Both! Definitely both. The grass roots idea behind AVIJOZI is to promote and grow our industry by connecting the local and international industry, and we believe the only way to do this is to bring the veterans, financiers, business owners, young professionals, students, enthusiasts, and government to one place. AVIJOZI promotes growth, learning, sharing, and being inspired to push each other higher.

AVIJOZI was conceptualised in 2021, by Nosipho Maketo van den Bragt from Chocolate Tribe. The event within a year saw it’s first edition in 2022. We are super excited to host with our trusty event partners, such as NETFLIX, this year’s 3rd AVIJOZI.

Registering for AVIJOZI offers you several benefits such as:

1. Limited Space: Registration is essential to ensure we can accommodate all attendees and provide you with the best possible experience.
2. Guaranteed Attendance: By registering, you reserve your space at the festival, ensuring that you won’t miss out on any of the valuable content and opportunities available.
3. Access to Exclusive Content: AVIJOZI provides access to expert speakers, industry leaders, and thought-provoking sessions. By registering, you gain entry to a wealth of knowledge and insights that can help you grow personally and professionally.
4. Stay Informed: By registering, you’ll receive timely updates and information about the event, including any changes to the schedule, additional speakers, or exclusive resources. This ensures you stay up-to-date and fully informed about all the exciting aspects of the event.
5. Participate in Q&A Sessions: Registering for AVIJOZI allows you to actively engage in Q&A sessions with speakers and experts. This provides a unique opportunity to have your questions answered directly and gain deeper insights into the topics that matter to you.

Networking is very important in any industry, as it can lead to job opportunities, collaborations, and other professional connections. Attending industry events, joining professional organizations, and maintaining a strong online presence can all help with networking in your industry. Most importantly, networking can re-energize you tremendously and inspire you to push yourself further.

There are countless of opportunities in our industry. Potential career paths include working as an animator, storyboard artist, character designer, visual effects artist, pipeline programmer, software developer, research and development, motion graphics artist, modeler, producer, director, camera man, director of photography, production designer, script writer, game designer, sales person, on-set VFX supervisor, drone operator, stunt person, special effects specialist, precision driver, marketing, AI developer, etc… Our industry is always evolving, so new skills are needed continuously.

Art: Drawing, painting, and other visual arts courses can help you develop your creativity. Animation involves working with software and computer programs, so a background in computer science can be advantageous. Mathematics: Visual Effects, Animation and game making requires mathematical skills to create graphics, calculate movement and timing, and create 3D models. If this isn’t for you, that’s okay, other skills such as people, sales, financial and writing skills all greatly help you in your career.

There are many software programs used for animation and VFX, including Adobe After Effects, Autodesk Maya, Houdini, Nuke, Blender, Toon Boom, Photoshop, Resolve Studio, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Mari, Unreal Engine, and Cinema 4D. Not to mention the next-gen AI supported tools.

The future of interactive technology is likely to include more advanced artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and continued integration of technology into all aspects of our lives. It is also likely to include ongoing discussions about how to balance the benefits and drawbacks of interactive technology.