Gints Zilbalodis(1994) is a Latvian filmmaker best known for directing [Flow](2024) which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and was also nominated for Best International Feature Film becoming the first independent feature film to win this award and the first Latvian film to be nominated. Zilbalodis debut feature film [Away](2019), which he made entirely by himself, won the Best Feature Film Contrechamp Award in Annecy. Prior to [Away] he made 7 short films in various mediums including hand-drawn animation, 3D animation and live-action and often mixing their characteristic aesthetics. In 2019 he founded Dream Well Studio.

He majored in film scoring in the graduate school at Myongji University. Beginning with the 2017 film [Memoir of a Murderer], he has worked as a composer in diverse areas, including film, drama, animation, games, and exhibitions. Recently, he was the music director for the films [Idiot Girls and School Ghost: School Anniversary](2024) and [Teaching Practice: Idiot Girls and School Ghost 2](2025).

Since 2006, she has made experimental films and personal documentaries in her film practice. Her short films [The Membrane](2013) and [Mirror & Watch](2010) won Seoul Independent Film Festival’s Determination Award and Seoul International Women's Film Festival’s MaryKay First Prize respectively. She co-directed the film [Collapse](2017) which won Busan International Film Festival’s BIFF Mecenat Award. Her most recent work [Colorful Lin](2024) was shown at the Jeonju International Film Festival.

She majored in painting with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hongik University and received her Master of Fine Arts in Film & Broadcasting from the Graduate School of Yonsei University. She won the Grand Prize at the first Indie-AniFest in 2004 for her film [Light and Coin]. Since then, she has produced numerous animations such as [Fabric Cosmos], [A White Dog Over the Fog], [Invisible Eyes], and [Dark Cloud Memories]. Her films have been shown and awarded at various film festivals in Korea and abroad.

In 2009, he began his career in animation by making the animated short [Ordinary Meals] at Hankyoreh Culture Center. The following year, he entered the Korean Academy of Film Arts. He began his work in animation in earnest with his second short animation [City of Good People] and his first animated feature [On the White Planet], which won the Feature Film Grand Prix from the Holland Animation Film Festival in 2015. Next, he made his third short animation [Galapagos]. And in 2024, he completed his second feature-length animation [Pig that Survived Foot-and-Mouth Disease] ten years after his first. That year, he won the Audience Choice “Star of Festival” Prize from Seoul Indie-AniFest. He made the first feature-length animation to win Seoul Independent Film Festival’s Best Feature Prize. In the past year, his work has been shown at over 20 film festivals around the world, and it is gearing up for a 2026 release in Korea and Japan.

She is an animation director working under the pen name “Malgang.” She began her work in animation with her serial web animation [How to Be Friends with You] (2017). She graduated from ChungKang College of Cultural Industries and made a number of short animations such as [Fingers-pring] (2020) and [Plie & Rebound] (2024). Since 2023, she has been releasing her web animation series [Sophie’s Magic Diary] on YouTube and social media. She is active in her creative practice and shares her work with global audiences.

He actively shares his work with over a million social media followers under the handle Illustraterminator. He is the creator of Keykney’s daily toons and the [Draw Anything] project based on fan submitted stories. In Seoul and Busan, he held the exhibition [Illeobachigi] (meaning “Illustrated Offerings”). He has also worked on Naver Webtoons. His published works include [Draw Anything in Keykney], [Everyday, All Reflections], and [Live Without Any Problems].

She received a BFA in Animation from Hongik University and an MFA in Experimental Animation from CalArts. She makes experimental animations using 2D drawing and stop motion techniques. She produced numerous shorts including [View], [Triangle], [Insect Bite], and [The Playground], and her work was invited to and awarded in competition at various international film festivals. She currently engages in her ongoing creative practice in Korea, and she is also an assistant professor of Film, Video & Animation at Hongik University.

She is a Korean animator and animation director. She directed [Misery Loves Company](2020) and [The Popstar Water Deer and I](2024). She actively contributes as an animator on various music videos, advertisements, and animated series.

He graduated from the Animation Department at Korea National University of Arts in 2015, and the Graduate School of Film and New Media in the Department of Animation at Tokyo University of Arts in 2022. In 2022, his graduation film [The House of Loss] won the Grand Prize, Studio4℃ Award, and Production I.G Award at Kichijoji International Animation Film Festival. In the same year, he won a total of 38 awards, including the Audience Choice “Star of Festival” Prize and the Independent Walk Prize from Seoul Indie-AniFest. In an era dominated by consumerism and efficiency, he makes a conscious choice to go against the grain.

She graduated from the Animation Department at Korea National University of Arts. She first gained acclaim when her short animation [Kopi Luwak] won the Grand Prize at Indie-AniFest. Later, she collaborated with brands like STONEHENgE and Asiana Airlines on animated commercials that have won awards at leading advertising festivals in Korea. Her mid-length film [The Sea on the Day When the Magic Returns] was officially invited and shown at Sundance Film Festival and earned her another Grand Prize from Indie-AniFest. Her short-form series and feature-length animation [The Summer] was released in Korea and Japan. In the first half of 2025, she directed the feature-length animation [Lost in Starlight] which was released simultaneously worldwide on Netflix to critical acclaim. HAN Jiwon continues to be active as a creator, making projects of varying lengths including shorts, mid-length works, and features, as both commercial and noncommercial projects.

*Photo by: ELLE Korea YoungBae 

He is an animation director who studied animation at Hongik University and won numerous awards in Korea and abroad. His animated short [Play On] received the Audience Choice “Star of Festival” Prize at the 2020 Seoul Indie-AniFest. Thereafter, he directed [Crisp Dream] and received the Jury Prize at the Seoul International Children’s Film Festival, proving himself a talented director. He also worked as a layout artist on many Hollywood movies and Netflix series productions. Currently, he is working on director BONG Joon-ho’s upcoming animation project.

He has been making animations since 1996. His past works include the shorts [Beyond the Darkness], [Common Life], [Preys], [Things that Disappear], and [Mother’s House]. His 2022 film [Things that Disappear] and his 2025 film [Mother’s House] were invited to Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Animafest Zagreb. He has received awards and invitations from many festivals in Korea and abroad, including the Best Short Film Silver Award (Satoshi Gon Award for Excellence in Animation) from the 2022 Fantasia International Film Festival, and the KIAFA Special Prize from the 2024 Seoul Indie-AniFest.

He is an animation director who graduated from Kongju National University’s Division of Cartoon & Animation. In 2019, he began by producing the music video [SEOULSORI]. In 2022, he made the short animation [AMEN A MAN], which received the Special Prize for Debut Film from Seoul Indie-AniFest, and the Best Short Film Gold Award (Satoshi Gon Award for Excellence in Animation) from Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada. In addition, he actively works on commercial projects such as dramas, documentaries, music videos, and advertisements.

She majored in film and animation theory and built a career as a writer for film-focused broadcasting programs, contributing film critiques to various magazines and daily newspapers. She played a key role in the establishment of the Korean Film Archive Cinematheque KOFA, where she served as a programmer for many years. After working as a programmer for the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival and Seoul Indie-AniFest, she was appointed Executive Committee Chair of the Seoul Independent Film Festival. She has also curated numerous multidisciplinary performances that blend classic films with various artistic genres, including a live narration performance of Crossroad of Youngsters.

He graduated from Chungkang College of Cultural Industries. His short animations [Afternoon Class] and [(OO)] earned him the Lotte Reiniger Promotion Award for Animated Film from Stuttgart Trick film International Animated Film Festival in Germany. He also received the grand prize from the Insomnia Animation Festival and received invitations and awards from numerous domestic and international festivals. He is active as an independent animation director and freelancer. As the CEO and film director of animation studio OSROCTION since 2021, he collaborated with Kakao on the 2D kids series [Yellow MUZI & Friends] as a director, planner, and producer, earning the top ranking for Korean Netflix kids content. He is also the executive director of the transforming robot series [Metal Cardbot] in collaboration with SAMG Entertainment. He strives to promote commercial animation projects not only domestically but also as overseas exports.

Director Jonghoon Lee laid the foundation for his creative career by studying at Korea Animation High School in 2005 and the Department of Animation at Korea National University of Arts in 2007. Since 2013, he has been working as a director at VCRWORKS, leading a wide range of projects including short films, brand films, music videos, and TV campaigns. His notable works include [The Starry Night](2017), [Architect A](2022), and [A Small Garden by the Window](2024). Known for capturing emotional depth in the quiet moments of everyday life, he has been recognized both domestically and internationally for his unique aesthetic and narrative sensibility.

She received a BFA in fine arts (painting) from Hongik University and an MFA in animation from Korea National University of Arts. In 2019, she made the short animation [Love at the Crossroads], receiving a special mention from Animafest Zagreb and winning the Audience Choice “Star of Festival” Prize from Seoul Indie-AniFest. Her works have been shown at many film festivals in Korea and abroad. Currently, she is teaching in the School of Animation at ChungKang College of Cultural Industries and the Video Arts Program at Dong-A University’s Department of Arts.

He is a South Korean drawing-based animation filmmaker known for blending early modernist painting theories with Bergson’s creative evolution. His films include [JOY OF LIFE](2024) and [CREATIVE EVOLUTION](2019). He teaches visual design at Hongik University, focusing on artist theory and drawing workshops.

LEE Kyunghwa is the editor and publisher of SEOUL&ANIMATOR. From 2004 to 2007, she worked on a variety of animation productions for theater and television. Since then, she has worked with numerous film festivals including the Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival (2008-2015), Busan International Film Festival (2008), Seoul Indie-AniFest (2009-present), Seoul Best of the Best Animation Festival (2015), KOC!ANI (2018), SIGGRAPH Asia (2020 & 2022) and Tent Film Festival in the metaverse (2021~2023). Currently, she serves as the programmer for the Seoul Indie-AniFest Asia Road Competition.

After studying graphic design, she founded TVCM and turned her passion into her career, exploring diverse methods and areas. Her work as an independent animation director began with her film [Going Well..](2021) made as part of the Korea Creative Content Agency’s Creative Talent Program. Currently, she is working in the commercial industry while making her next short film.

LEE Kyunghwa is the editor and publisher of SEOUL&ANIMATOR. From 2004 to 2007, she worked on a variety of animation productions for theater and television. Since then, she has worked with numerous film festivals including the Seoul International Cartoon and Animation Festival (2008-2015), Busan International Film Festival (2008), Seoul Indie-AniFest (2009-present), Seoul Best of the Best Animation Festival (2015), KOC!ANI (2018), SIGGRAPH Asia (2020 & 2022) and Tent Film Festival in the metaverse (2021~2023). Currently, she serves as the programmer for the Seoul Indie-AniFest Asia Road Competition.

Choi Yujin studied at Sungkonghoe University's Graduate School of cultural Studies and received her MA from the Department of Culture and Arts Management in 2007. She joined the Korean Independent Animation Filmmakers Association's executive committee in 2006 and became the General Manager of the committee in 2007. She was the Festival Manager of the Indie-AniFest festival committee until 2017 when she became the committee's festival director. In addition, she is currently involved in film screenings, distribution, education, and policy-making related to independent animations.