podcasts

He went through every 2D animation position before he became a director. And after that, the amazing Kung Fu Panda was born. He is also connected with Jim Henson’s famous The Muppet Show and the iconic film The Dark Crystal. What is it like to work at a studio as big as DreamWorks? Has he ever found himself in "director jail"? And what connects him to the Czech Republic? This interview was created as a kind of unusual masterclass in the form of a conversation at Anifilm 2023. Welcome to: In Conversation with John Stevenson!

Sander Joon, the young Estonian animator behind the Oscar-shortlisted film Sierra, discusses his distinctive style, his other works like Velodrool and Sounds Good, and his current projects, including an upcoming feature film. He also opens up about teamwork, his mixed feelings regarding the Oscar shortlist and the differences between 2D and 3D animation. Join us for an engaging conversation with one of animation's most intriguing new voices.

English friendly episode! In the second festival special our guest is Hisko Hulsing. A director with unexpected czech roots, who studied painting, animation and, amongst many other things, also composes music. He will tell us why he almost quit animation, how his biggest project Undone was done and where to look for inspiration.

Producer and director Hugh Welchman was a special guest at Anifilm 2024, where he shared his journey from producing the Oscar-winning animated short Peter & the Wolf to co-directing hand-painted animated films like Loving Vincent and The Peasants alongside Dorota Kobiela Welchman. He talked about how their signature technique differs from rotoscoping, how his life and work became rooted in Poland, and how AI could help speed up the painstaking process of painted animation.

Kim Keukeleire, also known as Kim Kong, is a talented stop-motion animator and animation director who has collaborated with renowned directors such as Wes Anderson, Tim Burton, and Nick Park & Peter Lord. What has her journey been like? What fascinates her about animation? How does communication work between the director, animation director, and animators? And why is it important to maintain critical thinking? This podcast was created in collaboration with the Anifilm festival.

Filmmaker Nikita Diakur talks about the emotional power of storytelling, the control animation offers over reality, and his unique process of blending randomness and structure. From humor to experimentation, Nikita shares how he builds immersive worlds that surprise and resonate with audiences. We also discussed his fears about AI and how burnout has influenced his life. Nikita was a jury member at Fest Anča 2024, where we recorded this episode.

English friendly episode! In the third festival special our guest was one and only Bill Plympton. Legend of American independent animation came back to Anifilm to be part of the jury. He is famous for his recognizable style of hand drawn animation. We talked about the influence of political correctness on his work, why he draws just on the papers and what exactly he does on his films by himself. In podcasts you can hear also little parts from his masterclass on festival. Please excuse the sound quality, which miraculously improves during recording :)