Dive deeper into the creative process of filmmaking. Explore the inspirations and challenges faced during production, and gain a richer understanding of some of the films selected for this year's festival.
These candid conversations not only shed light on the artistry and technical expertise that go into filmmaking but also provide a glimpse into the personal stories and motivations that drive these talented creators.
Ben Meinhardt uses music and animation to process the realities of the world and more often than not, those realities feel a little like prophecies though perhaps it’s a result of Ben’s unvarnished approach to telling things as they are.
In this conversation with Festival Director Marina Antunes, Ben shares insights into his process, where the initial concept for Living the Dream came from, and the challenges of capturing many of today’s socio-political issues in 60 seconds.
Living the Dream was awarded the Director’s Prize at SPARK ANIMATION 2023.
Image Credit: Living the Dream © 2023 Ben Meinhardt. All Rights Reserved.
SPEAKER
Ben Meinhardt
Director // Independent
(Perfectland, Floovy, More, Living the Dream)
Ben has worked in animation for over 20 years in the animation industry (how is this possible?).
His independent short films have been screened around the world in multiple festivals such as Annecy and SXSW.
He has worked as a Director, Storyboard Artist, Animator and Musican and has been involved with dozens of animated series, as well as a number of TV commercials.
Website // YouTube // Vimeo // LinkedIn
MODERATOR
Marina Antunes
President // Spark CG Society
Marina has been writing and discussing film for over 15 years, first on a personal blog, followed by a decade-long tenure on the now retired Row Three. In 2008, she joined the writing staff at Quiet Earth, becoming Editor-In-Chief in 2014, a role she still holds. Over the years, she has also produced and hosted a number of podcasts including Before the Dawn, a long-running podcast on the Twilight franchise, Girls on Pop, a podcast on film and popular entertainment from women’s perspective and After the Credits, bi-monthly film podcast with nearly 300 episodes.
Marina is a member of ACM and ACM SIGGRAPH, the Online Film Critics Society, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, and the Visual Effects Society. She is the President of Spark CG Society and the Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH chapter. She has also served on juries for several film festivals including DOXA, St. Louis International Film Festival, and the Whistler Film Festival. She joined the Spark CG Society in 2014.
Dive deeper into the creative process of filmmaking. Explore the inspirations and challenges faced during production, and gain a richer understanding of some of the films selected for this year's festival.
These candid conversations not only shed light on the artistry and technical expertise that go into filmmaking but also provide a glimpse into the personal stories and motivations that drive these talented creators.
Ben Meinhardt uses music and animation to process the realities of the world and more often than not, those realities feel a little like prophecies though perhaps it’s a result of Ben’s unvarnished approach to telling things as they are.
In this conversation with Festival Director Marina Antunes, Ben shares insights into his process, where the initial concept for Living the Dream came from, and the challenges of capturing many of today’s socio-political issues in 60 seconds.
Living the Dream was awarded the Director’s Prize at SPARK ANIMATION 2023.
Image Credit: Living the Dream © 2023 Ben Meinhardt. All Rights Reserved.
SPEAKER
Ben Meinhardt
Director // Independent
(Perfectland, Floovy, More, Living the Dream)
Ben has worked in animation for over 20 years in the animation industry (how is this possible?).
His independent short films have been screened around the world in multiple festivals such as Annecy and SXSW.
He has worked as a Director, Storyboard Artist, Animator and Musican and has been involved with dozens of animated series, as well as a number of TV commercials.
Website // YouTube // Vimeo // LinkedIn
MODERATOR
Marina Antunes
President // Spark CG Society
Marina has been writing and discussing film for over 15 years, first on a personal blog, followed by a decade-long tenure on the now retired Row Three. In 2008, she joined the writing staff at Quiet Earth, becoming Editor-In-Chief in 2014, a role she still holds. Over the years, she has also produced and hosted a number of podcasts including Before the Dawn, a long-running podcast on the Twilight franchise, Girls on Pop, a podcast on film and popular entertainment from women’s perspective and After the Credits, bi-monthly film podcast with nearly 300 episodes.
Marina is a member of ACM and ACM SIGGRAPH, the Online Film Critics Society, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, and the Visual Effects Society. She is the President of Spark CG Society and the Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH chapter. She has also served on juries for several film festivals including DOXA, St. Louis International Film Festival, and the Whistler Film Festival. She joined the Spark CG Society in 2014.
