Lithuania

Elžbieta Poliakova is a Lithuanian animator and a graduate of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH). She works with CGI animation and explores how lighting shapes atmosphere and enhances visual storytelling.

Lithuania

Anastasija Simaškaitė is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Animation at VILNIUS TECH. Throughout her journey in animation, she has explored many aspects of the medium, including screenwriting, storyboarding, CGI animation, 3D asset creation, and, most recently, traditional and digital 2D animation.

Lithuania

Jovilė Gečaitė is an artist and animator. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design at VILNIUS TECH and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Digital Graphics and Animation at the same university. She specializes in 2D traditional animation and 2D skeletal animation. Currently, she is researching 2D skeletal animation techniques for her master's thesis while producing a short animated film.

Lithuania

Dr. Tomas Mitkus is a lecturer at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), an animation practitioner, and the author of numerous textbooks and more than 30 academic publications on animation, film, comics, and communication. Alongside his academic work, he has over twenty years of experience in the creative industries. When he is not writing a new article or textbook, he works on animated television and feature film projects, or illustrates comic books.

Lithuania

Rokas Semėnas is a freelance technical artist and Associate Professor at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), specializing in 3D modelling and video game programming. Alongside his professional work, he mentors aspiring multimedia designers and junior technical artists, helping them take their first steps in 3D modelling, animation, and game development.

Lithuania

Ernestas Čepulionis is a lecturer and Head of the Multimedia Design Lab at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH). He specializes in the creation, management, and automation of computer vector graphics and motion graphics workflows in Adobe After Effects using scripts and mathematical functions. He also works with audiovisual projects, virtual production, and motion capture (MoCap) technologies.

Lithuania

Domantas Liubartas is a lecturer at VILNIUS TECH, where he teaches visualization and video projection. His interests include animation, audio and video projection technologies, and the creation of digital experiences. In his work, he combines technology, creativity, and experimental approaches, exploring new possibilities in audiovisual expression.

Lithuania

Lėja Linkaitė holds a Bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design. She is particularly interested in video mapping, visual projections, motion graphics, and interactive visual solutions. For her final project, she developed a multi-screen video wall system and explored ways to simplify the process of preparing content for it. She is fascinated by how technology can be used to create immersive and engaging visual experiences.

Lithuania

Sabina Mamedova is junior 3D artist and a Master's student in Digital Graphics and Animation.

Lithuania

Justas Dobrovolskas is a 3D modeller, VR game developer, and video and board game enthusiast. In 2025, he graduated from VILNIUS TECH with a bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Digital Graphics and Animation. For his bachelor's thesis, he developed an educational VR astronomy game for students in grades 5–8. His master's research focuses on modeling antagonist behaviour in VR horror games using Behaviour Trees.

Italy

Andrea Lucco Borlera is a writer and video game developer, and a multimedia studies teacher at an arts high school. He holds a degree in Cinema and Visual Arts and a Master of Arts in Game Design. In 2025, he released his first video game, HORSES, developed in collaboration with Santa Ragione.

Italy

Claudia Molinari is the founder, creative director and producer of the Italian studio We Are Muesli (WAM), with more than 12 years of experience creating internationally recognized arthouse game projects, including video games, escape rooms, and hybrid experiences. Apart from the recently released slice-of-life anthology "In Their Shoes" (2026), the WAM games she is fondest of are the studio's debut, art-fi visual novel "CAVE! CAVE! DEUS VIDET." (2013), and the Calvino-inspired live escape room "Ludmilla" (2023).

Belgium

Milie Rime is an independent creator based in Belgium, working across comics, video games, and music.

Germany

Katharina Faller is a Multimedia Designer from Germany. She studied Multimedia and VR Design at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Halle (Saale) and graduated in 2026 with her bachelor's project, Let me See the Sea. Her work focuses on exploring small everyday feelings, enhancing interpersonal moments, and telling stories through interaction and immersion.

Switzerland

Selime Sivgin, also known as Wanheda, is a Zurich based game designer creating experimental and art games that make hidden systems, power structures, and social dynamics visible through play.

Italy

Pietro Righi Riva is co-founder and studio director at Santa Ragione, where he directed several award-winning independent games including ‘MirrorMoon EP’, ‘FOTONICA’, ‘Wheels of Aurelia’, and ‘Saturnalia’. As a producer, he also helped bring other notable Santa Ragione titles to life, among them ‘Mediterranea Inferno’ and ‘HORSES’.

Italy

Matteo Pozzi is the founder, game and narrative designer of the Italian studio We Are Muesli (WAM), with more than 12 years of experience creating internationally recognized arthouse game projects, including video games, escape rooms, and hybrid experiences. Apart from the recently released slice-of-life anthology "In Their Shoes" (2026), the WAM games he is fondest of are the Resistance-themed short story collection "Venti Mesi" (2015), and the abstract local co-op "Siheyuan" (2023).

Czechia

An indie game developer based in Czechia, he completed a Master's degree in Programming and is currently studying Game Design at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU). Alongside his studies, he works in the games industry as a Level Designer and Game Designer. His creative practice focuses on atmospheric, immersive experiences and environmental storytelling.

Lithuania

Architect, exhibition designer, comics artist and game designer. For the last 10 years he has worked on alternative games such as Utility for the Soul and R00000. Currently works on a virtual exhibition/game "Vilnius Museum of Antiquities: A temple of the Past" which aims to bring the first public museum in Lithuania back to life.

Switzerland

Nathanaël is an indie developer and artist from Zurich, with a background in art history. He is interested in serious and applied games, and is dedicated to creating experiences that tackle complex and meaningful topics, particularly topics related to queerness, in creative ways. He is currently completing his Bachelor's degree in Game Design at ZHdK (Zurich University of the Arts).

Argentina

María is an Argentinian visual artist based in Berlin, whose practice is shaped by a lifelong engagement with art and storytelling. With a degree in Fine Arts (Painting) and a background in traditional 2D animation, she works across illustration, comics, animation, and self-publishing. She has led workshops, exhibited internationally, participated in residencies, and given talks at festivals and institutions. Community and collaboration are central to both her artistic practice and personal life

Switzerland

Michael Frei is a Swiss animation filmmaker and game designer. His award winning works Plug & Play (2015), Kids (2019), and Time Flies (2025) have been shown, among others, at the Berlinale, Ars Electronica, Pictoplasma and the Independent Games Festival. As co-founder of the production company Playables, he creates interdisciplinary works at the intersection of film, games, and installation.

Czechia

Producer with experience in 8 animated feature films, dozens of short animated films for children and adults, also signed for documentaries, TV shows. Maurfilm's films have won literally hundreds of festival awards including an Oscar nomination.In addition to animation, he loves his three daughters, books, collecting movie posters, and long distance running. Which always seems like a good metaphor for all animated films...

Sweden

Johan Edström is a producer. He owns APPARAT Filmproduktion AB and is partner of THE CHAPEL FILMS AB.  He has since 1977 worked as an animator, director and producer in Sweden, Europe, Japan, the United States and Canada.  He has been a guest lecturer in Animation at SKH, Sörängen, Campus i12, Folkuniversitetet, North Park University, Den Danske Filmskole, and StopMotionLab. Johan is a co-producer of Ida Melum's film Ovary-Acting (2025) and the main producer of Anna Mantzaris film PLEASE (2026).

Lithuania

Sonata Vilkevičiūtė is a stop-motion animator who also works with various textile techniques. From a young age, she was interested in animation and doll-making. She attended Kaišiadorys Art School and later graduated from Kaunas Art Gymnasium with a specialization in textiles. For her final arts exam, she decided to explore animation and created her first stop-motion animated short film, In the Rhythm of a Clock. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Animation at the Vilnius Academy of Arts (VDA), works as an educator with the Animatest team, and occasionally collaborates with the animation studio Kadrų Skyrius.

Lithuania

Gertrūda Nemčauskaitė is a young and talented 2D and stop-motion animator who graduated from the Vilnius Academy of Arts in 2020 and is now working on several projects, based both in Lithuania and abroad. Backstreet Birds is her first written and directed short.

Poland

Monika Masłoń is a visual artist and art educator whose work explores the intersection of experimental film, digital media, and sensory experience. She holds a Ph.D. from the Łódź Film School, and her works, including the VR experience Control Negative (DOK Leipzig 2022), have been presented internationally. She is currently developing the documentary installation Feeling Touched, exploring touch and human connection, and the multi-user VR experience Ocean, inspired by Stanisław Lem’s novel Solaris.

Finland

Menghui Huang is a Helsinki-based XR director and visual artist from China, with a background in New Media Art and VR animation. Her VR project The Big Cube premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and has since screened internationally. Beyond VR, she is an award-winning visual artist recognized by the World Illustration Awards and ADC Annual Awards. Her work explores imaginary worlds and seeks new ways to tell stories through color, shape, and immersive experience.