed and is co-owner of The Deep, a CG–animated global hit series based on the award-winning graphic novels. He wrote and co-produced the musical romantic comedy A Christmas Number One; was creative producer on the hit movie The Amazing Maurice; and recently completed work as producer and co-director of The Canterville Ghost which were distributed theatrically around the world, with The Canterville Ghost hitting the number one spot on its release in the UK and Ireland.
Sean Feeney: Head of Production, Producer GFM Animation
Sean joined GFM Animation to develop and expand the slate of 2D and CG animated movies. They help finance, pre-sell and distribute films – as well as setting budgets, tweaking scripts and artwork for sales and production, sourcing studios, overseeing schedules and key milestones. With a 20 year career in animation and VFX, Sean brings considerable knowledge and extensive experience. His credits include shows produced with Disney, Splash, M2/LEGO, Anima, Mattel, Hasbro and the BBC. Feeney joined the GFM Animation following 8 years at Prime Focus World where he set up & developed their animation studio.
Simon Crowe: Managing Director, SC Films International
Simon is one of the most respected names in the film sales industry. Founder of Velvet Octopus and formerly Head of Sales at Icon Entertainment International and Capitol Films, Simon has a wealth of experience in the International sales, production and distribution business. In 2008 Simon decided to go solo and formed SC Films International with financier Matthew Joynes. He has been responsible for the International sales of commercial and art house films, most recently: Monkey King – Hero is Back (No.1 Chinese animation film of all time: $155,000,000 BO), The Reef animation franchise, Yellowbird from TeamTo, Gabor Csupo’s The Secret Of Moonacre, Sony’s Legion, George Clooney’s Sand and Sorrow, Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Robert Altman’s A Prairie Home Companion, Lucky Number Slevin and the action adventure Stormbreaker. Simon is currently Chairman of Film Export UK.
LIAF presents the 2023 UK Animation Industry Event – 6 panels giving insider access to some of the hottest topics of the year. We’ve gathered together some of the most passionate, honest and insightful experts from a wide range of different areas and backgrounds who are ready to cover all manner of vital topics to give you much food for thought.
Animation doesn’t stand still; and debates and discussions with animators and creative experts are the best way to get in touch with what’s happening. This year we’ll be looking into the minds of some of the most creative forces currently working in the field of the animated documentary, discussing the intrinsic role of the Animation Producer and how do you get to become one, finding out whether animation can be a viable and satisfying career for people who are neurodiverse, looking back at the meteoric growth of the UK animation industry over the last 20 years and looking forward to how the next 20 years might develop in CGI, 3D and general technology.
The panels will be chaired by Saint John Walker, Dean/Director of Industry Engagement at Escape Studios and Julian Scott, animation consultant at Film London.
For anyone currently working in the film and animation industry, thinking of working in the industry or just plain curious, these 6 talks are indispensable. They are free to everyone and take place live and online on our streaming platform over the 2 days of December 2 and 3.
UK Animation Industry Event 1: How Animated are you about Feature Films?
Ever wondered how to take your animated feature script to screen? Join Film London and a panel of producers and writers who have done exactly that - and lived to tell the tale. Find out what makes an idea both commercially and creatively viable, what the key steps in the development stage are and how to keep control of your idea.
Panellists
Moderator: Julian Scott, Animation Consultant at Film London
Julian Scott is a BAFTA-nominated Executive Producer. He has been developing, financing and co-producing feature films and television in the international arena for over 25 years. As animation consultant for Film London, his focus is on generating inward investment for London’s animation studios, by finding partners outside the UK seeking creative and financial soulmates and advising on the UK animation tax credits. Other areas of his work include tackling skills and creative gaps in the animation industry and lobbying to get proper recognition for animation in the UK creative sector and advising studios on business and creative development.
Hasraf ‘HaZ’ Dulull
HaZ Duull started his career in VFX before transitioning to directing & producing feature films (The Beyond, & 2036 Origin Unknown, both licensed to Netflix) and series (Disney’s Fast Layne), before founding production company HaZimation, along with co-founder Paula Crickard producing animated feature films, series and video games based on their propriety pipeline utilising Unreal Engine. The company has recently completed RIFT (animated feature film) and is in production on their next animated feature film (based on the game IP: Mutant Year Zero) at their newly launched Belfast office. As well as original PC / Console video games which includes a spin off game to RIFT called Max Beyond (signed with Microsoft ID@Xbox), and most recently released an original UEFN game – Moontopia, available on PC and consoles via Fortnite.
Robert Chandler: Managing and Creative Director, Space Age Films
Robert is an award-winning writer, director and producer with a varied career, spanning three decades in film and television, drama and documentary, live-action and animation, and in Radio 4 comedy. In 1992, he set up and was Creative Director of the Mercury Music Prize, directing its multi-camera live-events. He ran the Chase animation studio in London for five years, specialising in anime and manga. On setting up Space Age Films in 2009, he developed and is co-owner of The Deep, a CG–animated global hit series based on the award-winning graphic novels. He wrote and co-produced the musical romantic comedy A Christmas Number One; was creative producer on the hit movie The Amazing Maurice; and recently completed work as producer and co-director of The Canterville Ghost which were distributed theatrically around the world, with The Canterville Ghost hitting the number one spot on its release in the UK and Ireland.
Sean Feeney: Head of Production, Producer GFM Animation
Sean joined GFM Animation to develop and expand the slate of 2D and CG animated movies. They help finance, pre-sell and distribute films – as well as setting budgets, tweaking scripts and artwork for sales and production, sourcing studios, overseeing schedules and key milestones. With a 20 year career in animation and VFX, Sean brings considerable knowledge and extensive experience. His credits include shows produced with Disney, Splash, M2/LEGO, Anima, Mattel, Hasbro and the BBC. Feeney joined the GFM Animation following 8 years at Prime Focus World where he set up & developed their animation studio.
Simon Crowe: Managing Director, SC Films International
Simon is one of the most respected names in the film sales industry. Founder of Velvet Octopus and formerly Head of Sales at Icon Entertainment International and Capitol Films, Simon has a wealth of experience in the International sales, production and distribution business. In 2008 Simon decided to go solo and formed SC Films International with financier Matthew Joynes. He has been responsible for the International sales of commercial and art house films, most recently: Monkey King – Hero is Back (No.1 Chinese animation film of all time: $155,000,000 BO), The Reef animation franchise, Yellowbird from TeamTo, Gabor Csupo’s The Secret Of Moonacre, Sony’s Legion, George Clooney’s Sand and Sorrow, Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, Robert Altman’s A Prairie Home Companion, Lucky Number Slevin and the action adventure Stormbreaker. Simon is currently Chairman of Film Export UK.