Spider-Man director and Shrek producer to attend CT Animation Fest

The CTIAF presents a wide range of content, from animated films to insightful talks, workshops and masterclasses as well as a platform to engage with global industry leaders. The festival also hosts business-to-business sessions, producer events, networking opportunities and government panel discussions in addition to student competitions, a family programme and an outreach initiative.

Warner is a writer and Academy Award-winning producer of the Shrek franchise. He also produced the critically-acclaimed animated feature The Book of Life. Currently, Warner is developing a number of projects with Sony Pictures Animation.

Two global leaders

Ramsey is the Academy Award-nominated director of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which was released in December 2018 by Sony Pictures Animation and was announced as the winner of the 2019 Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film. Additionally, the film has taken home the following awards for Best Animated Film: the Critics’ Choice, the Los Angeles Film Critics Circle, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Producers Guild of America and the Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society.

Warner previously held the post of vice president of production at Twentieth Century Fox, where he supervised production on such films as Independence Day, The Ice Storm, The Crucible, Alien: Resurrection, Volcano and the number two blockbuster of all time, Titanic.

Aron Warner, Peter Ramsey

Ramsey began his career as a storyboard artist on a notable number of live action feature films, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Boyz n the Hood, Minority Report, Being John Malkovich, Fight Club,and Ang Lee’s Hulk, among many others.  He served as second unit director on live action feature films including Tank Girl and Godzilla.

Making a transition to the world of feature animation, he joined Dreamworks Animation as a story artist on Shrek 3, and head of story on Monsters vs. Aliens. He went on to direct the Monsters vs. Aliens TV special Mutant Pumpkins From Outer Space! after which he directed the 2012 feature film Rise of the Guardians, starring Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law and Hugh Jackman.

“We are honoured that these two global leaders will be joining us at this year’s festival. We are extremely grateful to Sony Pictures Animation for their support in making this happen,” says festival Director Dianne Makings. “Aron will be sharing his immense experience and insights into the global animation industry and discussing the current trends.

“The festival is committed to promoting and celebrating transformation in the animation sector. Peter, who was the first African-American director of an animated feature film for a major studio withRise of the Guardians and the first African-American director to be nominated or an Oscar in the Best Animated Feature category will be exploring the topic of diversity in the industry in his talks.”

The full CTIAF programme of films, speakers and workshops will include internationally acclaimed films, such as African premieres of Mamoru Hosoda’s Golden Globe-nominated Mirai as well as Makoto Shinkai’s romantic fantasy drama Your Name. Also premiering, hot off its debut on BBC One on Christmas Day, is Magic Light Pictures’ Zog, directed by Academy Award-nominated director Max Lang and adapted from the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

Visit www.ctiaf.com for the full programme details.

Bookings may be made through Webtickets www.webtickets.co.za.