Tickets

Community Corner

Share our love for inclusiveness and creating a sense of belonging!

Community Corner

It's all about family

Welcome to the Community Corner, a crossroads where passion projects, local clubs, and vital causes connect directly with thousands of fans. It’s where new friendships are forged over shared interests and where attendees discover their next cause or club.

Is your organization a hub for local creators? Do you run a fan group dedicated to a specific series or game? Are you a non-profit making a difference in our city? If you are passionate about building connections and sharing your mission, this space is for you. We invite you to apply and become a foundational part of the Otafest experience.

Why Join the Community Corner?

This is your chance to get face-to-face with a passionate and engaged audience who shares your interests. By setting up in our Community Corner, you can:

  • Raise awareness for your projects and initiatives within a large, concentrated demographic.
  • Build relationships with other community leaders, artists, and creators who are also shaping the local fan and cultural landscape.
  • Find new members for your club, sign up volunteers for your cause, or build a mailing list of people genuinely interested in what you do.
  • Move beyond social media and have meaningful, real-world conversations.

Is Your Organization a Fit?

We’re looking for groups that add to the rich tapestry of our community. If you’re a part of any of the following, we strongly encourage you to apply:

  • Non-Profits & Charities: Groups focused on arts, culture, education, mental health, or other causes that resonate with our community.
  • Local Art Collectives: Groups that support local artists, illustrators, writers, or makers and want to promote their collective work.
  • Educational Groups: Organizations that run workshops, teach skills (like cosplay crafting, game dev, or Japanese language), and share knowledge.
  • And More! Don't fit into one of the above categories? If your group is built around community, creativity, and connection, you're likely a great candidate for a space. We'd love to see your application!

Schedule​

Thursday

May 14

Setup
12:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Friday

May 15

Final Setup
7:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Open to Public
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Saturday

May 16

Restock / Reset
7:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Open to Public
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Sunday

May 17

Restock / Reset
7:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Open to Public
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Teardown
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Space Details

The following are included with your Community Corner space:

  • One 8ft x 2ft skirted table
  • Two chairs
  • 2 Otafest Badges, which include admission to the festival
  • Wi-Fi access

Need power or wired internet? Please note this on your application. If accepted, you will receive forms to order and pay for these services directly through the Calgary Telus Convention Centre. Please note these utilities are an additional cost.

Community Corner Terms & Conditions

To ensure a safe, fair, and positive experience for all participants, exhibitors, and attendees, all applying organizations and their representatives agree to the following terms and conditions. In these terms, “You” and “Your organization” means the organization submitting the application. “We”, “us”, “our”, and “Otafest” mean the Otafest Film & Cultural Festival Planning Committee.
  1. General Conduct & Agreement: 
    1. All participants must adhere to Otafest’s Festival Policies.
  2. Space & Display
    1. Organizations must contain all displays, signage, and activities within their space.
    2. Displays/signage must not impede traffic flow or obstruct the view of neighboring tables.
    3. Attaching anything to the walls, floors, or other venue surfaces with tape, adhesives, or other fixtures is prohibited by the venue. Your organization will be held liable for any damages caused.
    4. Otafest staff reserve the right to require the modification or removal of any display or signage deemed unsafe or inappropriate.
  3. Punctuality & Staffing
    1. Your table must be set up and staffed by the official opening time (as noted in this information package) of the Exhibitor Hall Prefunction Space to the public each day.
    2. Failure to check in and set up by the deadline, without prior communication to and approval from Otafest, will be considered a “no-show” and may result in the forfeiture of your space for the remainder of the event.
    3. Your organization is responsible for the teardown of your space and removal of all materials and waste by the official end of the teardown period noted in this information package.
  4. Sales & Distribution
    1. Any items sold or distributed (including free promotional materials) must be the property of the organization and directly related to its mission, programs, or activities. Community Corner is not intended for general commercial sales.
    2. All fundraising and promotional activities must be conducted from behind your assigned table. Roving solicitation or promotion elsewhere in the festival is strictly prohibited.
  5. Prohibited Items & Content
    1. All props must comply with the Otafest Weapons & Props Policy.
    2. The sale or distribution of any food or beverages is prohibited unless your organization has secured prior written approval from both Otafest and the venue management.
    3. Sexually explicit, pornographic, or graphically violent materials and displays are prohibited. Tasteful artistic nudity may be permitted at the sole discretion of Otafest. If your materials feature nudity or other sensitive content, submit them to Otafest for review prior to the event.
  6. Liability & Compliance
    1. Otafest is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged property. Organizations are solely responsible for securing their own materials and personal belongings.
    2. Your organization must comply with all venue policies and all applicable municipal, provincial, and federal laws and bylaws. This includes adherence to all health, safety, and fire code regulations as applicable. Otafest is not responsible for any injuries.
  7. Policy Enforcement
    1. Otafest reserves the right to immediately remove any organization or representative from the event for failure to comply with these policies, or for any behavior that endangers others, constitutes harassment, or is otherwise deemed inappropriate by festival management. No refunds will be issued in the event of such a removal.
  8. Indemnity:
    1. Your organization agrees to indemnify, defend, and forever save and hold harmless Otafest and its affiliates or related entities, and their respective principals, stakeholders, members, partners, officers, directors, employees, representatives, tenants, agents, contractors, and volunteers, from and against any and all damages, claims, losses, demands, costs, expenses (including attorney’s fees and costs), obligations, liens, liabilities, actions and causes of action, threatened or actual, which any one of the Indemnities may suffer or incur arising from your acts or the breach of any agreement, obligation, warranty or representation made herein, or for claims not closely related to our duties under this Agreement, except to the extent such claims arise from our negligence or willful misconduct. The foregoing indemnification shall survive any termination or the expiration of these terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

For approved non-profits and community-run organizations, spaces in the Community Corner are provided at no cost. Our goal is to support the community, not to create financial barriers.

Simply fill out the application form linked below. Our team will review all submissions to ensure they align with the spirit of the Community Corner. We receive many applications and space is limited, so please be as detailed as possible!

Limited sales are permitted, but they must be directly related to your organization’s mission (e.g., selling branded t-shirts to fundraise, art prints by your collective’s members). The Community Corner is not intended for general commercial sales like a standard exhibitor. Please see the Terms & Conditions for full details.

Application Form

Click here to Apply