Jury

MIKHAIL GUREVICH

Head of the Jury

Independent scholar and critic, born in Moscow, Russia. Writes on literature, theater, film and culture at large, with concentration in animation, puppetry, and experimental theater and cinema. From late 1970s was actively contributing to major cultural publications in Russia; later edited independent periodicals, including Kino-Glaz (Cine-Eye) and KukArt (Puppet-Art); hosted TV program on animation; as researcher and author was involved in documentaries and other projects. Worked as expert-consultant for professional associations in theater and cinema; served as board member and adviser at Soyuzmultfilm and Pilot animation studios. From 1992 lives in the USA. Wrote on animation specifically for professional and academic publications, ASIFA magazine, festivals’ program books; recently contributed extensively to the history of world animation by G. Bendazzi, to Global Animation Theory (Zagreb); Propaganda, Ideology, Animation: Twisted Dreams of History (Krakow); writes current reviews for Zippy Frames. Lectured in several universities and institutions internationally; presented papers on a number of conferences. Participated in numerous festivals as programmer, curator, juror and discussant; currently – program director at Blow-up International Arthouse Film Festival (Chicago). Also is involved in broader cultural journalism and documentary film-making; works as interpreter and translator.

PETER MURDMAA

He has participated in making documentaries as a cinematographer as well a director, also produced short films in fiction. Peter Murdmaa has organized several movie events, being an active participant in the development of the Estonian film landscape. In 2013, Peter Murdmaa was the an organizer and the director of the Sleepwalkers International Short Film Festival. In 2014, he founded the Estonian Short Film Center that aims in introducing audio-visual short forms within Estonia and to the rest of the world. In 2018, his activities culminated by organizing and curating Estonia 100 anniversary focus programs in Finland, Canada, France, England, Japan, Scotland, Latvia, Colombia, Spain, Serbia, Greece and Iran. Since 2014 he has been a jury member, a short film panelist, a pitching trainer or a moderator at more than 30 festivals all around the world. Currently he is leading a short film distribution event called the Baltic Preview at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. He is also tied to Lithuania via his activities by being one of co-organizers of the Baltic Pitching Forum in Vilnius.

ŠPELA ČADEŽ

A passionate advocate for the analogue, Čadež has impressed with films in puppet and cut-out animation techniques. She graduated in Graphic Design in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and continued her studies at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, Germany. She has been working as an independent animation director and producer since 2008. Her films have been screened worldwide and received altogether more than 100 awards at festivals all over the world. Boles (2013) has been awarded by a Grand Prix at the DOK Leipzig and Best Debut Award at Hiroshima International Animation Festival. Her film’s Nighthawk (2016) awards include the Grand Prix at the Holland Animation Film Festival (HAFF) and Animafest Zagreb. It has been screened at international festivals such as Sundance Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Since 2018, she is a member of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

WILL ANDERSON

Will Anderson is a BAFTA winning writer/director from the Scottish Highlands. Will’s first short film ‘The Making of Longbird’ won over 30 awards internationally at film festivals & received a British Academy Award in 2013. Since then he has written and directed other shorts films including ‘Monkey Love Experiments’ with co-director, Ainslie Henderson, 'Have Heart', (BAFTA Film nominee 2018), and is currently developing a feature project 'A Cat Called Dom'. Will also works as a freelance writer, director & animator on film, television, web & interactive projects.

NATALIA SURINOVICH

In 2005, she graduated from the courses of hand-drawn animation at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts (workshop of Irina Kodyukova). In 2007, she graduated from the Minsk Art School named after Alexey Glebov with a degree in design, and in 2012 she graduated from Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography with a degree in animation directing (workshop of Aida Zyablikova and Vladimir Zuikov). Her films participated in numerous festivals worldwide and got several awards. She also received the Russian National Animation Award "Icarus" in the category "Character" in 2016.