Radheya Jegatheva
Synopsis :
A lonely seagull looking for love struggles to accept that his newfound object of affection is a human-operated drone with a limited battery life.
Director Biography :
Radheya Jegatheva is an award-winning filmmaker from Perth, Western Australia. Radheya’s live-action short ‘Pacing the Pool’ recently won Best Short Documentary at the BFI Future Film Festival 2023, and was previously shortlisted by the World Health Organisation for the Special Prize for Rehabilitation in the Health for All Film Festival. His short film ‘The Quiet’ was Oscar-qualified, landing on the longlist for the Academy Award for Best Short Animation in 2021.
Radheya is passionate about film, and the value of using film and animation in educational and social development contexts. He has spoken to thousands of school students over the years with an aim to inspire young people about getting into the arts, and his works have been used as an educational tool in schools and universities around the world.
Anna Argiros
Synopsis :
Cold Blooded is the story of a man whose holiday relaxation is interrupted when a fish in need asks him for help.
Director Biography :
Anna is a filmmaker based in London who loves making stop-motion animation.
Beatrice Jäggi
Synopsis :
Ethel discovers boxes with glittering clothes of her late mother, who was a figure skater. In the snowy forest she searches for the idyllic pond where her mother once taught her to skate. She wants to relive those memories, attempts to understand her mother’s passion. On the frozen pond Ethel, however, encounters the Bone Ice Princess, who challenges her to a dangerous dance on thin ice. Will Ethel survive this contest in one piece? A tale of letting go and growing up.
Director Biography :
Born in 1966 and growing up in Winterthur (ZH). Apprenticeship in engineering drafting. 1996 intensive film workshop at New York University. Since 1998 organizer of various cultural projects in the field of film and video. Author and director of various short animation and experimental films. 2006-2009 MAS in Cultural Management at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts HSLU.
MIGUEL ORTEGA
Synopsis :
An African fable of sisterhood, envy and ancient evil.
Director Biography :
Miguel Ortega is a Colombian film director, creature designer, and cinematographer with over 15 years of experience in the Animation and VFX industry. He comes from a humble background, being the son of two illegal migrant workers that came to the united states to give their children a better life.
That risk paid off as Miguel has had the privilege to work on blockbusters such as Thor, The Mist, Underworld, A Night at the Museum, Godzilla 2, and Krampus, bored of the typical Hollywood fare, he eventually found himself wanting to explore his own creativity and bring his personal vision to life.
He teamed up with his Vietnamese production designer and producer Tran Ma to create their own films, and together, they have created three award-winning shorts, The Green Ruby Pumpkin, The Ningyo, and most recently, The voice in the Hollow.
In 2023 he and Tran were named as "Rising stars of animation" by ANIMATION MAGAZINE.
The Voice in the hollow was named as "7 films we love" by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw productions.
Amal Al-Shammari & Hossein Heydar
Synopsis :
Based on the real-life childhood events of writer-director Amal Al-Shammari, FRAIHA recounts her inspirational childhood memory when AMAL (6) was helped to overcome her classroom literacy struggles by her loving mother FRAIHA (45).
Directors Biography :
Amal Al-Shamari is the founder and CEO of Embrace Doha, Embrace Doha, a first of its kind consultation company in Qatar, offering a range of cultural services that cater to the needs of newcomers, expatriates, companies, and organisations, founded in 2014. Amal also is a co-founder and creative director of Nefaish animation, a Qatari animation studio specialized in producing high quality animation inspired by the Qatari culture. Besides Embrace Doha and Nefaish Animation, Amal is also working full-time at ORYX GTL (Oil and Gas Sector) as the Head of Strategy and Business Planning Department since 2014. Amal graduated from Qatar Leadership Center and she recently graduated from Raising Leaders program 2018.Today, she is seen by many Arab women as a role model that has influenced them a positive way, helping shape the country in the present and what it will be in the future. Amal graduated with Bachelors Degree in Management Administration at Qatar University in 2011. She speaks Arabic as her native language, but is also fluent in English.
Hossein Heydar is an accomplished entrepreneur and holds a BA in Film and 3D Animation from Multimedia University in Malaysia. He worked for the first Qatari Mobile app company and is currently Managing Director of Nefaish Animation. He has extensive experience working as an animation director, 3D animator, storyteller, scriptwriter and creative thinker.
Jitka Nemikinsová
Synopsis :
Lightbulbs are throwing a party for growing up flames to welcome them in the system that will let them shine and protect them. But one flames likes to play with fire and rebels against the system.
Director Biography :
Born in 1996 she studied at Václav Hollar secondary school, specializing in Advertising Graphic Design. and then at FAMU, specializing in Animation. During her studies, she made a film 1938 (2018), which received support from Czech television. As a part of her exams, she also directed films Bait bite (2018), That escalated quickly (2017) and Feel leaf (2017).
She has always drawn and painted. Now, she mainly focuses on graphic design and illustration. She keeps educating herself in these fields and she keeps expanding her skillset. The film Lights is her undergraduation project. In 2020, Lights received an Animation Espresso Award at the Anifilm festival.
She worked as a concept artist/ storyboard maker in the company AheadVR. She participated in the development of a multi-platform video game Somnium Space. In 2018, her animations appeared in the Sempé gallery as a part of the exhibition of Jean-Jacques Sempé.
Tariq Rimawi
Synopsis :
Wandering through the Worst Zoo in the World, a young boy SAMI is looking for his football. The loner finds more than that when he encounters the little tiger LAZIZ, who follows him on his quest to find a safe place to play. Against all odds, they become friends. But the remnants of war harbor danger.
Director Biography :
Tariq Rimawi is an independent Jordanian animated film director, scriptwriter, and an academic member of the Faculty of Architecture and Design at the University of Petra. In 2010, he graduated with a Master’s in Animation from Newport Film School in the United Kingdom.
Since then his shorts have been screened at more than 180 international film festivals and received 15 awards.
In 2016, Tariq established the Animation & Multimedia Department at the University of Petra.
With his engagement in education and creating jobs for animation artists he wants to show the potential of Arab artists and stories and put Jordan on the map of animation production countries.
Amir Mehran
Synopsis :
An impatient fighter pilot bombs cities every day. He returns to his little girl every night after completing his mission. The girl loves to fly, but the father doesn't fulfill his daughter's dream because of the bitter memory of his wife's death. The war is getting closer every day. A day an incident changes their life, forever.
Director Biography :
Amir Mehran holds an M.A. in Animation Directing from Soore Art University in Tehran, and his animated short films have received recognition at international film festivals. Some of his notable works include "The Lovely Sky," "The White Whale," "The butterfly man," "Night of the Lamb," "Aperture," "Silent City," and "Cold Blood." These films have won awards at Warsaw Film Festival, Anima, Grand OFF, Interfilm Berlin, Banja Luka, Cinefiesta, Imperia, Short Soup, Silk Road, and Noor Film Festival.
Filmography
. The Lovely Sky (2022. 2D Animation. 14Min) Writer, Director, Compositor
. The White Whale (2020. 2D Animation. 10Min) Writer, Director, Compositor, Producer
. Tree (2019. Music Video. 3Min) Director, Compositor
. The Butterfly Man (2013. Cutout Animation. 8 Min) Director, Animator
. Night of the Lamb (2012. 2D Animation. 11 Min) Director
. Aperture (2012. 3D Animation. 7 Min) Director
. Silent City (2009. 2D Animation. 7 Min) Writer, Director
. Cold Blood (2008.Experimental. 7 Min) Director, Compositor
. The Lost Waves (2005. 2D Animation. 7 Min) Director, Animator, Producer
Brigid Slevin
Synopsis :
On her mission of spreading the word of God around pre-Christian Ireland, Saint Brigid must convince a stubborn king to allow her to build a church on his land in this beloved Irish folktale.
Director Biography :
Soon
Tzu-Ying Chen
Synopsis :
A ball called forth by the city is destroyed along with it after uncovering the city's secret.
Director Biography :
Tzu-Ying Chen is a Taiwanese 2D animator based in London. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Animation from Taipei National University of Arts and is currently pursuing advanced studies at the Royal College of Art. Influenced by surrealist films, Tzu is passionate about incorporating the narrative abstractions found in filmmaking into her animated works.
Aziz Bakour & Said Bakour
Synopsis :
This story teaches us that when we always consume news about other people's problems, we never think that our problems might as well be on the trending news lists.
The guardian didn't want to consume other people's problems so he was aiming to escape the circle of negativity through joyful music on the radio. However, the problems came to him, dragging him in via any possible medium; first by sound, then touch, then visuals and text! and as he fell into the trap of being interested in other sadness he became a headline in the newspaper himself.
Directors Biography :
I am Aziz Bakour, a designer and professional in 3D and 2D programs. I worked on modeling and animation and presented successful and creative solutions to well-known companies. I did a lot of artwork and animated 3D characters.
I am Said Bakour a motivated, adaptable, and responsible CGI Artist with 5 years of experience in various related fields seeking a position in an animation festival that will utilize the professional and technical skills developed through past work experiences in those fields.
I have a methodical, client-focused approach to work and a strong drive to see things through to completion, besides the fact that I can speak 3 different languages which makes my communication effective.
Nicolas Jacquette
Synopsis :
A visual poem magnifying the Amazigh culture (berber natives of the middle Atlas of Morocco), an historical tale about the seismology of the city of Agadir, a story about our planet eath itself and its own life, created for the Museum of the Reconstruction of Agadir.
Director Biography :
Designer, Associate Director of the Agence Si | Studio irresistible - Paris, with J. Liniger and Chloé Verlhac, he has been directing the Si agency in Paris since 2009. He is an expert in digital communication, data visualization, motion design and projects related to research and science.
He supports companies and institutions, particularly on issues of ecological transition and CSR. He is in contact with leading international players on the subjects of climate change and sustainable development initiatives, and was notably an official observer at COP24.
His course in Applied Arts and Interior Architecture in Caen continued in Paris, in graphic arts and multimedia, at the Institute of Higher Studies in the Arts.
Expert in questions of mental manipulation, he has been working since 2007 as a consultant with State services, in particular MIVILUDES, as well as with NGOs (CAFFES, UNADFI, CCMM, etc.) on the links between mental influence and communication. . As part of his research on issues of human rights and freedom of expression, he studied law at the University of La Sorbonne in Paris.
Since 2011, he has been part of the international collective of visual artists "The Meeting Point Project", exhibited in Paris, New York and Beijing. Since 2017, his work as a photographer has also been articulated within the "Formats" collective, with the choreographer A. Roques.
Nicolas Jacquette is co-founder of the Press & Cartooning Global Forum, an international meeting on the relationship between Press Cartooning and Democracy. He was awarded, with J. Liniger, by the "Gérard Vandenbroucke Prize" 2021 for the promotion of press cartooning in the world and the defense of freedom of expression.
In 2023, he has been awarded by 7 international design prices for his graphic work for the French Presidency of the European Union Council in 2022.
Kotoko Nakamura
Synopsis :
To escape from his dull life, a man wishes to become a wizard.
He wants to be a "real" wizard, not a "fake" one.
Director Biography :
Born in Kyoto, Japan.
Graduated from Kyoto University of Education, Faculty of Education.
Graduated from Kyoto University of Art and Design, Faculty of Fine Art.
After working at a Stop motion Animation company, became a freelance animation director.
Lecturer at Kyoto University of Art and Design since 2015.
Lecturer at Seian University of Art and Design since 2022.
Mariam Khayat
Synopsis :
In the shallow waters of the Red Sea, a happy-go-lucky fish is forced to set out on a journey to save the sea creatures from the soulless monster before it kills all life underwater.
Director Biography :
Mariam Khayat is an animation writer and producer. She holds an MFA degree in Animation and Digital Arts from the University of Southern California. She recently produced the animation shorts "The Menace from Above" and "Saleeg," which are recipients of the Daw’ Film Fund by the Saudi Ministry of Culture.
Her previous animation shorts have screened at multiple film festivals around the world, namely the Lebanese Independent Film Festival and Silk Road International Film Festival in Ireland, and had won the Audience Choice Award at Mentor Arabia.
Mariam co-founded Cinepoetics Pictures, a film production studio, where she’s currently producing animation projects. When she's not making films, Mariam is swimming, or diving.
María Lucía Bayardo
Synopsis :
Larisa, a curious girl, enters the house of the old hag, who has a crow as her allied, not imagining the consequences of her decision.
Director Biography :
I studied Mass communications at ITESO and short term screenwriting, fiction and documentary workshop at CAAV.
I have published 34 children and young adult stories and the novels of Jabari.
I have a marionette company, studied with a Czech teacher.
This is my first animation film. So far, it has won 13 International Film Festivals.
Sonia Estévez
Synopsis :
A female puppet appears locked in a room, prostrate on the floor and immobile. After several experiences, ropes are attached to her body and her movements begin to be more and more fluid. Each of the strings is associated with a scene related to an aspect of women's social problems, such as the body, equality or gender.
Director Biography :
Sonia Estévez is a director, producer, model maker and stop motion animator. She is a founding partner and administrator of Tik Tak Film Studio Koop., An independent production company, social initiative cooperative, specialized in stop motion animation.
She has trained in stop motion animation in Barcelona, at the 9zeros Animation School and at Cifo in Hospitalet, in executive production at the consultancy Media Training and has completed the Stop Motion I and II course at Aardman Academy (Bristol).
She took courses in Digital Art and Audiovisual Projects at the Vitoria-Gasteiz School of Arts and Crafts.
She studied Forestry and Environmental Chemistry, so she combines audiovisual production and sustainability. She uses stop motion animation as a means to make social problems visible.
She has directed three short films and several commercials in this animation technique. She is currently directing the short films ¨Txotxongiloa¨ and ¨Malkoak¨
She teaches various animation courses and workshops for all ages.
Joao Rodrigues
Synopsis :
A little girl reads herself to sleep. As she dozes off, the physical world starts melting into an alternate reality where the contents of a book rule over the laws of physics.
Ana has to escape being swallowed by the overwhelming accumulation of printed knowledge and find her own space in a world where nothing is what it seems.
Director Biography :
João Rodrigues (1981, Porto) His graduation short "Black & White" was selected for over 50 film festivals, from Cuba to India. He directed the documentary "Alexandrino" and "The Tile-Jail Toilet-Tale", founded the "Instant Tanz Company”. In 2014 he directed the short film "Fortunato- from here to S. Torcato" for Guimarães Capital of Culture.
Samuel Albaric & Thomas Trichet
Synopsis :
Biodun is nigerian. In this animated documentary, he tells the story of his journey on foot from Lagos to Paris, how he survives with a container, a "bidon" and thanks to his courage. With his amazing patter, he transforms the events into extraordinary adventures.
Directors Biography :
Samuel Albaric:
After graduating the Cergy Beaux-Arts in 2004, Samuel Albaric started a carreer in press photography while directing documentaries. Very influenced by the « reality films », he directed three films about the israelo-palestinian conflict (Gaza, souvenirs 2008). This experience of armed conflicts will force him to chose news topics for his work, while deflecting them. What always motivates his work is to search how the « big History » resonates with individuals. This crossroad between reality and fantasy pushed him to direct an animated short film in 2015, « 5 years after the war ». This documentary-animated work gets even more precise in 2022 with « Europe by bidon », which relates the journey of a Nigerian migrant from Lagos to Paris.
-
Thomas Trichet
After graduating with honors from the french applied art school ENSAAMA, Thomas Trichet began in 2017 his studies in Animation at the School of Decorative Arts (ENSAD) of Paris.
In 2019, he directed his first animated film, "Le Taxi de Sun City", entirely made from 3D scans. The film, selected in several festivals (including the « Lab Competition » of the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival) will be broadcast by the TV channel’s Arte and awarded the Aid after realization of the CNC. His second project, also started in 2019, is a 2D animation series, "Meet Doug", which is currently being rewritten and for which he has directed the pilot.
During his studies, he met Martin Maire and Théo Jollet, with whom he collaborates closely ever since. Together, they founded the collective of directors JTM, feeding their projects with a variety of mediums such as 3D, video or drawing. Their work oscillates between fiction projects and video creation for fashion or music industry. Aside from these activities, they directed two music videos: "Spleen" in 2018 and "Memento" in 2021 for the artist Katuchat from Roche Musique, both produced by Solab and supported by the CNC. Today, they are dedicated to writing two feature-length fiction projects, "L’Appartement" (working title) and "Brasero", while working on the making of "ROCKS", a short documentary animated in 3D for the TV channel’s Arte and produced by Les Films Invisibles.
In 2022, Thomas finished with Louis Sechaud his first short documentary "Kitana Time", shot between Northern India and France and produced by JTM and Les Films Invisibles. At the same time, he co-directed with Samuel Albaric the 2D animated short film "Europe By Bidon" produced by White Star and supported by many partners, including France Télévisions and the CNC.
Michael J Ruocco
Synopsis :
Two characters discover an interesting new object, and learn about what it means to share.
Director Biography :
Michael Ruocco moved out to LA after graduating from the animation program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Since then, he's worked on numerous animated productions as an animator, storyboard artist and storyboard supervisor, not limited to "BoJack Horseman", "Wabbit/New Looney Tunes", "Looney Tunes Cartoons", "The Cuphead Show!" and "StoryBots: Answer Time!".
He also performs minor voice-over work for productions, including voicing Beaky Buzzard for "Looney Tunes Cartoons". Outside his studio work, he creates his own independent short films and does freelance animation work for various independent projects across the globe.
Artur Akhmetzyanov
Synopsis :
Powered by sighs and misery, Joe digs his way through the work week until the flashy lights of the weekend create an illusion that everything is gonna be fine. But it's not.
Director Biography :
Artur Akhmetzyanov is a stand-up comedian, writer and director. He’s the winner of the 2018 Bangkok International Comedy Competition and 2022 What’s Your Story Slam. Artur writes, directs and produces commercial videos, animation and short films. He also does workshops on using comedy in public speaking and brand storytelling.
Timon Leder
Synopsis :
A gluttonous mouse traps himself in a cheese wheel while his starving friend stranded outside must contend with a hungry cat.
Director Biography :
Timon upgraded his academic knowledge at La Poudrière, animation direction school in France. His student animated short titled Work (co-directed with Urban Breznik) was screened at more than 30 festivals around the world and his debut 2D short film Weasel is still touring the world now. During his studies, he created nine animated shorts (two of them professional) and animated many others, wrote a degree on children’s comprehension of film language, and participated in the creation of the first manual on animation for schools and kindergartens.