Eight days to go, why you can’t miss AVIJOZI 2024, Greg Gray, Ellen Poon, AI, drone zone and more!

There are 8 days left until the third annual AVIJOZI Festival kicks off on September 14-15, 2024 at Summer Place in Hyde Park. This year’s festival spotlights Film, Animation, Visual Effects, AI, and Interactive Technology, including Gaming and VR. The exciting line-up, of over 60 global industry leaders, has just been released and includes talks from industry powerhouses like Greg Gray, who will share his expertise on directing for story and character, Ellen Poon, who has worked alongside legends like George Lucas and Christopher Nolan on projects like Star Wars and Avatar, and Hamid Ibrahim, one of the co-creators of the series IWAJU, Disney’s first collaborative animation project with another studio.

Tickets are FREE so stop reading already and go register here!

If you’re in the film and commercial-making industry, either as a creative or in production, you can’t miss AVIJOZI 2024, hosted by Chocolate Tribe in collaboration with Netflix. One of the most topical subjects in the creative industry is Artificial Intelligence. Among the speaker highlights is Lavina Ramkissoon, known as #aiMOM, who will discuss ‘An Optimistic Future with AI’, offering insights from her expertise in technology and psychology. Neill R. Jordaan, will delve into AI’s impact on creative economies and policies, while Yvonne Muinde, a celebrated visual effects artist (VFX work on blockbusters like Avatar), will share her experience and presentation on Digital Matte Painting in the Age of AI. Adding to the AI conversation is the Chocolate Tribe (Chief Creative Officer Rob van den Bragt and Chief Technical Officer Tiaan Franken) who will be talking about VFX, Animation and the Integration of AI in Chocolate Tribe workflows. Irmak Atabek, Co-Founder of KidsAI, will present on AI and the Future of Creativity. Additionally, Ebele Okoye on ‘Ethical AI’.

For those focused on directing and storytelling, Greg Gray from Romance, one of South Africa’s most-awarded commercial directors, will share some of his secrets on ‘Directing for Story and Character’. Ellen Poon (VFX and Animation on films like Jumanji, The Green Mile, Star Wars, The Mask, Frozen and Inception), will offer a session on ‘The Art and Science of Animation and Visual Effects’. Dale Newton, an Animation Supervisor at Framestore (supervised Harry Potter, Paddington 2, The Avengers), will speak on the subject of ‘An Animation Perspective: Creating an Oompa Loompa’. There will be discussions on creating viral content by Nelisiwe and Ofentse Mwase from OMFilms (1.42 million YouTube subscribers) and a session by Vaibhav Kumaresh, the creative genius behind Lamput on Cartoon Network, who will be sharing his thoughts on ‘Creating Your Own Animation IP’.

The festival’s international flair is highlighted by Shuzo John Shiota (Emmy award-winning Producer), President and CEO of Polygon Pictures, who will reflect on the 40-year journey of his studio, which has become a global leader in animation.

Here’s a look at some of the speakers you can expect

LAVINA RAMKISSOON RAO

#aiMOM | Full Stack Human | Influential Figure
With numerous accolades under her belt, Lavina’s leadership and dedication to responsible AI development have earned her the title “#aiMOM.”

Talk: An Optimistic Future with AI

Yvonne
Muinde

Fine Artist, Muralist, and Visual Effects Artist
From stunning murals to award-winning VFX work on blockbusters like Avatar, Yvonne’s journey is a testament to creativity and excellence.

Talk: Digital Matte Painting in the Age of AI

Greg
Gray

Director at Romance Films
South Africa’s most-awarded commercial director, Greg’s career is marked by numerous accolades, including a Loeries Lifetime Achievement Award and being named one of BESTADSONTV’s Top 20 Directors Worldwide.

Talk: Directing for Story & Character

VAIBHAV
KUMARESH

Founder and Director of Vaibhav Studios
Vaibhav is an International Emmy-nominated animation filmmaker and the creative genius behind some of India’s most beloved animated content!

Talk: Creating Your Own Animation IP

ELLEN
POON

Visual Effects Supervisor and Producer
Her body of work speaks for itself but her filmography includes VFX on Shrek, Mars Attacks!, Wild Wild West and Animation on films like Zootopia, Moana and Disclosure.

Talk: Bringing Imaginary Worlds to Life: The Art and Science of Animation and Visual Effects

DALE
NEWTON

Animation Supervisor at Framestore
Dale has brought his design and illustration talents to some of our Favs: ‘Tale of The Three Brothers’ sequence in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Gravity, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Beauty and the Beast.

Talk: An Animation Perspective: Creating an Oompa Loompa

SHUZO JOHN
SHIOTA

President and CEO of Polygon Pictures
Shuzo is a bi-cultural, award-winning producer with multiple Emmy Awards and prestigious roles as a juror at top film festivals, Shuzo’s influence in animation is unparalleled.

Talk: 40 years (and counting) of Polygon Pictures

CHOCOLATE
TRIBE

Chief Executive Officer Rob van den Bragt and Chief Technical Director Tiaan Franken
Tiaan has over 20 years of experience in the animation and VFX industry and Rob is a VFX Supervisor and Animation Director with over 28 years of experience. They are the team behind Savage Beauty, Queen Sono and iNumber Number with its first CGI-created creature to come from South Africa in a Netflix feature.

Talk: The Technical Behind VFX and Animation

The Women’s Summit at AVIJOZI 2024, spearheaded by the AVIJOZI Festival Director and CEO of Chocolate Tribe, Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt, is a 3-hour event dedicated to fostering collaboration and empowerment among women in the creative industries. With Nosipho’s vision driving the program, the summit will explore themes like “We Are Who We’ve Been Waiting For” and “Collaboration, Not Competition,” offering a space for women to connect and build supportive networks. “This summit is about creating a strong thought leadership and a think tank of women, so when opportunities arise, we have each other’s support,” says Nosipho. The event also invites male allies, aiming for inclusive dialogue while ensuring women feel empowered to speak freely.

The festival also features a deep dive into gaming’s intersection with animation, through the Gaming Expo and Xbox talks, as well as a session on intellectual property law by PRIMEDIA’s IP lawyer, providing some legal insights for commercial creatives. 

“The venue itself is a highlight (Summer Place in Hyde Park)—aspirational and glamorous, it’s designed to make every artist feel valued and validated,” says Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt, adding, “With Netflix, Chocolate Tribe and PRIMEDIA, as our top funders, AVIJOZI 2024 is set to be an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a creative looking to expand your horizons, this is the event of the year.”

Don’t miss out – head to the AVIJOZI website, find the full schedule here and get your FREE TICKET NOW!

Did we mention tickets are FREE!

Contact Chocolate Tribe

MD: Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt
info@chocolatetribe.co.za
011 327 6346

View Website

Produced by the IDIDTHAT Content Studio – Credits: Anne Hirsch (Writer) / Julie Maunder

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