Every studio and content creator is looking to identify the best new talent in today’s competitive market—a task easier said than done. For the past 25 years, NYICFF has generated and discovered a pool of thousands of diverse, international filmmakers and producers at all stages of professional development.
The 2022 Industry Forum is a three-part series of exciting, vital virtual community conversations to celebrate, support, and expand the children’s media field toward a more inclusive future. NYICFF alumni filmmakers and partnering organizations will offer creative inspiration and practical takeaway for industry leaders, aspiring filmmakers and creatives, students, culture workers and educators. This NYICFF event is designed to both ensure and demonstrate the value of a diverse and culturally inclusive workforce from idea to audience.
Missed the the live events? Stream them now for free!
2021 speakers & guests
Co-founder of Rise Up Animation, director of Netflix's Canvas, producer of Oscar®-winning short Hair Love
Founder and CEO of Queer Kid Creative, co-host of Queer Kid Stuff, and host of Activist, You!
Virtual Intensive Training Intern, The Animation Project
President, Folimage
CEO, Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and Chair of the Board of Directors for the Television Academy Foundation
NYICFF Award-winning director (Welcome to My Life), creator of Netflix's City of Ghosts
Director of Flip the Record (NYICFF 2018) and What Isn’t There, and founder of Cinema Sala
Director of Buladó (NYICFF 2021) and Helium
Co-founder of Rise Up Animation, Executive Producer of The Christmas Chronicles
Director, NYICFF 2021 Grand Prize winner Vanille
Writer/director of Amelia's Closet (NYICFF 2017), writer, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
Writer of La Serenata and When We Love Someone We Sing to Them, professor at University of Oregon
Producer, NYICFF 2021 Award-winner Buladó
Head Writer at 9 Story Media
Head of Cinekid for Professionals
Co-executive producer and director of The Casagrandes
New York Times bestselling writer, showrunner of Netflix's She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
Filmmaker, Artistic Recruiter at Titmouse, and co-lead for Women in Animation, NYC Chapter
Lead Creative Arts Therapist,The Animation Project
Founder, Center for Scholars and Storytellers, UCLA research scientist
Creative manager and producer, Silvergate Media and NYICFF Programming Committee member
2022 speakers & guests
NYICFF Award-winning (2017's Heads Together), Oscar®-nominated filmmaker of the animation studio Job, Joris, & Marieke
UC Santa Barbara PhD candidate in experimental condensed matter physics
Actor (Gilmore Girls, Billions); adjunct professor, Hunter College; NYICFF Board of Directors
Executive Producer, BWA Studios; talent consultant and recruiter; NYICFF Board of Directors
Award-winning writer; Executive Producer of Netflix's Ada Twist, Scientist
Animator and director of NYICFF 2022 Opening Night film OINK; co-founder, Holy Motion Studio
Two-time NYICFF Award-winning filmmaker (2022's She Dreams at Sunrise and 2020's Grab My Hand: A Letter to My Dad); actor (DC's Batwoman)
Head of Podcast Ratings and Reviews, Common Sense Media
2022 NYICFF Jury Award-winning filmmaker of The Ocean Duck
Producer or NYICFF 2022's OINK and SWOP; co-founder, Holy Motion Studio
Director of NYICFF 2022's Horizon and Knights in Newark; award-winning writer; illustrator; children's book author
2022 industry forum events
June 14 — 5:00pm
Small is Mighty: Women Forging Paths in Animation
Featuring Marieke Baauw, Mascha Halberstad, and Marleen Slot
We’re shining a spotlight on multitasking animators forging their own, distinct paths to get their work made, including the director-producer team of Mascha Halberstad and Marleen Slot, who launched their own stop-motion studio, Marieke Baauw of the celebrated Oscar-nominated design and animation trio Job, Joris, & Marieke. We’ll look at creative business models that complement animation and enhance value proposition while slaying industry biases. PLUS: discover how small is mighty, from the Netherlands to New York.
June 21 — 5:00pm
Fostering a Diverse Workforce
Featuring Priya Giri Desai, Camrus Johnson, and Huda Razzak
Moderated by Common Sense Media's Laura Ordoñez
We're thrilled to kick off the conversation with BIPOC filmmakers whose successes we celebrate and whose insights we will glean. Emerging and aspiring creators and students will leave with a roadmap for how to get their foot in the door. PLUS: best practices for studios and platforms to identify and support new talent telling diverse stories.
June 28 — 5:00pm
STEM Stories on Screen
Featuring Nic Yulo, Liam Cohen, and Scott Cohen
Whether you are an educator, a change maker, a science and film nerd, or just love a good lab coat, join us to discover the profound impact that representation can have in supporting science-based careers and study and the outsized impact of representing diverse stories for women and girls to pursue STEM careers. PLUS: how to use these films and related materials to spark real change in the classroom and beyond.
2021 industry forum events
April 29 — 5:00pm
Behind the Curtain: Making Career Pathways Transparent
Featuring Monica Lago-Kaytis, Halcyon Person, and Ellen Su
Moderated by Emerald Wright-Collie
Presented with support from Rise Up Animation and Women in Animation
Rarely are two career trajectories identical, but no matter the case, the roadmap to a career in media can be particularly challenging—especially for those from underrepresented communities. Join us for a candid conversation from people who figured it out as they went along so you don’t have to go it alone and hear from training programs that expand access.
May 6 — 5:00pm
Owning Your Story: BIPOC Creators
Featuring Frank Abney, Elizabeth Ito, Halima Lucas, and Miguel Puga
Presented with support from Rise Up Animation
How can you ensure that your ideas and stories are authentically crafted, produced, and represented? Join these showrunners, executives, and creatives as they discuss the shifting landscape and how to make sure your voice is heard in today’s cultural moment.
May 13 — 5:00pm
Beyond Binary Storytelling In Kids’ Media
Featuring Lindz Amer, Ernesto Javier Martínez, Noelle Stevenson, and a presentation from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media's Madeline Di Nonno
Queer representation opens doors for everyone. Seeing queer issues, joys, triumphs, and celebrations on screen can give young audiences an avenue to understanding themselves and others. Activists, authors, and filmmakers discuss inclusive programming for kids and underscore the importance of discussing gender and sexuality in age-appropriate ways.
May 20 — 2:00pm
Going Global: Diverse Storytelling in a Diasporic World
Featuring Reginald De Guillebon, Eché Janga, Guillaume Lorin, Jean-Charles Mbotti Malolo, Koji Nelissen, and Nienke Poelsma
Co-presented by Cinekid
How is diverse storytelling for young audiences supported globally? International film institutions, independent studios, directors, and producers discuss crafting films creatively and sustainably through dedicated initiatives, workshops, co-production partnerships, and more.
May 27 — 5:00pm
A Solid Foundation: Funding Kids’ Media as a Key Investment in Inclusion
Featuring Marie Jamora and Yalda T. Uhls
Presented with support from Center for Scholars and Storytellers
Children’s media has the enormous potential to help foster a diverse, inclusive society through thoughtful stories and broad representation. Funders are key in supporting independent filmmakers and arts organizations to get this work made and screened. This panel will highlight best practices of funders, filmmakers, and cultural organizations collaborating on positive change.
