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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.
How did filmmaker Sean Donnelly go from directing a music documentary, I Think We’re Alone Now, to making animated films?
In this conversation, Sean shares insights into his filmmaking trajectory, from being a film student at NYU to setting up his own production company AWESOME + Modest, and the fortuitous meeting with fellow NYU grad and director Alex Ross Perry that led to working with Ghost founder Tobias Forge on a pair of music videos for the band.
Image Credit: Ghost - Mary on a Cross © 2024 Loma Vista Recordings. All Rights Reserved.
SPEAKER
Sean Donnelly
Director // AWESOME + Modest
(A House of Gold, Jeff & Some Aliens, TripTank, I Think We're Alone Now)
Sean Donnelly is a filmmaker specializing in animation, live-action, and documentary work. He co-created the Comedy Central series Jeff & Some Aliens, starring Brett Gelman, Malcolm McDowell, Pamela Adlon, Keegan-Michael Key, and Christian Slater. He has also developed shows with FOX, FX, Comedy Central, and Adult Swim.
His first feature documentary, I Think We’re Alone Now, about two dedicated Tiffany fans, won the Best Documentary Award at Montreal's Fantasia Film Festival and was featured at Slamdance, IDFA, and True/False, receiving coverage in Rolling Stone, Vice, Variety, and The New York Times.
Sean has directed music videos for artists like Bo Burnham, Kirk Hammett, and The Mountain Goats, earning an MVPA nomination and a Clio Award for HBO’s “Lady and the Dale” promo. He founded the animation company AWESOME + modest, leading animation for documentaries like Netflix’s Stamped From the Beginning, HBO's Lady and the Dale, and Waiting for Superman.
Currently, he is in production on his first animated feature, RIP OFF.
Website // IMDb // Instagram // YouTube
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.
How did filmmaker Sean Donnelly go from directing a music documentary, I Think We’re Alone Now, to making animated films?
In this conversation, Sean shares insights into his filmmaking trajectory, from being a film student at NYU to setting up his own production company AWESOME + Modest, and the fortuitous meeting with fellow NYU grad and director Alex Ross Perry that led to working with Ghost founder Tobias Forge on a pair of music videos for the band.
Image Credit: Ghost - Mary on a Cross © 2024 Loma Vista Recordings. All Rights Reserved.
SPEAKER
Sean Donnelly
Director // AWESOME + Modest
(A House of Gold, Jeff & Some Aliens, TripTank, I Think We're Alone Now)
Sean Donnelly is a filmmaker specializing in animation, live-action, and documentary work. He co-created the Comedy Central series Jeff & Some Aliens, starring Brett Gelman, Malcolm McDowell, Pamela Adlon, Keegan-Michael Key, and Christian Slater. He has also developed shows with FOX, FX, Comedy Central, and Adult Swim.
His first feature documentary, I Think We’re Alone Now, about two dedicated Tiffany fans, won the Best Documentary Award at Montreal's Fantasia Film Festival and was featured at Slamdance, IDFA, and True/False, receiving coverage in Rolling Stone, Vice, Variety, and The New York Times.
Sean has directed music videos for artists like Bo Burnham, Kirk Hammett, and The Mountain Goats, earning an MVPA nomination and a Clio Award for HBO’s “Lady and the Dale” promo. He founded the animation company AWESOME + modest, leading animation for documentaries like Netflix’s Stamped From the Beginning, HBO's Lady and the Dale, and Waiting for Superman.
Currently, he is in production on his first animated feature, RIP OFF.
Website // IMDb // Instagram // YouTube
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.
