Open Menu

Coming Up: OIAF Women in the Director’s Chair Panel - Featuring Hong Qi

  • News
  • Posted by Rachel Sherman on September 23 2021




The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), one of the world’s leading animation events providing screenings, exhibits, workshops and entertainment since 1976, kicked off online yesterday. OIAF is an annual five-day event bringing art and industry together in a vibrant hub. This year the event is taking its screenings and talks online with extended dates from September 22 to October 3.

Brown Bag Film's very own director Hong Qi will be participating in the 'Women in the Director's Chair' panel, happening today at 4 PM GMT.

Hong Qi is a Toronto-based director with over 25-years of experience working in animation. Hong has a strong passion for visual storytelling, which she discovered early on in her career while employed as a traditional animator across numerous feature films, such as Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, and The Little Mermaid 2. Hong joined Brown Bag Films Toronto in 2003, where she transitioned to digital storyboarding working on multiple PBS KIDS programs, including the Daytime Emmy® Award-winning shows Peep and the Big Wide World and Peg + Cat. Most recently Hong has turned her talents towards the Annie Award-nominated series Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. In her new role as a director, Hong is excited to create stories and adventures that will inspire children around the globe. When not engaged in a world of animated adventures, Hong loves painting and gardening.

We sat down with Hong to chat about career advice, industry challenges, and learn more about what inspires her as a director. Take a read below. And make sure to tune in to today's event - details here!

What inspired you to become a director?

Growth. We all need to challenge ourselves in different ways to become a better artist.

What has been the biggest challenge as a woman in the director's chair?

A lack of mentors has been challenging. No one can get very far without the help of others.

Are there women you look up to in the industry? If so, who are they and why?

Arna Selznick, a Toronto-based director, and story artist. Her most recent work is an award-winning short film “The Most Magnificent Thing”. She has been active in the industry for nearly 40 years and has a great imaginative storytelling sense, which I am very interested in.

What would your advice be to aspiring women directors?
Connect with a trusted mentor, get inspired, set goals, take baby steps, believe in yourself, and don't give up!

Make sure to check out the Women in the Directors Chair panel and support Brown Bag's very own Hong Qi! And for a full list of event speakers and panels, check out OIAF's lineup here.


Rachel Sherman


We Love Animation®

Brown Bag Labs is an exciting online space, brought to you by Brown Bag Films. We share great content for families as well as behind the scenes fun and tutorials from the Brown Bag Films team.