Voices Magazine Vol3-Issue 1

VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica | April - June 2019 12 Mrs. Galina Sotirova (2nd left), World Bank Country Manager for Jamaica presents Professor Stephen Vasciannie, President, University of Technology, Jamaica with a gift bag at the Opening Ceremony of the 3rd KingstOOn Animation Conference and Afro-descendant Film Festival held Friday, April 5, 2019 at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium, University of Technology, Jamaica, Papine Campus. Sharing in the presentation from left are Miss Karlene Francis, Operations Officer, World Bank Group and Ms. Nadine Maitland, Programme Director, B.Sc. in Animation Production and Development, School of Computing and Information Technology, UTech, Jamaica. T he University of Technology, Jamaica successfully hosted the 3rd KingstOOn Animation Conference and Afro-descendant Film Festival from April 5 – 7, 2019 at the Papine Campus. The international animation conference which was organised by the Office of the Prime Minister in collaboration with the World Bank and UTech, Jamaica, was held under the theme; “Learn, Earn and Display.” It brought together hundreds of animators and associated professionals, regional, local and international industry leaders and students from to showcase their talent and creativity. Participants came from as far as Cameroon, Thailand, France, Germany, the USA and Canada. At the Opening Ceremony held on Friday, April 5, 2019 at the Alfred Sangster Auditorium, Senator the Honourable Pearnel Charles Jr., Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation in the keynote address said that Jamaica is well poised to benefit from the lucrative global animation industry. He noted that, “while we still have some way to go, Jamaica has been steadily advancing to claim a stake in this US$259 billion, industry,” adding that, “by 2020, this is projected to clear US$270 billion.” Other speakers at the Opening Ceremony included Professor Stephen Vasciannie, President, UTech, Jamaica, Mrs. Galina Sotirova, World Bank Country Manager for Jamaica, Mrs. Jacqueline Lynch-Stewart, Office of the Prime Minister and Mr Denzil Thorpe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport who represented Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange. During the three-day festival, participants were able to view full animation features, exhibitions, presentations, storyboards, character designs, short films and participate in competitions and workshops. Exhibitors were UTech, Jamaica, UWI – Carimac, ESIROM, ListenMI, Excelsior/Anime Nerds, CPTC, WACOM, Edna Manley, Likkle Tea, VTDI, INTCOMEX, JANN, JBDC, TOON BOOM, DJ, JABLUM, MICO, CMU and COSPLAY. KingstOOn Animation Festival @ UTech, Jamaica (l-r) Dr.The Honourable Christopher Tufton, MP, Minister of Health, Professor Felix Akinladejo, Professor of Computing and Information Systems and Professor Stephen Vasciannie, , President, UTech, Jamaica in conversation at the inaugural Professorial Lecture. Students and visitors to KingstOOn interact with the animation exhibits.