{"id":129959,"date":"2026-04-28T09:51:47","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T13:51:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/?post_type=bu-article&p=129959"},"modified":"2026-05-18T11:51:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T15:51:33","slug":"roy-conli-convocation-speaker","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/articles\/2026\/roy-conli-convocation-speaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Disney Producer and Academy Award Winner Roy Conli Named 2026 CFA Convocation Speaker"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDisney Producer and Academy Award Winner Roy Conli Named 2026 CFA Convocation Speaker\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Long-time producer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, with credits that include The Hunchback of Notre Dame<\/em>, Treasure Planet<\/em>, Tangled<\/em>, Big Hero 6<\/em>, and Disney’s upcoming Hexed<\/em>, Roy Conli (CFA’87) will address the Class of 2026 graduates at CFA’s Convocation ceremony on Saturday, May 16.<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n
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April 28, 2026<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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Boston University College of Fine Arts welcomes storyteller, producer, and Academy Award-winner Roy Conli<\/strong> (CFA’87) back to BU as the 2026 CFA Convocation Speaker. Conli will address the CFA Class of 2026 on Saturday, May 16, at the BU Track & Tennis Center.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Roy Conli <\/strong>(Producer for Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disneynature) joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1993, and after assembling all the creative elements for The Hunchback of Notre Dame<\/em> and launching the project, he relocated to France to oversee the contributions of the Paris-based animation team over the two year production schedule. Upon completion of the film, he remained in France and guided production on the animated films Hercules<\/em> and Tarzan<\/em>. Conli returned to the studio in Burbank to produce Treasure Planet<\/em>. He served as producer of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 50th animated film, Tangled<\/em>. Conli won the Academy Award\u00ae for Best Animated Feature in 2015 for Big Hero 6<\/em>. Most recently, he served as producer of Strange World<\/em>, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 2022 release, and is overseeing the upcoming 2026 production of Hexed<\/a><\/em>, with Hailee Steinfeld and Rashida Jones among the cast. Conli is part of the executive leadership team for WDAS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Treasure Planet. Tangled. Big Hero 6. Strange World.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Conli joined the Disneynature team in 2015, sharing his talents to help support the brand’s narrative style. He served as a producer of Born in China,<\/em> directed by Lu Chuan, one of China’s most daring and celebrated live-action filmmakers. Released in 2017, the film remains the top-grossing nature documentary in China. In 2019, Conli served as a producer for the big screen release of Disneynature’s Penguins<\/em>. Continuing a tradition of celebrating Earth Day, Dolphin Reef<\/em> and Elephant <\/em>were Disneynature’s first contributions to Disney+ in 2020 for the streaming platform’s inaugural year. Since 2022, Conli has produced the yearly Disneynature releases of Polar Bear<\/em>, Tiger<\/em>, The Sealions of Galapagos<\/em>, and Orangutan<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Conli studied theater at San Francisco’s prestigious American Conservancy Theater (ACT). He was instrumental in the restoration and reopening of the legendary Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theatre of California. Conli subsequently moved to Boston, where he continued his education at Boston University and eventually earned an MFA. After graduation, he served as associate producer for the Camden Shakespeare Festival in Maine. In 1989, Conli joined the production team at the Mark Taper Forum, the leading regional theater in Los Angeles. Over the next four years, he managed all special projects and new play development for the Taper, where he helped launch premieres of such award-winning plays as Angels in America<\/em>, Jelly’s Last Jam<\/em>, and The Kentucky Cycle<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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