Starting this Wednesday, North America’s longest-running and largest animation festival returns to Canada’s capital city, Ottawa.
The Ottawa International Animation Festival and its sister event, The Animation Conference, draw thousands of attendees, attracting both indie filmmaking and industry crowds. In fact, it has the second-largest attendance of any international animation festival, exceeded only by the French festival beast Annecy. But despite its size, Ottawa manages to retain a low-key feel where everyone is welcome, whether you’re a veteran attendee or a first-timer.
If you’re headed to Ottawa, remember that the festival is big: to get the most out of it, you have to do a bit of planning beforehand because there’s no way to experience everything that’s packed into the five-day event. Here’s a few can’t-miss highlights: