Festivus’ Community Hub FSTVS Expands With 20 New Animation Studios & Now Looks To Europe
Skwigly
Six months after its launch, fstvs.net, the online presence of FESTIVUS, has received an incredible response from the animation community: 2,400 members have now signed up, with 20 leading global animation studios on board, many already advertising their jobs on the recruitment hub.
Launched at the end of last year by Rob Doherty in response to a rising demand for focussed recruitment needs in the animation sector, FSTVS now has an active and expanding jobs board with crew roles advertised by a range of leading and award-winning international studios including: Blue Zoo, Lupus Films, Paper Owl, Lil Critter Workshop, Karrot Entertainment, Wild Child, Boulder Media, JAM, Flock, Studio AKA and Sun + Moon.
In addition to the growing recruitment hub, FSTVS is building its offering for its animation community showcasing news, upcoming training opportunities and industry podcasts, including FSTVS’ own newly launched curated ‘Executive Sessions’ podcast featuring a host of inspiring and experienced senior executives in the industry including: Animation UK’s Kate O’Connor; Available Light Productions’ Nancy Kanter; Sky’s Lucy Murphy; Cantilever Media’s Andrew Baker; Aardman’s Robin Gladman; Paramount’s Louise Bucknole; WildBrain’s Nico Lockhart, and Animation Associates’ Helen Brunsdon.
The FSTVS Executive Sessions will be followed by other FSTVS podcast series focussing on other areas of the animation industry including studio ownership, the variety and nature of roles in the animation process, and diversity in our industry.
The aim of FSTVS is simple – to help studios find crew and crew find careers and to become the online presence of the FESTIVUS event and community.
From humble beginnings in the back streets of London in the early 2000s, the FESTIVUS community has grown over 20 years, via regular in-person events and an active social media presence, to being a home for animation talent, with over 12,000 global members.
After the overwhelmingly successful launch of FSTVS in the UK, it was always the plan to bring the same ethos of community and connectivity to Europe, and beyond. After 20 years of presence within the industry FSTVS has always reached beyond the UK’s borders anyway and hosting hugely successful events at The Annecy Animation Festival has proved its value on a global stage. Community and creativity know no borders.
Rob Doherty