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An all-star roster of acclaimed international animators and filmmakers visited ȫ���Ʊ (ȫ���Ʊ) this fall as part of the first-ever Canadian edition of the International Latin American Animation Festival.

The event gave students, staff, faculty and the public rare, intimate access to some of animation’s most vibrant creators through workshops and screenings highlighting the range and power of animation as an art form.

“The students were so excited,” says Adriana Jaroszewicz, Assistant Dean of 2D + Experimental Animation and 3D Computer Animation at ȫ���Ʊ. “Working side-by-side with these artists hearing from the directors about their careers was inspiring. Students got to see these figures are not on a pedestal. They’re working humans trying to bring their stories to the table.”

Since 2011, Chilemonos has promoted and developed the visibility and vitality of Chilean and Latin American animation worldwide. Chilemonos 2024 advanced this mission by linking Latin American culture with the vibrant Canadian animation community.

“We come together in a single spirit, embracing our America from its extreme north to the south, from Canada to Chile,” says Chilemonos director Margarita Cid Lizondo. “We fulfil our fundamental objective: to initiate the construction of a cultural and creative bridge that connects our identities and talents through animation.”

In addition to events at ȫ���Ʊ, the festival brought screenings, exhibitions, workshops, and conferences to venues including the VIFF Centre, The Cinematheque, The Norm Theatre at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and UBC Robson Square.

“Chilemonos in Vancouver allowed the public to get to know the cultural diversity of the region — our stories, our characters, what makes us laugh, what scares us, what makes us uncomfortable and what we love,” says Chilemonos director Erwin Gómez.

At ȫ���Ʊ, events included a screening and Q&A with Oscar-winning director and Oscar-nominated director ; a stop-motion animation workshop with award-winning animators and ; and a masterclass with legendary animation auteur Shin'ichirō Watanabe, whose credits include iconic titles such as Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, and Space Dandy.

The events dovetailed with the aims of ȫ���Ʊ’s two industry-leading animation programs. The 2D + Experimental Animation explores both traditional and experimental animation techniques, while the 3D Computer Animation program focuses on learning digital tools to create immersive worlds and characters. Both programs emphasize storytelling, technical skills and interdisciplinary collaboration to prepare students for careers in film, gaming and beyond.

Adriana says the Chilemonos festival exposed Vancouver audiences and the ȫ���Ʊ community not only to artistry of the highest calibre but also to storytelling that reflects personal experiences of numerous challenging histories. For instance, Gabriel Osorio’s Oscar-winning Bear Story is inspired by his grandfather’s imprisonment and exile following the Chilean coup d’état of 1973.

“These are challenging themes to engage with,” Adriana says. “Animation offers an accessible way to explore them. The medium is, in a way, secondary to the director’s project of delivering a powerful story that audiences can relate to.”

Hearing directly from creators about this process — and seeing how they bring these stories to life — underscores the feasibility of building a meaningful, thrilling and fulfilling life as an animator.

“Students got to see that these careers are not unreachable,” Adriana says. “An event like this gives students a different lens to view their education. They get to see how they can make choices that advance their career while also creating stories that matter to them personally. I’m tremendously grateful to everyone at Chilemonos for giving us this opportunity.”