Our Mission and Vision
The Philadelphia Animation Festival is dedicated to showcasing innovative and creative animations from both emerging talents and seasoned artists. Our mission is to provide a platform for independent animators to reach a wider audience and to celebrate the art of animation in its many forms.
Through this festival, we aim to connect animation enthusiasts, creators, and industry professionals. By hosting screenings, workshops, pitches, and networking events, we create a community that fosters collaboration and inspiration among all participants.
Meet the Festival Directors
Ava Haitz is a Queer, Philadelphia-based artist and educator. They create animation, sculpture, video installation, and interactive books & zines. Ava is a Zine Librarian at The Soapbox Community Print Shop and Zine Library as well as a member of The Philadelphia Animation Ensemble. Their art practice is focused on building bridges through vulnerability, encouraging play and a belief that a better world is possible.
Meaghan Dunn is a South Korean born adoptee, Philadelphia-native traditional animator who co-created the animated tv pilot ‘ A Kitty Bobo Show’ that aired on Cartoon Network. Meaghan is a multimedia instructional designer and animator teaching animation & storyboarding at Philadelphia universities.
Amy Lee Ketchum is a Philadelphia-based artist, animator, and educator. She creates poetic narratives and abstract worlds in her animations which draw from personal and collective memory, folklore, and dance. Amy is the co-founder of the Animation Ensemble, a Philadelphia collective of animators bonded by a commitment to animation as a fine art and a member of the artist-run exhibition space, Tiger Strikes Asteroid.
Meet Our Sponsors and Community Partners
Moore College of Art and Design – Main Venue Sponsor
cinéSPEAK – Producing Partner
Temple University, School of Theater, Film and Media Arts
The Animation Ensemble – Project Collaborator
Big Howl – Workshop Leaders
Mason Stitch Collective – Workshop Leaders
Project support provided by the Velocity Fund, administered by Asian
Arts Initiative, with generous funding from The Andy Warhol Foundation
for the Visual Arts
