Early badge pick-up
Cambria Hotel

AfroAnimation Pre Kick-Off Mixer & Networking

Cambria Hotel Rooftop Overlooking Burbank
THURS. APRIL 23RD - Registration and Doors Open at 8:30 am
Doors Open

Burbank
Welcome/Recap - Rio Cyrus/Keith White



theater 8
From Margin to Mainstream: A 70-Year Evolution of Black Trailblazers


theater 8
Burbank
We Are All Tigers - A Fireside chat with Jorge Guiterrez


theater 8
Burbank
Owning the Vision: How Creators Build and Scale IP






theater 8
Burbank

General Lunch

Invite-Only
From Creating Characters to Running the Show

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theater 8
Burbank
Masters of the Frame: Directors' Insights Behind Iconic Animation






theater 8
Burbank
Breaking In & Levelling Up:
How Voice Actors Make Real Money






theater 8
Burbank
Children's Shorts: SuperScientists: Origins; Little Stories, Big Echoes: Beads of Hope; L'Allunaggio del Lupo
General Shorts: Na Makasi: Ancestral Awakening (The Discovery); UBUNTU; Black Man, Black Man


theater 8
Burbank
Creators and Storyteller's Networking Mixer - All Pass Holders


Burbank
VIP Passholders-Only, Speakers & Sponsors Networking Mixer

FRIDAY, APRIL 24th - Doors open for seats at 8:30 AM
Doors Open

Burbank
Welcome/Recap - Rio Cyrus


theater 8
Burbank
Keynote with Kibi Anderson
Talent Isn’t Enough; Why Most Creators Lose Their Shot


theater 8
Burbank
Black Boys at the Center: Reimagining Children’s Animation





theater 8
Burbank
Ink, Identity & Impact: Women Creating Cultural Shifts in Animation





theater 8
Burbank
12:00 PM -
12:50 PM

General Lunch and Indie Producers Short Film Screening

Icon Awards Luncheon: Tiffany Navarro-Purkeypile, Shabrayia Cleaver and Rio Cyrus
VIP Passholders, Dreamworks and Laika Sponsors-Only




From Classroom to Studio:
Building the Stop Motion Pipeline


theater 8
Burbank
Inside the Producer's Role: From Weather Hunters to Family Guy, Boondocks to Hair Love


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theater 8
Burbank
Growing Your Craft: Creating Careers, Portfolios, and Community with Disney

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theater 8
Burbank
Responsible AI: What Every Creator Needs to Know Now





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theater 8
Burbank
Creators and Storyteller's Networking Mixer


FRWD Awads Reception *VIP Passholders & Sponsors-only and put LAIKA-only

SATURDAY APRIL 25th - Badge pick-up opens at the Cambria Hotel at 9:15 AM
Job Fair and Workshop Registration Opens: Coffee & Morning Network Mixer
VIP Passholders Lounge

Burbank
Finding Your Voice: The Craft of Voice Acting with Krystal Homes & Johnathan Eric Bentley


Own Your Work: IP Protection for Animators & Creators by Moorisha Bey-Taylor, Esq.


Alternative Film Distribution Playbook



Burbank
From Idea to Script to Screen: Developing your Animation Idea with Khaila Amazan


Clearing the Path: Legal Essentials for Animation

Film Tax Credits & Inside the California Film Commission



Burbank
Storyboard Competion & Throwdown: The Wacom Challenge



Lunch

Lunch

Burbank
Storyboard Competion & Throwdown: The Wacom Challenge


Inside VFX: Building Worlds Beyond the Frame


Breaking Into Streaming: The Matumbilas Journey to getting on Tubi


Burbank
Frame by Frame: Stop Motion with LAIKA

AI in Animation: Tools for the Modern Creator

The Ins & Outs of Animation Editing with Calivin O’Neal


Burbank
24 Hours Animation Contest for Students showcase

Laptop required for this workshop

Your First Job in Animation: Life as a Production Assistant Lesleigh Walker (King of the Hill), Illia Sargent -Barba (K-Pop: Demon Hunters)



Burbank
Expanding Animation Beyond Entertainment
Brought by Wacom and Black Realities with Steven Christian

AI in Animation: Tools for the Modern Creator

Storytelling at Scale: Secret Level's AI-Native Approach


Burbank
Creator's Network Mixer: All AAS2026 Passholders

Burbank
Sunday, April 26th Digital Graphic & Anime Lab badge pickup at 9:00 am
Open Registration
Coffee & Morning Network

Burbank
Controlling Light on Dark Skin:
CG Lighting & Compositing Techniques

Proof of Concept: Pitching I Licensing & IP I Honest Producer by Danny De Lillo

VIP Passholders Lounge

Burbank
Wacom Drawn Beyond Experiential Lab

The Art of Creating a Network and Net Worth


VIP Passholders Lounge

Burbank
Wacom Drawn Beyond Experiential Lab

The Power of the Studio: How creating a studio can leverage minimal resources by Ayinde Hall

Wacom Drawing Beyond Experiential Lab

Voice Over Basics from Mic to Market


Burbank
Houdini Jumpstart: 3D Artist Learn to Animate (Hand-n Workshop)
Required Laptop and 3-button Mouse




Fortnite Creative: Indie Opportunities for Game Developers


Burbank
Cosplayers Networking and Competition
$200 for best Cosplay Attire


Burbank