MIA Animation Executive director Debra Pierce with Founder and Creative Director Mauricio Ferrazza“The Future, for tomorrow, belongs to those who prepare for it today.” This line is embedded in the web site of the third annual MIA Animation Conference and Festival slated for October 19th and 20th at a downtown Miami’s Wolfson Campus, Miami-Dade College. There are August and September Call For Submission deadlines for budding and already bloomed filmmakers to seriously consider. In the illustrious words of Steven Spielberg, “Well, luckily with animation, fantasy is your friend.” So all that wool-gathering you’ve been indulging in can be justified...but ya gotta follow it up with some product and this is a not to be missed opportunity with legs. Conference attendee Natasha Kopp, Line Producer, Disney TV Animation deems MIA Animation conference as “ the gateway to exposure, experience and expertise in the animation industry.”

MIA Animation Founder and Creative Director Mauricio Ferrazza is an energetic dynamo of positivity, working tirelessly to bring the animation industry focus to Miami, enhancing not only our town but more importantly connecting a new generation of film makers with jobs, a career, a future. Competently aided by Executive Director Debra Pierce and now, (Art Institute of Ft Lauderdale faculty) Paula Gillam as head of Social Media, I have watched Ferrazza’s vision gain steam and prestige from right out of the gate. Because of Mauricio’s background he is able to draw some impressive names to Miami; I suppose you’ve heard of Disney, Cartoon Network, Microsoft Studios.