Lea Zagury
She has a BFA in Visual Communication in which her final project was an animated short film. In 1986, she was selected for a residency program by the Brazilian Film Agency in collaboration with the NFB of Canada. Soon, a Fulbright Scholarship took her to California Institute of the Arts (1986/1990) at the Experimental Animation department, where she produced the award winning short “Karaiba” among other films. She worked as assistant animator with digital film effects at Pacific Data Image in Los Angeles and later at Turner Feature Animation as a Visual Development Artist. In 1992, she and 3 other Brazilian animators founded the Anima Mundi Festival. The festival ANIMA MUNDI happened form 1993 to 2019. It was founded and co-directed by 4 animators, until then.
Filmography
“Marvada Pinga, Cachaça Imaculada” – (2007) – live-action documentary, co-directed.
“Karaiba” – (1992), 16mm short film. Awards: premiered at Sundance Festival -1994 (USA); Golden Awards for Best Short Animation at Houston WorldFest, Texas (USA); Bronze Apple at National Educational Media Awards, San Francisco (USA); Jury Awards at Aspen ShortFest, Colorado (USA); Best Children’s Film at MountainFilm in Telluride, Colorado (USA); Best Filmmaker Award at Taos Talking Picture Festival, Utah (USA) and Best Animation Film at Ann Arbor (USA).
“A City Against Their Colonels – (1989) – 35 mm, short animated film, co-directed.
“Salamandras” – (1990) 16mm computer animation film (using the first computer ever made for animation – Cube Comb)
“Slaughter” – (1989) – short abstract animated electronic video.
“Planet Earth” – (1986) – participation on a collective short.
“Clara Crocodile” – (1982), super-8, experiment animation short.
“From A to Z” – (1980), super-8, cut-out animation. It was the graduation project (BFA).
Obs: I never had transferred my films to digital. I plan to do it in the near future.
Mehmet Kurtuluş
He graduated from the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts Faculty; Department of Sculpture.
He is the founder of the “anima” animation studio, which was established in 1995 under IFR.
He continued his managerial life as the founding partner of Kare Kare Film Production and later became the founder of the companies “Anima Istanbul” and “Anima Okul”.
He has directed hundreds of commercials until today; In addition, he worked as a producer, effects supervisor and director in many TV and cinema films such as “Why were Hacivat and Karagöz Killed” and Magnificent Century.
He also co-produced the movie Butterflies, which won the Grand Jury Prize in the World Cinema section of the Sundance Film Festival.
In 2016, he produced and directed his first feature film, Bad Cat Shero.
He is still the CEO of Kare Kare Film Yapım A.Ş.
Sayoko Kinoshita
Born in Tokyo, Sayoko Kinoshita graduated from the Plastic Arts Department of Joshibi College of Art and Design in 1966. After working with Mushi Productions for two years, she joined Studio Lotus in 1969, and since then, has been working energetically and internationally for various fields related to animation as well as to moving images in general including documentary and fiction.
Her activities range widely, including filmmaking, producing, promoting, teaching, etc.
Sayoko planned and directed animation as well as designed characters and lightings for many famous TV programs such as “Curricula Machine” (NTV/ ’74-’76/ educational program), “Ohayo Kodomo Show” (NTV/ ’76-’80/ educational program), “Kokky Pop” (NTV/ ’81/ music program).
As for independent documentary animation shorts and commercial works, made together with her partner Renzo Kinoshita, she mainly managed the planning, script writing, animation and producing. Her representative shorts include “Made in Japan” (’72), “Japonese” (’77), “Pica Don” (’78), “The Last Air Raid – Kumagaya” (’93), “A Little Journey” (’94), and “Ryukyu Okoku – Made in Okinawa” (2004). All her works received international awards as well as prizes at various international film festivals, including the Grand Prize at New York Int’l Film Festival, and have been invited by various film festivals continuously around the world.
As for educational activities, Sayoko has not only been making lectures at art universities, colleges, and film festivals since early ’80s, but also, has been teaching animation to the audio-visual professionals of 41 developing countries (in Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East and Central & South America) since 1990, as an animation production expert of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Moreover, she has been holding lectures and workshops aimed for the specialists of various different genres, informing that animation is one of the most effective media which could be very useful in developing their fields as well as in dealing various social issues such as human rights, peace, AIDS, population, etc. In 1994, Sayoko was invited by UNICEF to make a lecture at “the 2nd Animation for Development Workshop & Summit” held in Orlando. In 2000, she was dispatched by The Japan Foundation for their “Introducing Japan Project”, and made lectures on Japanese animation as well as held animation demonstration in Mexico City, Houston, Austin and Sao Paulo. Also in 2000, she made a lecture and workshop on animation at the “International Human Rights Education Symposium & Workshop”, organized by Osaka City.
She also places great emphasis on holding animation workshops for children, and served as the President of ASIFA Workshop Group (AWG) during 1997 – 2006.
During 2005 – 2019, she taught at Osaka University of Arts as the Visiting Professor.
Sayoko has also been working hard internationally for the dissemination of animation as an art/media form. Her emphasis is placed especially on artistic short animation. Since early ’80s, she has been introducing Japanese short animations to foreign countries. On the other hand, she has been introducing other countries’ masterpieces to Japan where the opportunities to appreciate such works are still very rare. By showing high quality animations, she aims to elevate the recognition and status of animation art and animation filmmakers worldwide.
In 1985, together with Renzo, Sayoko produced and founded the first international biennial competitive animation festival in Asia, in Hiroshima, organized by Hiroshima City and ASIFA-Japan, endorsed by ASIFA. The year 1985 was the 40th anniversary of atomic bombing, and the spirit of pursuing eternal peace was shared by both Hiroshima City and ASIFA to establish the festival. She served as the Festival Director for 36 years until March 2021, placing all her time and energy for the development of animation art.
The final 18th edition was held in August 2020, under a reduced format because of the corona virus pandemic. Only the competition was held by International Jury members using online conference system, and the award-winning films were decided.
Sayoko has been visiting many countries in Asia by herself to research the situation of animation industry as well as to meet and exchange with the animation people. In 1993, she visited Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, and The Philippines, in 1996 visited Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, in 1998 visited many cities in India, and in 2000 visited many cities in Turkey. She has also been making intensive research and exchanges in European countries. For example, in 2003, she visited Romania, in 2005 Switzerland, in 2008 Finland, in 2012 Norway, in 2014 Hungary, in 2018 Estonia, and in 2020 U.K.
Since early 80’s, she has been coordinating animation programs for film festivals and art museums of various countries. During 1986-1994, she annually organized the non-competitive international animation festival in Itabashi District in Tokyo and put emphasis on introducing artistic shorts from various countries.
In 1986, she founded International Animation Library (IAL). IAL keeps films/videos from over the world, and finds opportunities to show these works as well as cooperate with the artists with their filmmaking, and introduces the variety and effectiveness of animation art/medium.
From June 2006 to December 2006, Sayoko served as the Acting President of ASIFA, and from December 2006 to December 2009, she served as the President of ASIFA. After serving as the Vice-President, she is now again the President since 2018.
In 2006, received the Municipal Achievement Award from Hiroshima City.
In 2012, received the lifetime achievement award from Japan Media Arts Festival.
In 2019, received the PRO CULTURA HUNGARICA from Hungary.
Since 2020, a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Sayoko has been making efforts to realize the establishment of International Animation Institute.
Animation Filmmaker/Producer
President of Association Internationale du Film d’Animation (ASIFA)
President of ASIFA-Japan
President of Studio Lotus Inc., President of International Animation Libarary (IAL)
Member of International Short Film Conference (ISFC)
Member of Motion Picture and Television Engineering Society of Japan, Inc. (MPTE)
Member of Japan Film Producer’s Association
Adviser to Japan Society for Animation Studies (JSAS)
Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)
Sayoko KINOSHITA – filmography of independent shorts
1971 WHAT ON EARTH IS HE?
(by Renzo Kinoshita, 35mm, colour, 3min.40sec., script, animation, producer)
– selected, Sogetsu Animation Festival in Tokyo
1972 MADE IN JAPAN
(by Renzo Kinoshita, 35mm, colour, 9min., script, animation, producer)
– Grand Prix, New York International Animation Festival
– Official screenings at numerous int’l film festivals
– Preserved at the Film Archive of The Japan Foundation
– Preserved permanently at ASIFA Film Archive
1973 GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCTS
(by Renzo Kinoshita, 35mm, colour, 3min., script, animation, producer)
– Broadcasted on Nippon Television Network
1977 JAPONESE
(by Renzo Kinoshita, 35mm, colour, 6min., script, animation, producer)
– Honorary Prize, Leipzig International Festival of Short Films
– Selected, Annecy International Animation Festival
– Selected for Best Film, Lucca International Animation Festival
– Selected, CINANIMA International Animation Festival
– Official screenings at numerous int’l film festivals
– Preserved at the Film Archive of The Japan Foundation
– Preserved permanently at ASIFA Film Archive
1978 PICA DON
(by Renzo Kinoshita, 35mm, colour, 10min., script, animation, producer)
– Selected, Leipzig International Festival of Short Films
– Special Prize, Annecy International Animation Festival
– Selected for Outstanding Film, London International Film Festival
– Selected, Sydney International Film Festival
– Selected, Moscow International Film Festival
– Selected for Best Film, Lucca International Animation Festival
– Selected, Los Angeles International Animation Celebration
– Official screenings at numerous int’l film festivals
– Preserved at the Film Archive of National Modern Museum of Art, Japan
– Preserved at the Film Archive of The Japan Foundation
– Preserved permanently at ASIFA Film Archive
– Included in the authorized high school textbook for fine art (since 2003)
1986 GEBA GEBA SHOW TIME
(by Renzo Kinoshita, 35mm/videogram, colour, 30min., art & animation)
– Selected, Chicago International Film Festival for Children
– Preserved at the Film Archive of The Japan Foundation
1988 FRAME OF MIND
(by Renzo Kinoshita, 35mm, colour, 2min., producer)
1989 FLIP-CLIP
(by Renzo Kinoshita, 35mm, colour, 5min.30sec., producer)
– Selected, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
– Exhibited at “Illustration New Wave” held at Dentsu
1989 THE MORNING
(by Renzo Kinoshita, 35mm, colour, 1min.43sec., producer)
– Exhibited at The Peace Film Festival, Tokyo
– Selected, Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
1991 FLIP-CLIP’91
(by Renzo Kinoshita, 35mm/videogram, colour, 3min.10sec., producer)
– Exhibited at “Illustration New Wave” held at Dentsu
1993 THE LAST AIR RAID – KUMAGAYA
(by Renzo Kinoshita, 35mm/videogram, colour, 28min.51sec.,
script, animation, producer)
– Permanent screenings at Saitama Peace Museum
– Honorary Prize, Krakow International Short Film Festival
– Selected, Annecy International Animation Festival
– Selected, CINANIMA International Animation Festival
– Official screening, Leipzig International Short Film Festival
– Official screening, Hiroshima International Animation Festival
– Selected as Excellent Film by the Ministry of Education
– Recommended as Excellent Film by Japan Film Pen Club
– Recommended as Excellent Film by The Japan Film Society
– Recommended as Excellent Film by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
1994 A LITTLE JOURNEY
(by Renzo Kinoshita, 35mm, colour, 13min.,
script, animation, producer)
– Official screening, Krakow International Short Film Festival
– Selected, Ottawa International Animation Festival
– Selected, Earth Vision’94 – The Global Environmental Film Festival
– Selected, Berlin International Children’s Film Festival
– Selected, Zlin International Film Festival for Children
– Recommended as Excellent Film by Japan Film Pen Club
– Recommended as Excellent Film by The Japan Film Society
– Selected as Excellent Film by the Ministry of Education
– Preserved at the Film Archive of The Japan Foundation
- RYUKYU OKOKU – MADE IN OKINAWA
(by Renzo and Sayoko Kinoshita, 35mm, colour, 17min.43sec., also script and producer)
– Selected as Excellent Film by the Ministry of Education
– Has been invited by various international film festivals, including
FANTOCHE2005, KROK2005, SICAF2005, LEIPZIG2005,
LAUSANNE DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL 2005,
I CASTELLI ANIMATI 2005, ISOLA CINEMA FESTIVAL 2006,
ZAGREB2006, TINDRINDIS 2006, CICDAF2006, ASIFA-East2006,
Dartmouth College 2006, Grand Valley State University 2006,
Belgrade Documentary and Short Film Festival 2007,
Nis Animation Colony 2007, ASIFA-Atlanta 2007,
ASIFA-Hungary 2008, and many others.
– In 2012, an exhibition at Galleria Nike of Joshibi University of Art and Design.
– In 2013, a special screening at Tenbusu Hall, Okinawa, and donated the DVDs to various educational organizations and public facilities in Okinawa.