Philippine International Comics Online Festival
September 1-3 & 8-10, 2023
via Zoom
The Philippine International Comics Festival (PICOF2023) is organized by Komiket and supported by the Department of Information and Communications Technology – DICT, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, The Comics Cube, Tahanan Books, Kahel Press, Difference Engine, Lakes International Comic Art Festival, Belgian Comic Strip Center, Perth Comic Arts Festival, Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines, and Grafixx.
FREE REGISTRATION HERE: bit.ly/PICOF2023
SUPPORT FILIPINO KOMIKS, BUY HERE: bit.ly/komiketbookstore
September 1, Friday
9AM
PICOF Festival Opening with Festival Director Paolo Herras and the Indie Komiks Podcast! Remembering the past 3 years, updates on PICOF today, and announcing the PICOF Official Selection Batch4!
10AM
“Storytelling with and without Collaborators” by Gene Ha (USA)
Gene Ha is the artist on Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons Vol 2 with writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, from DC Comics. He has won four Eisner awards for his art including Alan Moore’s Top 10 and sundry Marvel & DC superhero comics. Gene also writes and draws Mae from Oni Press. The story of Mae Fortell, a girl who follows her long missing sister Abbie to a world of mad science and mystery. Gene lives outside Chicago in Berwyn, IL with his lovely wife Lisa.
1PM
“Creating Diversity and Inclusion in Books” with Och Gonzalez, Bambi A. Rodriguez, Bambi Eloriaga-Amago, and Divine Gil-Reyes (Philippines)
How do we introduce a diverse world to children? What can inclusion look like in stories? Learn from our panel of authors whose books champion diversity and inclusion.
5PM
“Belgian Comic Art Museum and international cooperation” by Belinda Billen (Belgium)
Presentation of the Comic Art Museum located in Brussels, in the center of Europe : exhibitions and collections, conservation, events, education and international cooperation are the topics that will be open for discussion.
September 2, Saturday
10AM
“Writing for Corporate, Writing for Yourself” with Gene Ha, Moderated by Duy Tano of The Comics Cube
Geoffrey Thorne is the writer/Creator of MOSAIC for Marvel Comics and the writer behind the transformation of DC Comics’ John Stewart from Green Lantern to Emerald Knight. He was also the head writer and Showrunner of Marvel’s Black Panther’s Quest as well as a writer, producer and co-executive producer on such hit series as LEVERAGE, LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT and POWER: BOOK II: GHOST. He is the executive producer of the hit audio drama podcast, DREAMNASIUM and REDJACK: the Animated Shorts on YOUTUBE.
1PM
“Artists Curating International Events For Artists: Ephameron at Grafixx” (Belgium) Moderated by Nicolas Verstappen (Thailand)
Since 2012, the Antwerp-based team at Grafixx has been organising cultural events promoting independent comics, illustration and graphic arts. Artists from all over the world inspire a diverse audience with live performances, lectures, exhibitions, workshops, a zine fest with small press publications, screenings, artist residencies, murals and a radio show. At the heart of it all, artistic director and author Ephameron wants to facilitate a network of creatives all around the world. Moderated by: Nicolas Verstappen, lecturer at the Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University.
5PM
“Making an Exhibition of Themselves: What Are Comics Doing in Museums?” by Paul Gravett
We know there are specialist comics museums around the world, but what happens when comics are invited to enter the wider museum world of art museums, other kinds as well? Paul Gravett explores this phenomenon.
September 3, Sunday
10AM
From Idea to Page: How to Write Your First Graphic Novel with RH Quilantang (Philippines)
Join us for an exciting webinar on the process of writing a graphic novel and world building. In this webinar, you will learn how to create compelling characters, plotlines, and settings that will keep your readers engaged. You will also learn how to develop your own unique style and voice as a writer. Whether you’re an aspiring graphic novelist or an experienced writer looking to hone your craft, this webinar is for you!
1PM
Visual Versatility: Unique Worlds in Comics with Wayne Rée (Worklife Balance), Nadhir Nor (Afterlife), Kifurai (Two Tails), Moderated by Shreya Davies.
Captivating tales await! Delve into realms where Ba Jiao Guis and Mananggals are your colleagues at work, a spirit keeper finds his long-lost love in the afterlife, and a cat with two tails dislikes animals.
Join creators, Wayne Rée, Nadhir Nor and Kiana Fedly, and find out more about the creative choices they made to develop in-depth worlds that combine text and visual storytelling. They will discuss their approaches to world-building, incorporating their lived experiences and environments.
5PM
“Comics–The Common Language” by Jonathan Scott (UK)
A journey through how a love of the art form transformed into a career about common connections.
September 8, Friday
10AM
Crossing Comics and Other Media with Jimmy Palmiotti (USA), Moderated by Duy Tano (Philippines).
Jimmy Palmiotti has been a writer, an inker, an editor, a publisher, and more in the comics industry. Duy Tano of The Comics Cube sits down with him to talk about the different hats he wears.
1PM
‘Webtoon IP Business: Now and Future by Ryu Junghye, VP of Business, Kakao Entertainment (Korea)
Want to create your own webtoon? Learn from Vice President Jeonghye Ryu herself! Graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in anthropology, she started her career in the IT industry when she joined Freechal in 2000. Later, she worked as a team manager at Naver and at NHN, and served as chief marketing officer at Toss Lab. She is now VP of Business Division and the chief marketing officer at Kakao Page, where, under the auspices of the “New CEO Vision Office”, she is implementing and leading various Kakao Entertainment marketing strategies for the “Story” business unit.
5PM
The Power of Comics by Karrie Fransman (UK)
A journey through how a love of the art form transformed into a career about common connections.
September 9, Saturday
10AM
“Illustrating for Children” with Liza Flores (Philippines)
What is a picture book? How is it made?
Discover the world of Philippine children’s books, and glimpse into the steps that bring a picture book to life.
1PM
“Finding Stories: How to make eye-catching webtoons” by Kim Yangsu (Korea)
Kim Yangsu published his webtoon “My Lawer, Mr. Joe” in 2013. It’s the first courtroom drama in Korean cartoon industry. “My Lawer, Mr. Joe” was adapted as K-drama in 2016(season 1) and in 2019(season 2). Kim Yangsu also published “Designer” in 2018, which is a first sports drug use material in the Korean cartoon industry, and will be adapted as a K-drama in one of the OTT platforms.
5PM
“HAGOD: The Filipino School of Brush Illustrations For Komiks” by Randy Valiente (Philippines)
The story of the brush techniques of the Philippine komiks masters and how it became the driving force to become the ‘Filipino school’ of comics illustrations.
September 10, Sunday
10AM
“The Perth Comic Arts Festival (PCAF!)” with Kristina Turner, Soolagna Majumdar (Australia)
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to create a community for comic makers and enthusiasts? In one of the world’s most isolated cities? Settle in and have a yarn with Kristina and Soolagna from the Perth Comic Arts Festival committee!
1PM
“MORE SOUTHEAST ASIAN COMICS!” with CT Lim (Singapore), Wooh Hmo (Myanmar), Ping Sasinan (Thailand) and Sam (Singapore)
PICOF has prided itself on shining a spotlight on Southeast Asian comics creators and we have covered Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines in the past. This year, we return to Thailand and add Myanmar to the list and we will be chatting with two exciting artists about their works.
5PM
“#PICOF2023 Festival Closing and #PICOF2024 Announcements” by PICOF Festival Director Paolo Herras and Indie Komiks Podcast (Philippines)
