Suzhou Industrial Park April 16th-19th 2009

Meet some of the world’s best animation industry experts and a ‘who’s who’ of the China animation industry in Suzhou.

Following the great success of the first Suzhou Lab, we are proud to announce the second Suzhou “Wealth of Animation” in mid-April.

The first Lab brought together some of the world’s great creative talent and business executives together with a ‘who’s who’ of the China animation industries and this year’s event will undoubtedly do the same. It’s your chance to insert yourself right into the middle of the many opportunities for outsourcing, licensing, international distribution, and co-production in the world’s fastest growing animation industry.

The Keynote Conference Day focuses on four themes: Animation Industry Development; International Business Opportunities; Licensing and Merchandising IP; and Creativity and Technologies and Skills.

The Business Matching Day focuses on you.  It’s your opportunity to meet up with the animation industry experts, directly discuss your own animation ideas, network yourself right into the heart of the China animation industry, and explore business matching and partnerships with the other international participants at the Lab.

International Mentors include:

• John Stevenson - Director of ‘Kung Fu Panda’ (San Francisco, Los Angeles)
• Zareh Nalbandian - Founder and CEO of Animal Logic (‘Happy Feet’) (Sydney)
• Eric Rollman - President of Marvel Animation (Los Angeles)
• Yaosh Ho - Director of Worldwide Digital Media, MGM (Los Angeles)
• Mark Ollila - Director, Publishing, Games, Services, Nokia (Helsinki)
• Linda Steiner -Senior Vice President of Creative Affairs at Warner Bros Animation (Los Angeles)
• Eric Calderon - Founder and President at Wild Boar Media (Los Angeles)
• Heather Kenyon - Heather Kenyon and Associates; formerly Director of Development, Original Animation at Cartoon Network (Los Angeles)
• Ming Chan - Founder and CEO at The1stMovement (Pasadena, Denver)
• Si-Bum Kim - Founder and CEO at Characterline (Seoul)
• Antti Haikala - Co-Founder, Anima Vitae Studios (Helsinki)
• Dr Leon Xiao - Professor and Vice Dean, School of the Arts & Communication, Beijing Normal University (Beijing)
• Ashish S.K - CEO, BIG Animation India (Pune)
• Mike Cowap - Development Manager, Screen Australia (Melbourne)
• Asenath Wald - Head of 3D for the Oscar nominated film “Waltz with Bashir” (Jerusalem)
• Anand Gurnani - Co-founder and CEO, Animation Xpress (Mumbai)
• Tatiana Kober - President, Berjuba! Entertainment (Toronto, Los Angeles)

The city of Suzhou (1 hour north of Shanghai) is exemplary of the ‘New China’. It combines the allure and culture of traditional Chinese gardens and architecture with contemporary post-modern 5-star hotels, world-class infrastructure, and strong government support for the Creative Industries.