The biennial KingstOOn Animation and Film Festival is gearing up to go virtual in 2021, with a new online platform and a focus on diversity in the works.
The live festival is traditionally hosted every other year in Kingston, Jamaica and highlights creators and content from the Caribbean. In 2019, KingstOOn attracted more than 3,000 attendees and nearly 2,000 competition submissions from 100-plus countries.
Taking place from April 21 to 25, this year’s virtual event will focus on gender equality and inclusion more generally, with a program featuring presentations, master classes, business matchmaking, networking opportunities and a digital in-booth expo.
Submissions for the 2021 screening competition are open until February 22. ListenMi Caribbean, a winner in 2019, went on to secure a contract to create a live-action short film for Sesame Street‘s 50th-season celebration.
A number of other upcoming industry events have been forced to change plans in the face of lockdowns and closures related to the pandemic, although the Global Licensing Group recently announced its intention to host both Licensing Expo and Brand Licensing Europe as live events in 2021.