#USA #Lakewood #RMCAD #Riot Games #Qiu Fang

RMCAD Welcomes Qiu Fang for an Inspiring Film Festival

The Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) is gearing up for its much-anticipated Frames N' Games Festival, set to take place from April 23 to 24, 2026. This year’s festival features a special guest that promises to enrich the event with a wealth of experience—Qiu Fang, a Principal Concept Artist at Riot Games. Renowned for his work at Blizzard Entertainment, Fang’s presence at the festival is set to inspire aspiring artists and students alike.

Festival Overview

The annual Frames N' Games Festival not only highlights the significant achievements of RMCAD’s animation and game art students but also awards their creative works in various categories.

Kicking off on April 23 at the Mary Harris Auditorium, the festival will host a panel discussion featuring several distinguished professionals in the gaming industry. Among them are Jen Van Horn, a motion designer and art director, Jeff Litchford from Deck Nine Games, Cameron Walker of Hey-Yo Studio, and Jason Shwartz from Bento Box Entertainment. This panel, sponsored by the Colorado Office of Film, Television, and Media, will give a valuable platform for students to learn from industry veterans about their experiences and insights.

The discussion is expected to begin at 1:30 p.m. and will run until 2:45 p.m. Mountain Time (MT), with the RMCAD community warmly invited. It is a perfect precursor to the main event, which takes place the following day.

Celebration of Student Talent

On April 24, the festival will officially commence at 4:30 p.m. MT. Attendees can enjoy an array of food, drinks, and game demos, making it a festive atmosphere for all. The festival will showcase student submissions, featuring works competed across categories such as Best in Show for 2D Animation, Best in Show for 3D Animation, Best Game Demo, Best Game Art, and Best Animated Short Film.

Fang is slated to give a keynote speech before the screenings, where he will share his journey through the animation field and impart wisdom that could drive innovation among the next generation of game artists.

The awards ceremony aims to recognize the outstanding works of RMCAD students, with judges consisting of faculty members and representatives from ASIFA Colorado. Following the ceremony, the evening will culminate in the Frames N' Games After Party, organized by ASIFA CO at Edgewater Public Market at 8:30 p.m. MT—a prime networking opportunity for students and professionals in the industry.

Voices from RMCAD

Michelle Kelley, the Animation Program Lead at RMCAD, expressed excitement about hosting such a high-profile figure in the gaming industry: “The Annual Frames N' Games Film Festival showcases the extraordinary talent of our animation and game art students. These are the industry trend-setters of tomorrow, and it's such a pleasure to see their work as they continue to grow.”

Kelley further added, “RMCAD is thrilled to host such an acclaimed guest as Qiu Fang, as he shares his many creative and professional insights with all members of our community!”

About RMCAD

Founded in 1963, RMCAD serves as a beacon of education for aspiring artists and designers, offering programs that focus on art, design, education, technology, and business. With a mix of on-campus and online classes, the college presents an intimate learning environment taught by practicing industry professionals. As a leader in online education for over 15 years, RMCAD aims to empower its students to explore their artistic voices, discover unique paths, and prepare for thriving careers in the creative industries.

This year’s Frames N' Games Festival promises to be a fantastic celebration of creativity and talent, uniting industry professionals with the next generation of artists excited to transform their passion into successful careers.