SET IV - EYESIGHT

She knew this day would come and the choice she’d have to make. But as it finally comes, Maya cannot wrap her head around it. A mole - it’s so small, so insignificant, just a mark...  

How can it be so hard to part from it? Can Maya ever feel whole again when a bit of her is taken away? 

Bianca Scali – Born in 1998 in Paris, Bianca Scali is an animation film directress who graduated in 2023 from the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg with her diploma film “it’s just a whole”. Photography, digital and traditional animation, paper, textures or analog processes are some of the many medias Bianca Scali enjoys mixing in her films. 

At a crowded airport, Ahlam, a 14-year old mother, is running away from Baghdad, the only place she's ever known. As she fights the shadows lurking around her, she reflects on her journey to reclaim her life. 

Rand Beiruty is a writer, director and co-founder of Shaghab Films, a production company based in Amman, Jordan. She holds a practice-based Ph.D. revolving around questions of representation and participatory filmmaking from Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. Beiruty is an alumna of Berlinale Talents, Beirut Talents, Rotterdam Lab, Locarno Documentary School, ANIDOX:LAB, Film Leader Incubator Asia, Documentary Campus and Ji.hlava Academy. She has pitched her projects on international platforms and received awards from Tribeca Film Institute, Mifa Animation du Monde, Arab Cinema Center and European Network of Young Cinema among others. Her debut feature documentary TELL THEM ABOUT US was awarded best pitch at the Reception of German Film Schools and Haus Am See scholarship. The film celebrated its world premiere at CPH:DOX 2024 and received the ECFA Award for Best European Feature Documentary for Young Audience at the 64th Zlín International Film Festival. 

Like every year, the swifts are returning to their homes in the “sleeping districts.” But this year the humans are gone, leaving nothing but spirits. 

Ada Napiórkowski is a Polish Animation Director based in Estonia. She started her creative journey as a Graphic Designer. In 2024, she graduated from a Master’s program in Animation at the Estonian Academy of Arts, shifting her focus towards animated film and cinema. Her artistic practice is process - driven, leaning towards experimentation. She's fascinated by textures and symbols, constantly looking for non-formulaic, yet compelling stories. 

On a rainy day, two schoolgirls from opposite boarding schools meet. Under the immobile gaze of two giant statues, they begin to lose track of time, as the rain seems never to stop... 

Felice Ronzon grew up near the mountains in the city of Grenoble, France. After earning a baccalaureate degree, Felice moved to another city, Clermont-Ferrand, to study animation near the volcano. For three years, Felice experimented in various creative mediums of course animation but also comics, illustration, and music. Music has always been a crucial part of their creative process. Felice studied guitar for eight years and was part of a rock band with friends. After three years, Felice obtained a bachelor's degree and chose to continue to study animation but in another country: in Belgium. where Felice recently completed a two-year master’s program in La Cambre in Brussels! 

A young married woman collects the sweet memories of her romance. On closer inspection, she leaves bits of herself behind... 

Louise Bongartz obtained a master’s degree in stop-motion at the prestigious BAU Design College in Barcelona, and a master’s degree in animation at La Cambre. With her graduation film HEXED, Louise demonstrated her technical mastery by using wood as a material for puppets and sets, to offer the film a very special atmosphere. With En Mille Pétales, Louise shows her will to lead the experimentation of wood and paper even further by coming into direct contact with the material to extract an emotion. 

A post operative existential crisis inspires an animator to make a film about a post operative existential crisis. 

Greg McLeod  draws things that stay still and things that move. Some of his animated films have won awards (BAFTA), some haven’t. He’s worked with many lovely people and organisations. Edgar Wright, Stewart Lee, Adam Buxton, Sara Pascoe also Disney, ITV, BBC, Aardman and Nickelodeon. 

He’s recently worked with his brother on a 40 x 7 minute episode series called ‘Circle Square’ for Milkshake C5, an idea they have designed, written and directed. They have also published 4 books in their ‘Knight Sir Louis’ series.  

Greg’s illustration encompasses experimental personal projects through to client work, product design, books and drawing on lollipop sticks to name a few. He won an award for the lollipop stick thing.  

He likes to keep busy. He also plays the drums. 

As to prove himself to his gangster father, Alessandro decides to rob a bar. What he wouldn’t expect is to meet another side of his father: Lady Victoria the drag queen. 

João Buosi - I am a Brazilian animator recently graduated from the Master of Arts and Animated Filmmaking in Gobelins. I wish to be able to express myself through character animation and performance.  

Carla Sampaio Da Silva - I am french italien and Portuguese recently graduate from Gobelins. I am specializing in 2D/3D animation and character design.  

Qin Xinxin - A Chinese animation artist with 5 years’ experience. I specialize in character animation and have an interest in storyboarding. I'm passionate about creating, exploring various art styles, and enjoy working in teamwork.  

Zhen Zhou - Zhen Zhou is a storyboard  artist / 2d animator from China. 

A movie about a breakup. The narrative develops through the author’s conversations with his long-time partner, and follows the contemplation of the end of a nine-year romantic relationship. The sound design of the film is constructed using documentary techniques, while animation illustrates the psychological and emotional spaces of these 'breakup' conversations. To depict the randomness of subconscious thoughts and emotional states, the author experiments with visuals that incorporate elements of the surreal, making the connections between frames associative. The film reflects on the dual purpose of the artistic endeavor: compressing and archiving a portion of personal history in the medium of film and using it as a form of therapeutic self-exploration and experimentation. 

Eugen Bilankov, born on May 4, 1995, in Split. His artistic journey begins with participation in film workshops at the Cinema Club Split, after finishing high school. He graduated from the Arts Academy in Split, specializing in Film and Video, in 2017. He continued his education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, in the Animated Film department, graduating in 2023. He has been employed as a video creator since 2016. 

Albert, 62, is crazy about cycling. Paulette, 65, loves biking. While Albert always wants to go faster, Paulette refuses. He gifts her an electric bicycle. But you’re born a bicyclist or a cyclist. The distinction is almost political. Albert soon realizes he has overstepped. 

Roxane Campoy is a director and illustrator from France. She focuses on consistently achieving a harmonious mix of colors and composition in her work. She practices gouache to create illustrations full of life and vibrancy.