At GIFT Fest, we believe that young artists who are challenged to create art that is deliberately gender inclusive will learn that creating entertaining content that is a more accurate representation of our society will benefit their overall development AND make incredible art! By ensuring that girls or people who are gender nonconforming are 50% of the equation, we believe that the projects are improved. Thus, they’re “girl improved.”

What kind of content will I see?
We challenged youth ages 8-20 to create content that meets the following parameters:​

• Creative and production teams are at least 50% female or gender nonconforming;
• At least 50% of the characters in the piece are female or gender nonconforming;
• The story is centered outside the realm of romance;
• And it is ten minutes or less.

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, JUNE 22nd

• 9:30am-12:30pm PANELS
  • 9:30am-10:15am: Creating Without a Due Date
  • 10:30am-11:15am: Girl Animated – The Future of Animation 
  • 11:30am-12:15pm: Using Improvisation to Devise Your Story 

• 12:30pm-1:30pm Lunch Break
• 1:30pm-3:30pm Show Block 1
• 4:00pm-6:00pm Show Block 2
• 6:00pm-7:00pm Dinner Break
• 7:00pm-9:00pm Opening Reception | Featuring: ROOK, Jeanne Stern and more

SATURDAY, JUNE 23rd

• 9:30am-12:30pm PANELS
  • 9:30am-10:15am: Girl Fight – Adding Female Fighters to Your Story 
  • 10:30am-11:15am: Disaster Stories from the Trenches 
  • 11:30am-12:15pm: Where Are All the Girls? Roundtable Discussion 

• 12:30pm-1:30pm Lunch Break
• 1:30pm-3:30pm (Repeat) Show Block 1
• 4:00pm-6:00pm (Repeat) Show Block 2
• 6:00pm-7:00pm Dinner Break
• 7:00pm-9:00pm Awards Ceremony