PROGRAM

KICK OFF
PARTY
day 1
April 3rd 2025
day 2
April 4th 2025
day 3
April 5th 2025
time
topic
location
Tuesday April 1st

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm pst

Industry Kick-Off Party

(Pass-Holders Only)

Cambria
Burbank Hotel

time
MAIN STAGE 1
MAIN STAGE 2
location
THURS. APRIL 3RD

Welcome -
Rio/Keith Introduce Shawn Martinbrough
Introduce Keynote

AMC Burbank

9:00 AM - 9:55 AM

Level Up: Career Growth in Animation & Gaming

Interactive Session
(TBD)

AMC Burbank

10:00 AM - 10:55 AM

Impact of AI on The Creator Economy: The Future of Content Creation & Storytelling

Interactive Session
(TBD)

AMC Burbank

11:00 AM - 11:55 AM

Major Animation Studio Panel
 
(TBD)

AMC Burbank

12:00 PM - 12:55 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM - 1:55 PM

Major Animation Studio Panel
 
(TBD)

AMC Burbank

2:00 PM - 2:55 PM

Major Animation Studio Panel
 
(TBD)

AMC Burbank

3:00 PM - 3:55 PM

The Voices Behind Films, Series and Television Shows

Interactive Session
(TBD)

AMC Burbank

4:00 PM - 4:55 PM

The Business of Filmmaking: Landing Distribution, Co-Production & Development Deals

Interactive Session
(TBD)

AMC Burbank

5:15 PM - 7:00 PM

Private Film Marketplace Networking Reception
 
(Invite-Only)

General Networking Event

TBD

*Program is subject to change.

time
MAIN STAGE 1
MAIN STAGE 2
location
FRI. APRIL 4TH

Kickoff - Rio/Keith
Shawn Martinbrough
Introduce Key Note

AMC Burbank

KEY NOTE ADDRESS

9:00 AM - 9:55 AM

Young Creator Panel: How I Went from College to my Job in the Entertainment Industry

Interactive Session
(TBD)

AMC Burbank

10:00 AM - 10:55 AM

Chris Sanders Make of the Movie Stich

Interactive Session
(TBD)

AMC Burbank

11:00 AM - 11:55 AM

Women Leading the Future of Animation, Entertainment & Gaming

Monetizing Your Content Across Platforms To Making Money

AMC Burbank

12:00 PM - 12:55 PM

ICON AWARD LUNCHEON & TRIBUTE

  • Ayo Davis, Disney
  • Kelci Parker, Hulu
  • Lynn Southerland

Interactive Session (TBD)

TBC

1:00 PM -1:55 PM

Major Animation Studio Panel
 
(TBD)

AMC Burbank

2:00 PM -2:55 PM

Major Animation Studio Panel

(TBD)

AMC Burbank

3:00 PM -3:55 PM

The Power of Africa's Storytelling on the Global Stage

Interactive Session
(TBD)

AMC Burbank

4:00 PM -4:55 PM

ASIFA-HOLLYWOOD DISCUSSION

AMC Burbank

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Short Film & Gaming Awards

TBD

4:00 PM - 4:55 PM

Industry Networking Event

TBD

6:30 PM

7:00 PM - 9:00

Cocktail Reception

FRWD AWARDS DINNER

Castaways Restaurant, Burbank

*Program is subject to change.

CREATIVE JOB FAIR & EXPO - ALL DAY
SAT. APRIL 5TH

8:45 AM - 8:55 AM

WELCOME

CAMBRIA HOTEL, BURBANK AIRPORT

9:00 AM - 9:55 AM

Puppeteering Workshop - Cherise Sowells

CAMBRIA HOTEL, BURBANK AIRPORT

10:00 AM - 10:55 AM

Lead Character Design in Episodic Stories Workshop - Tara Nicole Whitaker & Maria Vela

CAMBRIA HOTEL, BURBANK AIRPORT

11:00 AM - 11:55 AM

Mock Writing Room Workshop - Tiffany Thomas

Interactive Session (TBD)

CAMBRIA HOTEL, BURBANK AIRPORT

12:00 PM - 12:55 PM

Lunch & 1:1 Animation Portfolio Reviews and
1:1 Level Up: Game Art Portfolio Review (RSVP)

CAMBRIA HOTEL, BURBANK AIRPORT

1:00 PM -1:55 PM

Basics of Storyboard Workshop - Creator of the Movie Stitch, Chris Sanders

CAMBRIA HOTEL, BURBANK AIRPORT

2:00 PM -2:55 PM

Pixel to Production: Animation to Gaming Workshop

CAMBRIA HOTEL, BURBANK AIRPORT

3:00 PM -3:55 PM

NEXT Top Storyboard Competition (in-Person and Live Video Streaming)
by Toon Boom

CAMBRIA HOTEL, BURBANK AIRPORT

4:00 PM - 4:55 PM

From Imagination to Reality: Character Creation, Animation, and World-Building - Daniel Johnson

CAMBRIA HOTEL, BURBANK AIRPORT