The Art department is about community if nothing else. We love connecting creatives to the industry while nurturing a positive environment to share, learn and develop. The Next Stage, curated by the Next Talent Program, is integral to this mission.
The stage invites up-and-coming artists to provide insight into their creative process, as well as sharing the artistic forces which drive them.
This year, We’re so pleased to welcome Merel Hamers, Irma Peniche Silva, Narjes Mohammadi, Aisha Madu, Mari Gallet & Theoni Fotoglou and Zjacky van Bebber to the Next Stage.
Thursday April 18th
12:30 – 12:45 | Merel Hamers
BAFTA and SIGGRAPH winning director, animator and illustrator. Focused on strong narratives presented with charm and humor.
12:45 – 13:00 | Irma Peniche Silva
Cuban animator, illustrator and graphic designer. Award-winning work in poster design and animation, she now works at Ambassadors.
13:00 – 13:15 | Narjes Mohammadi
Author and visual artist working between animation and picture book illustration. Her work is critically acclaimed and has been selected by festivals including Kaboom, Cinanima, and Netherlands Film Festival.
Friday 19th
13:15 – 13:30 | Aisha Madu
Dutch-Nigerian animation director working between arthouse and commercial projects. Her work has been featured at Dutch Design Week, while her web-series accrued more than 17 million views.
13:30 – 13:45 | Mari Gallet + Theoni Fotoglou
Mari Gallet is a Belgian concept artist currently studying at Howest Digital Arts and Entertainment. She won the Rookie Award for Concept Art in 2023 and collaborates with Larian Studios.
Theoni Fotoglou is a 3D Animation student at Howest Digital Arts and Entertainment. He has a soft spot for the character creation process, from designing and translating to 3D and rigging.
13:35 – 14:00 | Zjacky van Bebber
Illustrator and designer who has collaborated with Artking Studio and Exploding Kittens. She’s now focused on children’s animation.
Header Image: Aisha Madu