Francisco Lacerda
Country: PortugalFrancisco Lacerda is a Portuguese American writer/director based in Azores, Portugal. He is one of the creators of the midnight screening sensation short films "Dentes e Garras!" and "Dentes e Garras 2" which were both nominated for a Méliès Award on MOTELX and were consequently acquired by Troma Entertainment for distribution. In 2017, Francisco co-wrote and co-directed with Francisco Lopes the short film "Freelancer", which proved to be a success with audiences worldwide and won Best Short Film at the 2018 Horrorvision Film Festival. In the twelfth edition of MOTELX Film Festival the term "Azoresploitation" was coined to describe Francisco's works as a unique sub-genre of Portuguese exploitation/ splatter cinema made only in the Azores Islands and by Azores filmmakers and artists. His latest short film "Karaoke Night", which had its North American premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival, has cemented the term "Azoresploitation" has an actual sub-genre of Portuguese exploitation cinema, making Francisco a pioneer of this genre.
Steven Lapcevic
Country: United States of AmericaSteven Lapcevic is an independent animator who specializes in creating shorts that are surreal in nature. His films eschew a narrative approach and are experimental in their structure and execution, creating a dreamlike progression of visual ideas.
"IDIOT KING" was awarded "Best Animation" at the 2017 Coney Island Film Festival, "SUCCOR" was awarded "Best Experimental Short" at Film Maudit 2.0 in 2021 and "HYBRID" was awarded "Best Animation" at The Highland Square Film Festival in 2022.
His animation has been featured in the films, "Dreams: Cinema of the Subconscious", directed by Roko Belic and “Disaster 501: What Happened to Man?”, conceptualized by Lars von Trier and directed by Jenle Hallund. The latter was screened at The 2012 Copenhagen Art Festival. His work has also been featured on an episode of the Adult Swim series, "Off the Air".
Mr. Lapcevic has been awarded the 2010 Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island Art Fund Grant, the 2010 Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island Excellence in the Arts Award, the 2010 Experimental Television Center Grant, the 2013 New York State Council on the Arts Original Work Grant, and the 2016 Staten Island Arts Excellence in the Arts Award.
Hubert Lapointe
Country: CanadaFresh out of the 2D animation Cégep du Vieux-Montréal program in 2010, I have been since evolving in the animation industry as an animator, trainer, director, and producer.
As a Toonboom trainer from 2014 to 2016, I had the opportunity to travel around the world and discover the backstage of animation internationally, allowing me to be involved in several major projects, including 'Rick & Morty' and 'Solar Opposites'.
Since 2017, I have been working as a director, initially in advertising at Shed before transitioning to TV series where I direct 'Jon Le Bon', which won 3 consecutive Gemini Awards for best animation.
In 2021, I founded Bon Jam Animation, a studio specializing in 2D animation where I work to showcase local talent through commercial projects and original productions.
Lotte Latham
Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandRuined by the ruling classes.
