This year, TPC is presenting quarterly on topics relevant to Pipeline professionals. These events are virtual, with an in-person BoF and reception taking place at SIGGRAPH 2025 in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Events will be recorded if permission given, and can be found on The Pipeline Conference youtube channel.
October 2025
Thursday, October 28, 2025 from 9am – 10:30am Pacific Time
Data Analytics at Image Engine: How Do We Measure “Normal”?
Register here
via Zoom
Video will be recorded and put onto the The Pipeline Conference youtube channel
For nearly a decade Image Engine has been on a journey to become a more data assisted company. This presentation will cover that journey and discuss our implementation. We will discuss some of the pitfalls we faced and how we engaged the crew to help QC the data. How different data sources allow us to plan resources and make better decisions. We will also look at how we are expanding this process to the broader Cinesite group of companies.
Speakers
Greg Massie
As Head of CG at Image Engine, Greg Massie brings nearly 25 years of visual effects experience to his role overseeing cross-departmental workflows and guiding strategic technology decisions. He works closely with both creative and technical teams to help supervisors and project leads deliver world-class content efficiently.
Executive Host
Sarah Haynes – Director of Production, Production Management, Autodesk
Sarah Haynes brings a unique perspective to production management, combining extensive hands-on experience with strategic leadership expertise. Currently serving as Director of Product, Production Management at Autodesk, she leads product development for Flow Production Tracking, Flow Generative Scheduling, and RV.
Wednesday, October 1 from 10am – 11:30am Pacific Time
Part 2: Integrating AI / ML into VFX, Animation & Games Studio Pipelines
Video was recorded and put onto the The Pipeline Conference youtube channel
Welcome to Part 2: Integrating AI / ML into VFX, Animation & Games Studio Pipelines – Walk, Run!
In Part 2 of our AI/ML in VFX, Animation & Games series, we dive into the Walk and Run phases, where AI moves beyond experiments into scalable, production-ready solutions that transform creative pipelines. Plus, discover Data as Fuel: how to build studio-grade, AI-ready datasets that unlock real creative and business impact.
Speakers
Kristine Middlemiss With over 20 years in innovation and software development, Kristine Middlemiss specializes in AI, Python, and C++. She has held key roles at IBM, Autodesk, Rockstar Games, and DreamWorks Animation, advancing technologies in motion capture, production pipelines, and emerging fields such as AR/VR and Generative AI. She has also led early-stage AI initiatives and served as a technical advisor on cutting-edge AI projects. During her tenure as CTO at Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies (MARZ VFX), she drove major advancements in cloud infrastructure, microservices, IT, and rendering pipelines, and led the creation of two groundbreaking generative AI products, Vanity AI and LipDub AI. Kristine currently serves as Manager of Software Development at Info-Tech Research Group, leading development teams and data-driven platforms.
Ishrat Badami is a highly accomplished professional with a master’s degree in computer vision and machine learning from the University of Bonn, Germany. She began her career as a full-time researcher at the University of Aachen, contributing to the European Union project STRADS on mobile assistive robots. Following this, Ishrat transitioned to the healthcare industry, where she developed automatic fall detection systems for elderly care centers. As an early member of the Vanity AI product at MARX VFX, Ishrat played a pivotal role in advancing AI-driven solutions in visual effects. Currently, she is leveraging her expertise at Triplelift, specializing in ad tech for post-production ads in CTV.
Executive Host
Eric W. Shamlin
September 2025
Monday, September 29 from 6m – 7:30am Pacific Time
Breaking Into Pipeline Development for VFX & Animation
A Round Table with Industry Professionals
Video will be recorded and put onto the The Pipeline Conference youtube channel
Join us for a free online round table bringing together experienced pipeline developers from the VFX and animation industry. This session is designed to give students and aspiring professionals a rare opportunity to hear directly from those working in the field. Following the panel, participants will have the chance to ask questions and connect with professionals during an open Q&A and networking session.
Speakers
Ryan Bottriell – ILM
Oliver Dunn – Netflix Animation Studio
Melissa Cell – DD
Dan Ziegler – Sony Pictures Imageworks
Will Muto – ILM
August 2025
Tuesday, August 12 at 9am – 4:30pm Pacific Time
Pipeline BoF Sessions at SIGGRAPH
Location: East Building, Room 13 Convention Centre in Vancouver, BC, Canada
These events are in person and will not be recorded. Photos and notes will be taken.
NOTE: Attendees must register for a SIGGRAPH Experience or Full Conference pass to attend.
9am VFX Reference Platform
10am Renderfarming
11am Going Cloud Native
1pm MLOps in the Pipeline
2pm Studio Storage
3pm Global CG Pipelines
6pm Beers of a Feather at Rec Room, 855 Granville St, Vancouver, BC
Must attend 1 session to get the QR code, and space is limited!
Wednesday, August 13 at 2pm Pacific Time
Pipeline BoF at SIGGRAPH: The Pipeline Conference – Organizer Meetup
Location: East Building, Room 9 Convention Centre in Vancouver, BC, Canada
This event is in person and will not be recorded. Photos and notes will be taken.
NOTE: Attendees must register for a SIGGRAPH Experience or Full Conference pass to attend.
Join us to discuss the near and far future of The Pipeline Conference.
July 2025
Tuesday, July 15 at 9am Pacific Time
Unlocking Production Efficiency with LAIKA
Video
LAIKA Studios has successfully applied visual effects engineering principles to business transformation. In this session, Mike Romey shares how his Business Systems team developed tools that support every department with scalable, cloud-based solutions.
Their Federated API unifies over 25 SaaS platforms—including ShotGrid, Dynamics 365, Greenhouse, and UKG—into a single query language, simplifying cross-functional integrations and ETL pipelines.
The team also built a Federated Forms Framework using Python and React to auto-generate complex UIs from JSON, allowing rapid internal tool development without snowflake apps. These frameworks enable consistent, efficient delivery across the studio.
Speaker
Michael Romey is a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience building scalable platforms and leading high impact engineering teams across the media and entertainment industry. He currently serves as Manager of Business Intelligence Software Development at LAIKA Studios, where he oversees cross functional systems that connect production, finance, HR, and more.
Executive Host
Aaron Thibault
May 2025
Thursday, May 8 at 1pm Pacific Time
Industry Crossroads: An Open Forum on the Future of Pipelines
This video was not recorded so the discussion could be as free and open as possible.
We’re hosting a community round-table, and we’d love for you to join the conversation about production pipelines! We’ll be sharing what we’re seeing and thinking about how things are changing.
With the recent shifts in the industry and the buzz around AI, it feels like a really important time for us to connect and have an open chat. This isn’t about formal presentations – it’s about getting together as a community and sharing our perspectives on what’s happening.
Here’s what we’re hoping for:
- A straightforward discussion about where pipeline development stands today.
- An open exploration of new technologies and how they might fit in.
- A chance to put our heads together and think about sustainable ways forward.
- A great opportunity to connect with peers and swap experiences.
- A space for you to bring your questions, insights, and innovative ideas to the table!
We truly believe that by coming together and sharing our thoughts, we can navigate these changes and build a stronger future for our community.