Think Hot Docs is the only festival happening in Toronto this week? The exhibition portion of the Toronto Comic Arts Festival kicked off today, and if you’re looking for a great way to spend this rainy weekend, TCAF is the place to be.
Don’t expect to see any comics from the big two at TCAF though. The fest is not a comic convention in the classic sense, the focus is on independent artists, creators and small publishers of comic books and graphic novels. In addition to the hundreds of guests and exhibitors showcasing their work, TCAF also includes panels and group discussions about the independent comic scene. Guests include Paul Pope (Batman: Year 100, 100%), Jim Woodring (Frank, Jim), Evan Dorkin (Milk & Cheese), Kate Beaton (Hark! A Vagrant), Brandon Bird, the fine folks from Transmission X and many, many more.
Comic books not your thing? Not to worry, the Hand Eye Society has you covered. Hand Eye epresenting Toronto’s indie video game development community. This is a great chance to check out the latest projects from local developers GetSetGames, Spooky Squid Games, SpyeArt, Untold Entertainment Inc. and many more. You’ll also have an opportunity to try the legendary TORONTRON: a classic arcade machine that has been retrofitted to play indie games by local developers. Local game journalist Matthew Kumar will be moderating a panel called The Spirit of Indie: Where Comics Meet Video Games, exploring the convergence of the two mediums.
Scott Campbell, art director and concept artist for Double Fine (Psychonauts, Brutal Legend) will also be in attendance.
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival takes place May 8th-9th 2010 at the Toronto Reference Library. Admission is free!
For more info check out the official TCAF site or just head down to the Ref.
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