Half Rez
Chicago 2026
Sept 11
CineCity, Chicago
2026
What is Half Rez?
Half Rez is half conference, half party, and all-out celebration of the artists, designers, animators, producers, studios, and students that shape the Chicago and Midwest motion design community. It’s for everyone from students to 30-year vets!
Add-on Creative Sessions to expand the educational side of Half Rez. These afternoon talks with leading designers are great for picking up new ideas and getting inspired alongside other pros and students.
Or try to get a limited spot for the Studio Tours! Take a Chicago trolley and visit Flavor, The In-house at the Field Museum, and TBA!
At 5:30 the event shifts into party mode. It’s a night built for connecting, with main-stage speakers, networking, fun activities, food trucks, and drinks.
Food Trucks
•
Special Drinks
•
Food Trucks • Special Drinks •
All new venue
•
CineCity
•
All new venue • CineCity •
What’s happening at Half Rez 2026
All-new venue at CineCity!
Keynote Speaker and Studio Speaker on the Main Stage
Food Trucks
Special drinks
20 Hidden Half Rez Cubes (scavenger hunt)
Realtime C4D Cube Races
Giant Half Rez Jenga
Half Rez Pinball
Photobooth
Vendor booths
Main Event Speakers
Barton Damer
Keynote
Barton Damer is the founder and creative director of Already Been Chewed, creative studio known for blending art, technology, and culture. Over the course of his career, Barton has led work for brands including Nike, Google, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., ESPN, and some of the biggest organizations across the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. His work spans 3D animation, motion design, live action, and emerging AI workflows - all driven by a belief that the strongest creative work comes from curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to keep evolving.
Patrick Coleman
Studio Speaker
Patrick Coleman is the Executive Creative Director and Head of Studio at The Heist, where he leads a multidisciplinary team creating award-winning work across motion design, live action, animation, and emerging technology. A former Creative Director and Head of Design at The Mill, Patrick is passionate about building a culture where craft comes first, collaboration thrives, and bold ideas become unforgettable work. Under his leadership, The Heist has become known for partnering with brands to push creative boundaries and bring ambitious stories to life.
Creative Sessions
A sit-down series of presentations with three industry-leading names
EJ Hassenfratz, Host
EJ Hassenfratz is a multi-Emmy winning 3D artist and educator based out of Denver, Colorado. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Hassenfratz has conducted numerous webinars and presented at events such as NAB, Adobe Video World, and SIGGRAPH. He is the creative director at School of Motion.
David Mellor
David Mellor is a Senior Motion Designer based in Portland, Oregon, specializing in 3D animation, product visualization, and title design. His work combines traditional 3D tools with VR sculpting and procedural workflows in Houdini. Outside of client projects, he enjoys experimenting with new techniques in animation and rendering, regularly sharing personal work on Instagram.
Blake Kathryn
Blake Kathryn is a Los Angeles–based digital artist known for creating surreal, dreamlike worlds through vibrant color and futuristic design. Blending influences from Art Deco, Art Nouveau, retrofuturism, science fiction, and solarpunk, her work has been featured in global exhibitions and commercial collaborations with leading brands.
Kaho Yoshida
Kaho Yoshida is an award-winning animation director specializing in stop motion and mixed media. Originally from Tokyo and now based in Vancouver, her playful visual style and strong storytelling have made her a sought-after commercial director. Her short film Tongue has screened at more than 20 festivals, including Annecy, and she was a finalist for Young Guns 2023.
CineCity, Chicago
Sep 11, 2026
Schedule
Half Rez 2026
Sep 11, 2026, at CineCity
Chicago, IL
Creative Sessions
Doors open at 12:30 AM
Studio Tours
Starting at 10:15 AM
Flavor
The Field Museum
Third Studio TBA
Studio locations and times subject to change
Half Rez Main Event
Starts at 5:30 PM
Opening Ceremonies by The Heist - 6:30 PM
Keynote with Barton Damer - 7:00 PM
Get Tickets
Please refresh the page if ticketing does not load…
Parking + Directions
New venue this year! Don’t get lost!
Here’s how to get to CineCity:
Valet parking on site $20
Blue Line Western Stop + Half Rez Shuttle
Pink Line Western Stop + 3-block walk
Street parking
Venue Entrance: Head down 14th St off Western through the open black gate on the left. Head to the back of the lot, entrance to the left!
Meet the Half Rez 2026 Team!
Big thanks to all our friends who help make the magic.
Web Design
Chad Lynn
Animation
Website Wrangling
Alison Kim
Animation
T-Shirts
Coordination Help