With Zoltan Batho
Producer · Virtual Production Gathering Organiser · Educator at Breda University of Applied Sciences
Virtual Production is transforming how films, TV series, animation, and games are made. From real-time rendering and LED volumes to motion capture and hybrid pipelines, VP is no longer experimental—it’s becoming industry standard.
This introductory masterclass offers a clear, practical overview of what a career in Virtual Production looks like today, and how emerging talent can realistically enter this fast-growing field.
Led by Zoltan Batho, an experienced producer, educator, and organiser within the European Virtual Production ecosystem, the session demystifies VP workflows and job roles, helping participants understand where they might fit, what skills are actually needed, and how to avoid common early-career mistakes.
Whether you come from film, animation, VFX, games, or a technical background, this session will help you map the VP landscape and identify concrete next steps.
What Virtual Production really is (and what it isn’t)
Core Virtual Production workflows and how departments intersect
Key job roles within VP teams
Essential technical, creative, and collaborative skills
Where the strongest opportunities currently are in Europe
Practical pathways into the industry for students and early-career professionals
Common misconceptions and pitfalls newcomers should avoid
Students and emerging talent in film, animation, VFX, or games
Creatives curious about real-time production workflows
Technical artists, producers, and storytellers exploring new career paths
Educators and researchers wanting a current industry overview
With Peter Fisher
Chief Technology Officer & Co-Founder, KHORA
Extended Reality (XR) has moved far beyond games and entertainment. Today, immersive technologies are reshaping sectors such as healthcare, architecture, manufacturing, education, culture, and social impact—creating new career paths for creatives, technologists, and storytellers alike.
In this masterclass, Peter Fisher, CTO and Co-Founder of KHORA, explores how XR is being applied in real-world contexts, where the market is growing fastest, and what it takes to develop meaningful, sustainable XR projects outside traditional entertainment pipelines.
Participants will gain a grounded understanding of the applied XR ecosystem, including where opportunities exist globally and how young creatives can position themselves to work on artistic, cultural, or socially impactful XR initiatives.
This session is designed to move beyond hype, offering practical insight into both the creative and commercial realities of working in applied XR today.
How XR is used across applied sectors such as healthcare, architecture, manufacturing, education, and culture
The current XR market landscape, including growth trends and industry turnover
Where in the world applied XR work is happening and why
How to realise an artistic, cultural, or applied XR project from concept to execution
Key skills, disciplines, and job roles within applied XR teams
Technical, ethical, and production challenges to be aware of
Practical next steps for getting started as a young creative or emerging professional
With Alwyn Hunt, Co-Founder, The Rookies & 3D&I
Rémy Sohier, Associate Professor, Université Paris 8
Animation is a fast-evolving and creatively rich field—but it is also highly competitive. For emerging talent, a strong portfolio and demo reel are often the single most important factor in securing internships, junior roles, or freelance opportunities.
This masterclass offers a practical, industry-informed guide to building an animation portfolio that gets noticed, grounded in a clear understanding of the current European animation market.
Led by Alwyn Hunt, Co-Founder of The Rookies, alongside Rémy Sohier, Associate Professor at Université Paris 8, the session combines real-world hiring insights with academic perspective. Participants will learn how studios evaluate portfolios today, what skills and tools are in demand, and how to position themselves strategically within the European animation ecosystem.
Beyond portfolio development, the session provides a valuable European animation market map, helping participants understand where opportunities exist, how roles differ across studios, and how to take confident first steps into professional work.
A clear overview of the European animation market and studio landscape
Understanding different animation roles and where you might fit
Core skills and tools studios expect from emerging animators
Portfolio and demo reel essentials: what to show, what to cut, and how to present your work
Common mistakes that weaken otherwise strong portfolios
Current industry insights from recruiters, studios, and educators
How to start working professionally in animation, including early career pathways
Animation students and recent graduates
Emerging animators preparing portfolios or demo reels
Creatives targeting studios or freelance work in Europe
Educators supporting students entering the animation industry
With Marian Dobrunz
Head of HR, RISE FX
Visual Effects (VFX) is one of the most technically advanced and creatively ambitious areas of the creative industries. It is also one of the most competitive and often misunderstood.
This masterclass provides a clear, honest overview of what working in VFX really looks like today, from the technologies studios expect you to know, to the skills that actually get candidates hired.
Led by Marian Dobrunz, Head of HR at RISE FX, the session offers a rare insight into the hiring perspective of a leading VFX studio. Participants will learn how studios assess talent, how to present skills effectively, and what the day-to-day reality of VFX work involves—beyond the glamour of the final images.
The session also looks ahead, exploring how the VFX job market and underlying technologies are evolving, and what this means for emerging talent entering the industry now.
What VFX really is today—and how it has changed in recent years
The core technologies and software currently used in professional VFX pipelines
The skills studios expect from junior and entry-level candidates
How to present your skills through portfolios, reels, and applications
What hiring managers look for (and common reasons applications fail)
The realities of working in VFX, including career progression and studio life
How the VFX job market and technology landscape are evolving
Students and graduates interested in VFX careers
Artists considering VFX but unsure which role fits them
Creatives preparing portfolios or demo reels for studios
Anyone seeking a realistic view of the VFX industry today
