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The newest panel at the festival: the Animation Panel. Attendees gathered for Charise Castro Smith – Co-Writer/Co-Director (ENCANTO), Charlotte De Le Gournerie – Producer (FLEE), Enrico Casarosa – Co-Writer/Director (LUCA) Mike Rianda – Co-Writer/Co-Director (THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES), Don Hall – Co-Director (RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON) in conversation, led by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.

Some highlights from the conversation included:

• Mike Rianda on the styles shown in The Mitchell’s vs The Machine: “There’s both an organic and realistic style shown, and it was important that we intertwined the two together to make the story unique and relatable.”
• Don Hall on the themes of trust and mistrust in Raya and the Last Dragon: “Raya’s story is rooted in guilt, grief and her loss of trust in people from the betrayal she experienced in her early life. It was important to carry this through the use of the cinematography by opening up to a variety of shots which included wide lenses and longer lenses to help guide the audience through this narrative.” 
• Charlotte De La Gournerie on the subject matter in Flee: “It’s important that animation can go beyond just a story for children. It can achieve so much more in storytelling when the topic matter is as topical as the one told in this story.”
• Charise Castro Smith on the importance of showing representation on screen in Encanto: “Despite Encanto being considered by many to be a “children's movie,” its effect and core message touches on universal themes. There is a greater impact on minority viewers, and marks a before and after in the way animated movies regard representation in their films.”
• Enrico Casarosa on the visual inspiration for Luca: “It was important that the visual journey was captured through the various Italian influences and summers from the 50s and 60s.”

The newest panel at the festival: the Animation Panel. Attendees gathered for Charise Castro Smith – Co-Writer/Co-Director (ENCANTO), Charlotte De Le Gournerie – Producer (FLEE), Enrico Casarosa – Co-Writer/Director (LUCA) Mike Rianda – Co-Writer/Co-Director (THE MITCHELLS VS. THE MACHINES), Don Hall – Co-Director (RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON) in conversation, led by SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling.

Some highlights from the conversation included:

• Mike Rianda on the styles shown in The Mitchell’s vs The Machine: “There’s both an organic and realistic style shown, and it was important that we intertwined the two together to make the story unique and relatable.”
• Don Hall on the themes of trust and mistrust in Raya and the Last Dragon: “Raya’s story is rooted in guilt, grief and her loss of trust in people from the betrayal she experienced in her early life. It was important to carry this through the use of the cinematography by opening up to a variety of shots which included wide lenses and longer lenses to help guide the audience through this narrative.” 
• Charlotte De La Gournerie on the subject matter in Flee: “It’s important that animation can go beyond just a story for children. It can achieve so much more in storytelling when the topic matter is as topical as the one told in this story.”
• Charise Castro Smith on the importance of showing representation on screen in Encanto: “Despite Encanto being considered by many to be a “children's movie,” its effect and core message touches on universal themes. There is a greater impact on minority viewers, and marks a before and after in the way animated movies regard representation in their films.”
• Enrico Casarosa on the visual inspiration for Luca: “It was important that the visual journey was captured through the various Italian influences and summers from the 50s and 60s.”