The 17th annual VIEW Conference, being held in Turin, Italy, is just around the corner, and the guest list this year includes such notables as Zootopia co-director Byron Howard, Sausage Party co-director Conrad Vernon, Trolls directors Mike Mitchell and Walt Dohrn, Pixar director of photography Sharon Calahan, Pearl production designer Tuna Bora, ILM vfx supervisor Roger Guyett, and Cow and Chicken creator David Feiss, among dozens more heavy-hitters from the world of feature animation, visual effects, gaming, and digital media.

I had the good fortune of attending VIEW last fall, and it stood out as a unique experience among the many conferences I’ve attend throughout the years. VIEW managed to be both intimate and grand at the same time. The grand part wasn’t hard when so many big names are in attendance, and many of the talks are presented in front of a capacity audience. The intimate part comes from the set-up of the event, where every evening the guests shared a gourmet meal and conversations flowed long into the night.

One of the guests last year, photographer Michael Rubin, a former member of Lucasfilm’s Droidworks and author of the enlightening Droidmaker: George Lucas and the Digital Revolution, captured some of the scenes and guests who attended the event. These images capture the convivial spirit of the event better than words can, and with his permission, we are sharing them on the site today.

The 2016 edition of VIEW takes place October 24-28. For more information on attending, visit VIEWConference.it.

Left to right: ILM animation supervisor Glen McIntosh, directors Mark Osborne, Jorge Gutierrez, and "Kubo and the Two Strings" creator Shannon Tindle. Background: "Hotel Transylvania 2" production designer Michael Kurinsky. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
Left to right: ILM animation supervisor Glen McIntosh, directors Mark Osborne, Jorge Gutierrez, and “Kubo and the Two Strings” creator Shannon Tindle. Background: “Hotel Transylvania 2” production designer Michael Kurinsky. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
Dinner for the VIEW guests at a rustic restaurant in an Italian village. Photo © Michael Rubin.
Dinner for the VIEW guests at a rustic restaurant in an Italian village. Photo © Michael Rubin.
"Kung Fu Panda 3" co-director Alessandro Carloni (facing back) with "Home" head of character animation Jason Reisig. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
“Kung Fu Panda 3” co-director Alessandro Carloni (facing back) with “Home” head of character animation Jason Reisig. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
Film editor and sound designer Walter Murch. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
Film editor and sound designer Walter Murch. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
"Hotel Transylvania 2" production designer Michael Kurinsky and Cartoon Brew editor-in-chief Amid Amidi. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
In the background: “Hotel Transylvania 2” production designer Michael Kurinsky and Cartoon Brew editor-in-chief Amid Amidi. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
ILM animation supervisor Glen McIntosh. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
ILM animation supervisor Glen McIntosh. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
Sony Imageworks vfx supervisor Daniel Kramer (l.) and Blue Sky animation supervisor Scott Carroll. Photo: Michael Rubin.
Sony Imageworks vfx supervisor Daniel Kramer (l.) and Blue Sky animation supervisor Scott Carroll. Photo: Michael Rubin.
"The Book of Life" director Jorge Gutierrez with his parents. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
“The Book of Life” director Jorge Gutierrez with his parents. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
Kim White, director of photography at Pixar, speaking with fans. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
Kim White, director of photography at Pixar, speaking with fans. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
"Kung Fu Panda 3" co-director Alessandro Carloni. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
“Kung Fu Panda 3” co-director Alessandro Carloni. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
ILM visual effects artist Lorne Peterson (l.) and "The Little Prince" director Mark Osborne. Photo ©Michael Rubin.
ILM visual effects artist Lorne Peterson (l.) and “The Little Prince” director Mark Osborne. Photo ©Michael Rubin.

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