Maria Elena Gutierrez, CEO, View Conference

An English speaking event, VIEW Conference 2024 takes place in Turin, Italy, from October 13-18, 2024.

Q&A with Maria Elena Gutierrez, CEO, View Conference

Meet Maria Elena Gutierrez, CEO, View Conference

An English speaking event, VIEW Conference 2024 takes place in Turin, Italy, from October 13-18, 2024. The conference brings together industry professionals, thought leaders, students and enthusiasts not only to share and celebrate the latest achievements in Animation, VFX and Games, but also to share their visions of the future. The conference’s vibrant and inclusive atmosphere is designed to enlighten and inspire, with an extensive live program of talks, presentations, workshops and masterclasses embracing cutting-edge thinking on such diverse topics as Storytelling, Virtual Production, Computer Graphics, Interactive & Immersive Media, VR/AR/Mixed Reality and the Metaverse, Artificial Intelligence, Real-Time Rendering and much, much more. Join us to meet with industry leaders and mentors, and learn from the best.

Q: VIEW Conference has convened leaders and emerging talent across Animation, VFX, Games, AI, AR, VR, XR, MR, Virtual Production, Metaverse, storytelling and immersive media for nearly 25 years - what are the biggest changes you have seen over the last two decades?

Twenty years feels like a long time! In 2003, the biggest films of the year included the first “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, the final installment of “The Lord of the Rings,” and Pixar’s fifth animated feature “Finding Nemo.” YouTube didn’t exist, artificial intelligence was just a plot element in “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,” and the first iPhone wouldn’t be launched for another four years.

Since then, we’ve seen AI begin its rise in the real world, with all the accompanying excitement and fear. We’ve seen the rise of the superhero movie – and perhaps the first hints of its fall. We’ve seen the spectacular rise of animation as a truly mature art form, giving us access to an extraordinary variety of animated films and TV shows from studios in all corners of the world, using innovative new techniques, telling inspiring stories rooted in cultures so diverse it takes your breath away.

We’ve also lived through a global pandemic. COVID has fundamentally changed everything, from how the creative industries operate, to how we consume content. Globally networked teams of home-workers collaborate on shows and movies that are filmed in virtual production environments, with VFX rendered in real-time using cloud-based services, to be streamed into our homes via the internet.

So many changes. Some have isolated us physically as human beings. Others have brought us closer together than ever before. Just imagine what the next twenty years will bring!

Q: What was the genesis for VIEW Conference?

The seed that grew into VIEW Conference was an annual event called “Virtuality,” which first launched in 1999. It brought together Italian creatives and technologists who had worked abroad in animation and VFX, and gave them a platform to share their experiences and successes.

When I took over as conference director in 2005, we opened it up and created VIEW Conference, an international event designed to showcase all the new trends and the very best achievements in animation, VFX and games. I am delighted, and humbled, that VIEW Conference is now recognized as a major force in the industry, and that it attracts award-winning speakers from around the world. Our global network continues to expand year on year and, as we look forward to VIEW Conference 2024, our 25th anniversary edition, I am proud to say that the best is yet to come!

We’ve seen the spectacular rise of animation as a truly mature art form, giving us access to an extraordinary variety of animated films and TV shows from studios in all corners of the world.

Maria Elena Gutierrez, CEO, View Conference

Q: What 3 pieces were among some of your favorite work from 2023?

Oh, what an impossible question! For every one piece I pick, there are a dozen more that are equally worthy. Ask me again tomorrow, and I’ll probably have changed my mind! If you really want me to choose, here is a very personal selection from the countless fabulous contenders.

From the world of animated features, I cried buckets while enjoying “Nimona,” “Elemental,” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” As for VFX, I was blown away by what I saw while watching “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3.”

Q: This past edition wrapped up this past October. As a platform where visions of the future of these industries are shared, debated and highlighted – what were the key themes for 2023?

VIEW Conference 2023 boasted one of the most wide-ranging and integrated programs we have ever had. With multiple themed threads running concurrently, our stage was filled with Oscar-winning filmmakers, visionary thinkers and world-beating artists. Our range of panels covered everything from AI to sustainability, diversity and the future of storytelling. Our professional sessions tackled the latest business trends, while our educational strand inspired and informed students. All this was accompanied by a spectacular series of deep-dive workshops, plus exclusive product launches including Pixar’s RenderMan 26, and the newest innovations from Wacom, Chaos and Amazon Web Services.

We also presented exclusive premiere events for some of the year’s biggest animated features – unreleased at the time of the conference – including Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wish,” Universal Pictures’ “Migration,” Netflix/Aardman’s “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” and Universal/DreamWorks’ “Trolls Band Together.”

I must add that VIEW Conference 2023 was made possible with the support from Fondazione CRT and Fondazione Sviluppo e Crescita, Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo, Regione Piemonte, Camera di Commercio di Torino, AMD, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Lenovo and Nvidia, Wacom, Netflix and RenderMan, Axis, Accenture, Chaos, School of Visual Arts, Sony Pictures Animation and Imageworks, SideFX and Iren.

Q: The Collision Awards share a similar mission to discover, spotlight and recognize the very best working across animation and motion design from across the globe. As a founding partner, what are you most excited to see in our inaugural year?

I am so excited to have this opportunity to be part of the Collision Awards. It is truly a wonderful mission – to honor excellence in animation and motion design. I am ready to be wowed, and I cannot wait to see what falls under its spotlight.