Marilou Ise Haeck has always been fascinated by nature, it's beauty and it's overwhelming violence. After three years of studying 2D animation at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal, she presents her first story to the public: a bloody and dreamlike tale called Under the Canopy.

Hisham Hajir, born in 1992 in El Paso, Texas, is a distinguished Arab & Latino filmmaker with a career spanning over 15 years. His journey in the film industry began in 2009, transitioning from theater to a supporting role in a feature film. This initial foray into acting soon expanded as he delved into various facets of film production and post-production.

Hisham's diverse skills quickly garnered attention, leading him to produce and edit projects for prominent companies such as Amazon, Warner Music Group, and Universal Music Group. His academic pursuits paralleled his burgeoning film career, culminating in 2017 with dual bachelor's degrees in psychology & digital filmmaking from New Mexico State University, where he graduated with honors.

Currently, Hisham is a sought-after freelance video editor, crafting engaging content for social media giants like the Daily Wire, America's Funniest Home Videos, and College Humor. Despite his professional commitments, he continues to pursue his passion for storytelling through Midnight Green Films, his personal production banner. Under this banner, Hisham has written, produced, and directed multiple award-winning short films, showcasing his unique vision and dedication to the craft.

Brazil-based director

My name is Katherine Jackson - Katie for short – and I was born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand. Movies have been a part of my life since I can remember. I grew up on film sets, with both parents working in the industry. It was there, on set, amidst the noise and chaos and boundless creativity, that I discovered my own passion for filmmaking. Coming from a small city, at the bottom of the world, the ability to express yourself, to be able to tell your own stories, has always been an imperative for me.

As I grew up I would make my own movies with friends at school. This is where I learnt that filmmaking is a collaborative process, even on the smallest scale. My first job following high school was selling tickets in a movie theatre. I got to watch how people experienced films – the good and the bad. Throughout this time I was writing and playing around with developing my own stories. A few years after that I was offered the chance to shoot behind-the-scenes on the feature films Ghost in The Shell and Mortal Engines. I was able to spend time chronicling different departments, observing everything from costume to production design, camera and sound, to the endlessly busy assistant directors – all of them working together to fulfil the director’s vision.

The experience of writing, directing and editing my own first short film has been transformative. It has taught me how much intense focus and hard work is needed to create even a few fleeting moments on screen. It has also confirmed for me this is what I want to do with the rest of my life. Film is, by definition, intensely personal and yet, when it works – the experience is universal. It is inherently an emotional medium but it must also engage in ideas. You have to have something to say and you need to know why you want to say it.

Nikolaus Jantsch is a media artist based in Vienna. He graduated with distinction in 2006. Since 2012, he has been the head of the animation department at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, where he also studied. In 2016, he established the "Angewandte Animation Award" for students at the "under radar" festival. Since 2019, he has served as the animation festival manager at the Pixel Vienna Festival. Additionally, he is a member of the postrock band Thalija.

Mateusz Jarmulski is a director and writer of animated films and an animator. He graduated from the Film School in Lodz with a degree in animation. He is also the author of music videos and concert visuals. His films have been broadcast on television and screened and awarded at festivals including Stuttgart, Seoul and Hiroshima. His previous short films “The Hunt” and “The Visit” went to more than 40 festivals around the world. He seeks variety in various 2d forms and is interested in the possibilities of the animation language.