Short Films Competition
Yu Wei-cheng is a veteran film and animation director and producer, who graduated from the Art Institute of Vancouver. Currently, Yu is a part-time professor at the Tainan National University of the Arts. He served as animation supervisor at the Hong Kong Television Network Ltd. and the director and planning director at the Wang Film Productions Co., Ltd. His works include Annie's Magic Raccoon (nominated for Best Animation at the 1997 Golden Horse Awards), Duo (nominated for Best Documentary at the 1986 Golden Horse Awards). In addition, Yu has published several books about film and animation.
Xavier KAWA-TOPOR had worked in the Centre Européen de Conques and Fontevraud Abbey. His passion for animation prompted him to organize animation-related programs and events at the Forum des Images in Paris. He had invited renowned directors to work there and encouraged the cultural exchange. Furthermore, he introduced the Nouvelles images du Japon, which established the reputation of the celebrated Japanese animation directors. Moreover, 200 directors from 30 countries had been the artists-in-residence at the Fontevraud Abbey, a scheme Kawa-Topor set up. In 2015, he founded the NEF Animation Association and served as the chairman. Currently, Kawa-Topor is on the committees of the César Award for Best Animated Film and the CNC. He has published a book, Cinéma d’animation – au-delà du réel and co-edited Le Cinéma d’Animation en 100 films with Philippe Moins.
Špela Čadež (1977) graduated in Graphic Design in Ljubljana in 2002 and continued her studies at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. She’s been working as an independent animation director and producer since 2008. Her films have received 100+ awards at festivals worldwide and were screened in competition selections such as the Sundance Film Festival. A passionate advocate for the analogue, Čadež has impressed with films in puppet and cut-out animation techniques. Boles (2013) has received 50 awards, distinctions and nominations including a Grand Prix at DOK Leipzig and Best Debut Award at Hiroshima Festival. Her latest film Nighthawk (2016) has received 23 awards and distinctions up to date with Grand Prixs at HAFF Festival Holland and Animafest Zagreb, and has been screened in selections at festivals such as Sundance, Clermont Ferrand and Annecy.
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Student Short Films Competition
Dahee studied at Hongik University in Seoul, and got a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication. She got a Master’s at Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in 2012. Her graduation film, The hours of tree, won the Grand Prize at the Indie-Anifest 2013. She has been invited for the animation residency at Fontevraud Abbey, France in 2013 and in 2017. Her first film, Man on the chair, was presented in the Directors' Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival 2014, won the Cristal for a Short Film at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and was screened at over 100 film festivals around the world. Her most recent film, The Empty, won the Grand Prix at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival in 2016.
Guilherme Marcondes was educated as an architect, but decided early on to pursue a career in illustration and design before joining Lobo, the largest animation and post production house in Brazil in 2000. Later on he worked with major production companies around the world like MTV International in London, Motion Theory in Los Angeles and Hornet Inc. in NY.
His projects are known for their distinctive combination of different live action and animation techniques that create immersive worlds of visual and symbolic complexity. His most well-known short-film “Tyger” won over 20 international awards. His latest project “Caveirão” is an international co-production between France, USA and Brazil and it premiered at SXSW Festival in Austin.Guilherme has been invited to the Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), where he lead a week-long workshop about creation of story-worlds for film and games. He has also been in the jury for the MIT Creative Arts annual competition since 2013.
Eva Cvijanovic is a filmmaker and animator based in Montreal who is compelled by the storytelling potential of environments and character. With her work, Eva often exploits the immersive power of tangible materials such as felted wool, watercolors and pastels, while being fluent in digital media. Her most notable venture was directing an NFB-Bonobostudio stop motion short Hedgehog's Home, which premiered at the 2017 Berlinale where it distinguished itself with a special mention and went on to screen at over 80 international festivals, winning over 30 prizes. She is currently expanding her horizons with the Montreal animation collective Astroplastique.
