Milana Safonova

Russia

assistant

Animator, director, script writer. Born in Moscow 03.04.1986. In 2005, graduated from the Animation Cinematography Lyceum No. 333. In 2006-2012, studied at the Sholokhov Moscow state University, qualified as a "biology teacher". Since 2010, she is the head of the Studio Mult-Therapy in CRIC "Our Sunny World". Worked at the Russian stand MIFA Festival in Annecy in 2012. Since 2013, studies at SHAR School of Animation and Directing. In 2014, was a co-creator of the presentation trailer of the Russian Animation Film Association at Annecy.

Selected filmography:

2005 - Self-Criticism, graduation film
2008 - Holiday Sketches, Special Prize of the Jury at the "Kino Click" festival, Yaroslavl; the Special Prize of the Jury of the "Tushite svet!" festival, Narva, Estonia; diploma at the "Unseen Film" festival, Maardu, Estonia
2011 - Studio Mult-Therapy "Our Sunny World" trailer
2012 - The Long Bridge in the Right Direction (dir. I. Maximov), animator
2013 - Boom-Boom Fisherman's Daughter (dir.I. Maximov), animator
2013 - Dots
2014 - presentation trailer of the Russian Animation Film Association (dir.I.Maximov), script, animator
2014 - Chicken (dir. V. Bedoshvili), director assistant.

Alexandra Lukina

Russia

assistant

Was born in 1987. In 2002, she worked for 6 months at the Channel One Russia as a non-staff correspondent. In 2003, she began studying animation direction at VGIK. During her education, she worked on her first film - “Like Mother, Like Daughter”, which participated in many Russian and European Festivals. Alexandra and her work have won several awards, including the Russian Federation Presidential “Award for Talented Youth”, the Award for the “Best Student Animated and Experimental Film” at the “goEast” Festival in Germany, “Prize for the Best Student Film” at the “GoldFish Festival” and the “Prize for Best Animation Film” at the “Golden Reel” Festival in Russia. In 2011, she was nominated for the Co-production Prize of the Robert Bosch Foundation. As a nominee, she attended the Nominee Forum in Stuttgart and selected events at the “Berlinale” Festival. In 2012, she participated in the “Kultburo” educational program. Her project “Breaking News” was a winner of the “Kultburo” program.

Selected filmography:

2008 - Like Mother, Like Daughter, graduation film, VGIK
2009 - 007, animation music video
2011 - One Day of Georgy Vladimov, animation documentary (dir. Roman Liberov) - director and artist of the animated part
2014 - The Brave Mother

Sophia Kendel

Russia

assistant

Was born on January, 8, 1987 in Novosibirsk (Russia). In 2007, graduated from Orenbourg State University qualified as a graphic designer. Entered the SHAR School-Studio in 2008. Has finished her graduation film Pishto Goes Away in 2012.

Filmography:
2009 - Roman.S (dir. Lyudmila Trapeznikova), 14 min, assistrant artist, background artist
2010 - A Secret of Matryoshka (dir. Lyudmila Trapeznikova), 15 min 50 sec, assistrant artist
2011 - Out of Game (dir. Ivan Maximov), 6 min 05 sec, art director
2012 - Pishto Goes Away, 10 min

Shahar Davis

Israel

Shahar Davis, Israeli citizen, born in 1978, is a self-taught 3D animator and has been working professionally on-and-off since 1993. From 1997 he studied contemporary dance in a full-time program for nearly four years, first in Kibbutz Gaaton, Israel and then at the Rotterdam Dance Academy, The Netherlands. After returning to Israel, he started his own 3D animation company, creating commercials and graphic packages for the Israeli television industry. He then went on to complete a BA in Finance and Management at IDC Herzeliya, graduating first in his class. In 2011 he began a degree in animation at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design to broaden his artistic communication skills.

Filmography - Director and Animator:
2014 - He and It Are, 3 min 46 sec, stop motion, (in production, co-directed with Tal Kantor)
2014 - Hermeneutic Circle And Its Breach, 17 min, video, 3D animation and stop motion - awarded the Bezalel Prize for originality, innovation and creativity
2014 - Variation 09, 44 sec, charcoal animation
2014 - The Sun, Glenn Gould and I, 3 min 10 sec, stop motion
2013 - A Silenced Mark, 1 min 25 sec, charcoal animation
2013 - From The Earlier, 1 min 48 sec, stop motion, (co-directed with Renana Aldor)
2012 - Fragmented Reflection, 1 min 18 sec, stop motion, (co-directed with Renana Aldor)
1994 - Chronos, 4 min 30 sec, 3D animation, (co-directed with Ira Rosen) - Special Mention, "Make A Video", 1995, Helsinki.

Link on Vimeo

Gal Haklay

Israel

Gal Haklay, born in Israel at 1988, is a classic animator, graphic designer and illustrator. In 2011 she began a degree in animation at Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem. Among her works you can find a wide range of techniques, such as: stopmotion, pixilation, live action, classic animation, 3D and more. In 2013 she studied one semester in HKU Utrecht in the Netherlands, as an exchange student at the illustration department.

Filmography:

2014 - Side Effects, 36 sec, classic animation
2013 - Elijah & the Bird, 50 sec, classic animation (co-directed with Shuli Tajer)
2013 - Aroma Floating Stuff, commercial, 15 sec, live-action and 3D animation (co-directed with Or Avrahamy)
2013 - Energy Bar, 2 min 2 sec, pixilation and stop motion (co-directed with Stav Levi)
2013 - Sisyphus, 1 min 10 sec, stop motion (co-directed with Daniella Shnitzer)
2012 - The Shtantz, 46 sec, sand animation (co-directed with Or Avrahamy)
2012 - Kinder, 1 min 12 sec, stop motion
2012 - Hairy Hairy Night, 1 min 37 sec, pixilation and stop motion (co-directed with Shuli Tajer and Antony Yarpilev)

Silvan Zweifel

Switzerland

1998 - 2004 Primary School Erlen, Glarus
2004 - 2010 High School, Glarus
2011 - 2012 Preliminary course for Design, HSLU, Luzern
2012 - 2015 Bachelor of Animation, HSLU, Luzern

Filmography:

2011 - Nightmare?, 06 min 43 sec, hand-drawn animation
2011 - Birds, 15 min 22 sec, ski & snowboardmovie mixed with animation
2013 - Cyberbird Bobby, 19 sec., hand-drawn commercial for Cartoon Network

link to the Tumblr

Frederic Siegel

Switzerland

2004-2010 High School at Kantonsschule Zug (Matura)
2011-2012 Art Foundation Course at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
2012-2015 Student at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – 2D

Filmography:

2013 - Owl Power, 1 min 26 sec, HSLU
2013 - On The Shore, 3 min 30 sec, HSLU, co-director Fleur Matson
2014 - Easy Prey, 1 min, HSLU
2014 - 2 Magnete – Official Music Video for the Swiss band „Murphy Left“
2013-2014: various commisioned works for different clients, e.g. Cartoon Network, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Zurich University of the Arts, Swiss Science Center Technorama.

Exhibitions
2013 St. Magdalena Luzern CH, Fumetto Satellite Exhibition, Hochschule Luzern, Animation
2014 Ankenwaage Zug CH, "Aus dem Leben des Herrn Segler", A narrative Exhibition.

Steven Midtgard

Norway

Born 1990 in Aalesund, Norway. Studied Media and Communication before applying for Animation at Volda University College in 2011, Graduated with a Bachelor in 2014, and is now taking a Masters degree in Animation. Currently working on a two year stop motion production called "In The Fall" in collaboration with Mariell Revheim Fotland, which is expected to be finished during the Spring of 2016.

Filmography:
2013 - Rockpool Hospital, co-animator
2013 - Dokfilm Vignette, director, co-animator and editor
2011 - The Seed, first film, High School

Mariell Revheim Fotland

Norway

Was born in Bergen, Norway, in 1990. She studied art in a high school where she discovered animation. After high school, she began studying animation at Volda the University College. She completed her bachelor's degree in June 2014. Mariell also spent five months in Zagreb, Croatia, where she studied at the Art Academy. She is now studying for a master's degree in animation. Her current project is "In The Fall", a stop motion film that will be finished in June 2015.

Marta Szymańska

Poland

Born in 1991, has graduated from Art School in Warsaw qualified for visual advertising. Since 2010 she studies animation at Lodz Film School.

Filmography:
2011 - Oranges, an award at T-mobile New Horizons in Wroclaw (2012)
2012 - Peregrinus
2014 - Moko, Honorable mention for aesthetics – The Young and Beautiful Film Festival in Warsaw (2014)
2014 - Kairos.

Edward Kurczewski

Poland

Was born in Grodno, Belarus. Was always drawing since he was a kid. Applied to The Leon Schiller National Higher School of Film in Lodz for Animation and Special Effects department, where has already successfully completed 4 years.

Filmography:
2011 - The Friendship from the Dark Forest, 3 min 52 sec
2012 - Self-Recognition, 4 min 13 sec
2013 - Illusionist, short fiction, 1 min 44 sec, script, special effects
2013 - Palace, short fiction, 3 min 03 sec, script, director, special effects
2013 - Air, music clip, 3 min 55 sec, special effects
2013 - Fisherman, 5 min 19 sec 2015 - Gerard: Tale of a Man, 7 min. 50 sec.

Mari-Liis Rebane

Estonia

Born on 8.10.1988 in Tallinn, Estonia. 2008-2009 - Tallinn University / Estonian Institute of Humanities Culture Theory, Middle Eastern and Asian Culture. In 2014, graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Estonian Academy of Arts.
– 2012, Animation Exchange at Dresden Filmfest, Germany
– 2011, Nisimazine Film Criticism Workshop, Kaunas International Film Festival, Lithuania
– 2011, Masterclass: Acting For Animation, Cardiff School of Art & Design, Wales, UK
– 2008, Cultural Integration, Summerschool in Lauenburg, Germany
– 2005, Cultural Exchange Programme between Europe and Japan, Japanese Government & YFU Scholarship, Nukata High School, Aichi, Japan.

Since May, 2011, she's the Programme Director of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival / Animated Dreams.

Tumblr

Filmography:

2014 - Jungle of Despair, 2 min 14 sec, 2D animation, Estonian Academy of Arts
2011 - Breakfast on the Grass, co-directed with Mihkel Reha, Mari Pakkas, Erik Alunurm, 4 min. 30 sec., puppet animation, Estonian Academy of Arts

Lev Voloshin

Moldova

Was born on 13 November 1989. Lives in Chisinau, Moldova. In 2005-2009 studied at the Sciusev School of Fine Arts, in 2013 - graduated from the AMTAP Academy of Arts. Since 2009 works at the Simpals Studio as an animator and a concept-artist.

Filmography:

2014 - You've killed him!, 18 sec
2013 - Dancing Bagpipe, 21 sec
2013 - an episode from the Maiko Project 2012 - Triplex, The Galileo TvShow bumper 2012 - Diapers, The Galileo TvShow bumper
2012 - Phonograph, The Galileo TvShow bumper
2012 - Otis' Elevator, The Galileo TvShow bumper
2012 - Washing Machine, The Galileo TvShow bumper
2012 - X-Ray, The Galileo TvShow bumper
2012 - Mongolfier, The Galileo TvShow bumper
2012 - Money, The Galileo TvShow bumper

Eugeny Fadeyev

Russia

Was born in 1988 in Moscow. Graduated from Moscow State University of Geodesics and Cartography in 2011, qualified as an architect. In 2008, while studying, he took a part in the international contest “Design for the Children”; Arch Moscow exhibition in 2009; student conference on art with the report ”Nicolas Poussin about Art and Music”; had a summer course of painting on Kizhi Island in 2009. In 2011-2013, worked as a stage designer, decorator and interior designer. Starting from 2013 he is a student at the SHAR School-Studio. At the moment working on his debute animated film.

Maria Koneva

Russia

Born in Kaluga in 1989. In 2011, made her first short film in clay technique. Since then has been working as a director and animator at the studio 7BiOZ which was founded by a group of friends and is specialized in stop-motion, clay films and 2D. Delivers animation workshops for children. Is currently a student of the SHAR School-Studio.

Filmography:

2011 - Nightmare, clay animation
2012 - Interpretation
2012 - The Destiny of the Professor's Wife, an animation introduction for a cognominal play
2013 - commercial for kitchen furniture Zetta
2013 - an animation for the Metro newspaper
2014 - The Little Match Girl, an animation closing for a cognominal play directed by Varvara Obidor
2014 - a trailer for a crowdfunding for the Insomnia Animation Film Festival
2014 - a traiter for the All-Russian Contest of Booktrailers

Polina Skorokhodova

Russia

Was born in Moscow in 1992. Soon moved to the little science town Pushchino. Graduated from school in 2008, studied in art school and music school, learning to play the guitar.
2008-2013 - studied linguistics in the Moscow State Linguistic University, during this time studied in Spain for a short period, took part in the project "100 years of the Moscow Art Theatre" - run-through, review, editing of video fragments and writing articles on the project for journals and magazines. 2008-2014- was part of modern dances group "LC";
2013-2014 - attended lessons of the Korean language in the school "WonGvan";
2013-2014 - did freelance work for the museum "Experimentanium" - was involved in the process of creating characters, infographics and models for the museum.
2014 - matriculated into the Theatre and Arts college #60, faculty of animation. Currently working on creating of storyboards, comics and illustration.

Lena Nogami

Russia

Was born in Krasnodar in 1983. In 2004, graduated from the FISMO Department of the Kuban State University. In 2009-2011, worked at the Bazelevs film studio. In 2009-2011, studied at the High Academic School of Graphic Design and worked as a director and motion designer at the MTV channel. In 2013 entered the SHAR School Studio.

Selected filmography:

2008 - the music video for the "Megapolis" band, 3 min 27 sec
2010 - the dance media performance "Metamorphosis" for the School of Dramatic Art, 1 min 58 sec

Vimeo

Veronica Pekker

Russia

Was born in Moscow in 1988. Graduated from the Moscow State Linguistic University in 2011, qualified as a marketing analyst. From 2011 till 2014 was managing my own school of foreign languages, that was called "Obshatsya legko!" (Comunicate easy!) From 2013 is a student at the SHAR School-Studio. By this moment has taken part only in the creation of one animated movie "Chicken" (dir. Vasiko Bedoshvili, 7 min. 8 sec., Soyuzmultfilm Studio). At the moment she's working on my debute animated film.