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Zoom link will be emailed to registered attendees before the show.

VIEW Conference presents a free virtual panel discussion with lead creatives of this year’s Oscar contenders for best animated short on Thursday, February 27th, 2025 at 9:00am-10:00am PST (18:00-19:00 CET). The panel will include:

• Director Nicolas Keppens from Beautiful Men
• Director Nina Gantz from Wander to Wonder
• Director Loïc Espuche from Yuck!
• Directors Shirin Sohani & Hossein Molayemi from In the Shadow of the Cypress
• Producer Takashji Washio from Magic Candies

Moderated by Dan Sarto, Editor-in-Chief, Animation World Network.

How to watch the Oscar-Nominated Animated Short films on The Animation Showcase Platform:

1. Activate your access to the platform, with your email & a work proof here: https://link.animationshowcase.com/View_attendee

2. Login with your email; your pre-defined Password received by email (if work proof approved)

3. Once you've activated your account, you will be able to access the platform on your TV via “The Animation Showcase” Apps on Apple TV, Roku, Fire Stick or directly via the Web

• Hear from Programme Directors about our industry-driven courses
• Ask questions live in an interactive Q&A
• Get a 1:1 portfolio review (limited availability!)

NOTE: Zoom details will be emailed to registered participants closer to the day of the event.

Nicolas Keppens

Nicolas studied film and animation at KASK Ghent and perfected his skills at the film academy of Luca School of Arts Brussels. His credits include the short films 'Superstars' (2012), 'Wildebeest' (2017) and 'Easter Eggs' (2020), an animated short film about finding extraordinary things in ordinary places.

Nina Gantz

Nina Gantz is a Dutch London-based animation director. After graduating at the St. Joost Art School in Breda, Gantz began a Masters in directing animation at the National Film and Television School where she completed her first stop-motion film EDMOND in 2015. EDMOND has received 38 awards including the BIFA for best short film, the Best Short Animation award at Sundance and a BAFTA for best animated short. Gantz has been working freelance on a variety of projects and she is signed to London production company BlinkInk. WANDER TO WONDER will be her next independent stop motion animation.

Loïc Espuche

Loïc Espuche is a French animation film director born in Villeurbanne in 1989. After graduating in visual communication at La Martinière in Lyon, he trained in animation and filmmaking at EMCA and Ecole de La Poudrière. During his studies, he made funny yet sensitive films that were well received at festivals: I’ll come back in a few days (2013) was selected at Clermont-Ferrand, Annecy and the Sommets du cinéma d'animation in Montreal, among others. In 2015, he won Canal J's Prix des Espoirs de l'animation with Les Chocottes. His graduation film, Tombés du nid (Fallen from the Nest), was pre-purchased by ARTE and, in addition to its numerous selections, received the Audience Award at Premiers plans d'Angers, the Best Student Film Award at Meknès and the SACD Award at the Festival national du film d'animation de Bruz. In 2016, Loïc took part in season 3 of En sortant de l'école devoted to Guillaume Apollinaire and adapted the poem "Mutation". He has also held various positions (director, animation supervisor, storyboarder) on series, feature films and shorts.

Shirin Sohani

After completing an M.A. in animation directing (Tehran University of Art) she started her professional career in 2012 and has worked as a Concept artist, Background artist, Script writer & Production manager. In the Shadow of the Cypress is her first professional film. Her graduation animated film, The Fan (2014) won both national & international awards.

Hossein Molayemi

After completing an M.A. in animation directing (Tehran University of Art) he started his professional career in 2004. His work includes Directing, character design, storyboard artist, animator and university lecturer. In the Shadow of the Cypress is his 2ndprofessional film. His 1stfilm, Run Rostam Run (2017) was selected at Annecy, Warsaw and several other Oscar qualifying film festivals and won national & international awards. He is a board member of Asifa Iran & Animation Filmmakers Guild of Iran.

Takashi Washio

Takashi Washio is a distinguished Japanese animation producer affiliated with Toei Animation, renowned for his innovative contributions to the industry. Born in 1965, in Akita, Japan, Washio pursued legal studies at Keiō University before transitioning into the world of animation. He is celebrated as the “Father of Pretty Cure” for creating and producing the first five seasons of the “Pretty Cure” series from 2004 to 2009. Washio produced “Magic Candies”, directed by Daisuke Nishio and based on Heena Baek’s beloved picture book. This 21-minute film, notable for its unique 3D CGI style, garnered critical acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Animated Short Film category in 2025, marking a significant milestone for Toei Animation.