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.
Growing up on a farm in the Caquetá area of Columbia, Pedro Nel Cabrera Vanegas has memories of helicopters flying overhead and individuals vanishing but it wasn’t until he was a teenager living in the city that he came to realize what had been happening in his village.
A farm boy with dreams of becoming an animator, Ben speaks with Festival Director Marina Antunes about his journey from Columbia to Switzerland, his passion for storytelling and what he hopes to achieve with Tapir Memories.
Tapir Memories was awarded the Winner, Student Film prize at SPARK ANIMATION 2023.
Image Credit: Tapir Memories © 2023 Hochschule Luzern – Design & Kunst. All Rights Reserved.
SPEAKER
Pedro Nel Cabrera Vanegas
Director // Independent
(Tapir Memories)
Pedro Nel Cabrera Vanegas was born in the region of La Montañita, Caquetá which is known as the Golden Door of the Amazon in the south of Colombia.
In 2011, he earned a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design at the Corporación Unificada Nacional de Educación Superior (CUN) in Ibagué, Colombia. Before his master's studies, he worked as a graphic designer, lecturer, and illustrator for magazines, books, and educational material.
In 2023, he graduated with a Master in Film Animation with the short film Tapir Memories, which won a sponsorship award from the Zeugindesign Foundation for best student film at the HSLU (Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Art & Design), Switzerland.
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.
Growing up on a farm in the Caquetá area of Columbia, Pedro Nel Cabrera Vanegas has memories of helicopters flying overhead and individuals vanishing but it wasn’t until he was a teenager living in the city that he came to realize what had been happening in his village.
A farm boy with dreams of becoming an animator, Ben speaks with Festival Director Marina Antunes about his journey from Columbia to Switzerland, his passion for storytelling and what he hopes to achieve with Tapir Memories.
Tapir Memories was awarded the Winner, Student Film prize at SPARK ANIMATION 2023.
Image Credit: Tapir Memories © 2023 Hochschule Luzern – Design & Kunst. All Rights Reserved.
SPEAKER
Pedro Nel Cabrera Vanegas
Director // Independent
(Tapir Memories)
Pedro Nel Cabrera Vanegas was born in the region of La Montañita, Caquetá which is known as the Golden Door of the Amazon in the south of Colombia.
In 2011, he earned a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design at the Corporación Unificada Nacional de Educación Superior (CUN) in Ibagué, Colombia. Before his master's studies, he worked as a graphic designer, lecturer, and illustrator for magazines, books, and educational material.
In 2023, he graduated with a Master in Film Animation with the short film Tapir Memories, which won a sponsorship award from the Zeugindesign Foundation for best student film at the HSLU (Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Art & Design), Switzerland.
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.
