CAFÉ is a convention that took place on May 16 and 17, 2023 at the Palais des Congrès in Montreal, Canada.
CAFÉ stands for Conferences, Animation, FX (special effects) and Expertise, and it was an opportunity to bring together visual effects and animation professionals. See the press release here.
This type of event is necessary to allow business meetings but also to allow people outside these industries to have points of contact. Indeed, students and job seekers had the opportunity to meet schools, colleges and organizations promoting education in the convention, as well as to consult many conferences throughout the two days. However, if they wanted to speak directly to animation and visual effects companies such as RodeoFX, Autodesk, Mikros, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Framestore and Cinesite, they had to be lucky, courageous or the MeetToMatch application with a Business ticket, and hope that the interlocutors of each company answer them.
This did not prevent the event from bringing together 979 participants, 60 speakers, and allowing 276 business meetings according to the official statement.
The Education Zone was represented by SYNTHÈSE – Pôle Image Québec, École NAD-UQAC, UQAT , the École supérieure en Art et technologie des médias ATM du Cégep de Jonquière, and the Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne.
At the end of the event, SYNTHÈSE offered a networking cocktail to the participants on site.
Just like E-AI for artificial intelligence or the multiple video game events we talk about throughout the year, technology industries need dialogue, communication even between competitors, because it allows them to negotiate, exchange ideas and progress. In Montreal we are fortunate to have an impressive ecosystem of technology companies, and all the initiatives and events like CAFÉ help maintain it. It is necessary that these last over the years.
