Now in its 11th year, 2014’s edition of The Animation Conference (TAC) is set to take place from September 17 to 19 at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in the Canadian capital of Ottawa.

The annual event brings broadcasters and producers together to find the next big thing in animation. It has also become an important place for Canadian animators to sell their projects to a broader market.

TAC runs alongside the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), North America’s biggest animation event that attracts more than 25,000 participants, including animators and creators from across the globe.

TAC’s 2014 program will focus on content creation and examining the connections between the artistic and business sectors. The conference includes face-to-face business time, industry panels, one-on-one talks and pitching opportunities.

One of the highlighted sessions for attending producers is Fast Track, a speed-pitching event where participants have the opportunity to meet privately with dozens of high-level execs in one shot. Close to 40 major companies, including Cartoon Network, CBC, Corus Entertainment, PBS and Teletoon, will be in attendance.

Other key events include the Art+Biz day, providing a forum for filmmakers to connect with industry professionals, and featuring a keynote by SpongeBob SquarePants creative director Vincent Waller.