From left to right: Aylssa Zárate, Dan Goods, Fx Goby, Martine Bertrand, Melissa Tierney, Searit Kahsay Huluf, Vikram Chadha, Vivian Trakinski
SIGGRAPH has long been a global hub for creativity and technological innovation, and the Computer Animation Festival stands as one of its most celebrated pillars. For SIGGRAPH 2025, the festival has assembled a stellar jury of distinguished leaders who will select and honor the very best in computer animation from around the world. These visionaries are at the forefront of computer animation, VFX, advertising, cinematics, real-time graphics, simulation, and scientific/data visualization, bringing unparalleled expertise to this year’s festival.
The SIGGRAPH 2025 Computer Animation Festival is an Academy Award® Qualifying Festival for the Best in Show award winner in the short film category. It celebrates storytelling through three standout events: the Electronic Theater, Animation Theater, and a Special Film Event.
Reflecting on the importance of the exceptional jury selecting the animation achievements to be showcased at SIGGRAPH 2025, Computer Animation Festival Director Dawn Fidrick says, “This jury represents the heart of innovation and storytelling across the eight categories that make up the SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival program — an extraordinary group who embodies the spirit of this community. Their dedication to the craft of computer animation is reflected in their illustrious career trajectories and with it their deep expertise and thoughtful insight that pushes boundaries and inspires the future of computer graphics and interactive techniques. We are privileged and grateful for their serious time commitment that will be echoed in the Electronic Theater and Animation Theater at the Computer Animation Festival at SIGGRAPH 2025 in Vancouver.”
Meet the jury who is selecting an excellent festival that inspires the future of animation.
Alyssa Zárate, Environment Supervisor, Atomic Cartoons, and Co-Founder, The VFX Mentor
A leader in visual storytelling with over two decades of experience, Alyssa Zárate is known for crafting extraordinary worlds that push the boundaries of animation and VFX. Currently serving as an environment supervisor at Atomic Cartoons and the co-founder of The VFX Mentor, Alyssa has been instrumental in shaping projects like “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”, “The Mitchells vs. The Machines”, “The Last of Us” (season one), and “Game of Thrones”.
Her career began as a production illustrator and designer in New Zealand and Australia, and she has since become an advocate for fostering diversity within the animation and VFX industries through mentorship. Alyssa’s ability to bring creative visions to life is an asset to this year’s jury.
Dan Goods, Visual Strategist, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
As a creative visionary, Dan Goods transforms complex scientific ideas into experiences that resonate with people on a deep, emotional level. As visual strategist for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Dan leads a team dedicated to transforming complex concepts into meaningful stories that can be universally understood. His work spans public installations, museum exhibitions, and even outer space, reminding audiences of the wonder and privilege of life.
A recipient of NASA’s Exceptional Public Service Award, Dan’s passion for creating awe-inspiring visuals will help ensure the jury celebrates works that push the boundaries of art and science.
Fx Goby, Director, Nexus Studios
Bringing a multidisciplinary approach to storytelling, Fx Goby is a double Emmy-nominated director whose expertise spans 2D and 3D animation, live action, and immersive media. His portfolio includes groundbreaking collaborations such as the BBC’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games coverage, Google’s Back to the Moon experience, and a fresh vision for Gorillaz with co-creator Jamie Hewlett.
Fx’s striking style and innovative storytelling have also been celebrated in projects for global brands like Volkswagen, Smirnoff, and Bose. His diverse creative experience brings invaluable perspective to this year’s jury as they spotlight visionary work pushing
the boundaries of animation.
Martine Bertrand, Staff R&D AI Scientist, Industrial Light & Magic
Martine Bertrand stands at the intersection of advanced technology and cinematic artistry. Now a staff R&D scientist at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), she has an extensive background in physics, AI, and computational chemistry. Martine is dedicated to developing algorithms that leverage AI technologies to help dazzle audiences around the world.
From her work at DNEG to her cutting-edge research at ILM, Martine’s efforts have reshaped how audiences experience the magic of visual effects. Her presence on the jury promises a keen eye for technical ingenuity and creative storytelling.
Melissa Tierney, Digital Producer, Netflix Animation Studios
Melissa Tierney is a digital producer at Netflix Animation Studios, bringing over 15 years of experience in feature animation. With a master’s degree in film and animation from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Melissa has built a career contributing to a wide range of high-profile projects.
Her animation credits include iconic films from the “Ice Age” and “LEGO Movie” franchises, as well as “Leo”, “DC League of Super-Pets”, “The Peanuts Movie”, “Rio 2”, and “Peter Rabbit.” Diving beyond animation, Melissa has also produced visual effects for major live-action blockbusters such as “Aquaman”, “Dolittle”, and “Dark Phoenix.”
Melissa’s expertise and passion for storytelling continue to drive her contributions to the dynamic and evolving world of animated filmmaking.
Searit Kahsay Huluf, Pixar SparkShorts Director
Searit (pronounced SA-AH-DEE) Kahsay (KAH-SAI) Huluf (HU-LOOF) is an anime-loving night owl turned CrossFit enthusiast, often found pondering the perfect moment to brew her next cup of coffee (a minimum of three a day). Born in Fresno, California, and raised in Los Angeles by her single Ethiopian mother, Searit pursued her passion for storytelling at UCLA’s Film School, focusing on screenwriting and animation.
After graduating, she relocated to the Bay Area to join Pixar Animation Studios, where she contributed to beloved projects such as “Incredibles 2”, “Soul”, “Turning Red”, and “Elio.”
Outside of work, Searit dedicated her late nights and weekends to creating live-action narrative and documentary shorts, including “Reward if Found”, “buna”, “GAMERS”, “Exploring Blackness”, and “19th Amendment Doc.” Her films have been showcased at notable festivals, including SXSW, SFFILM, Frameline, Hollyshorts, CAAM, and the Pan African Film Festival.
Her exceptional work caught the attention of Pixar’s President, Jim Morris, who personally invited her to join the prestigious SparkShorts program. There, she directed “Self”, an Oscar-qualifying stop-motion short streaming on Disney+. Mentored by Trevor Jimenez and Domee Shi, the film’s success garnered significant recognition, earning Searit an NAACP nomination (2025), a spot on Variety’s “Top 10 Animators to Watch” list (2024), and the Gold Short Film award at the Collision Awards (2024). She also participated in the 2023-2024 Women in Animation Mentorship program, guided by Mark Osborne.
When she’s not writing or filmmaking, Searit indulges her love for anime, explores new cuisines, and embraces the joys of solo travel.
Vikram Chadha, Senior Producer, DNEG North America
With an illustrious career managing visual effects for over 48 projects globally, Vikram Chadha adds a producer’s precision and artistry to the jury. Currently working at DNEG North America, Vikram has contributed to high-profile films such as “The Gorge” (2025) and “Fountain of Youth” (2025).
Renowned for his resourceful and creative problem-solving, Vikram has an exceptional track record of guiding ambitious VFX projects from concept to completion. His industry knowledge and global experience will be pivotal in identifying groundbreaking work at SIGGRAPH 2025.
Vivian Trakinski, Director of Science Visualization, American Museum of Natural History
For more than two decades, Vivian Trakinski has been a driving force in science visualization, harnessing the power of data and immersive media to captivate audiences and advance public understanding of the universe. At the American Museum of Natural History, she directs a multi-media group that leverages data visualization to create immersive and interactive experiences, including “Invisible Worlds” and the open-source software platform OpenSpace.
Vivian’s expertise in creating engaging narratives from scientific data makes her a crucial member of this year’s jury, ensuring the festival celebrates works that inspire and educate.
A Jury to Define the Future of Animation
The SIGGRAPH 2025 Computer Animation Festival Jury unites some of the most accomplished professionals from visual effects, animation, and scientific visualization. Together, they will select and celebrate works that inspire, innovate, and redefine what is possible in the world of computer animation.
With their collective talent and insight, this year’s jury promises to deliver a festival that not only recognizes technical and artistic excellence but shows how computer animation continues to serve storytellers into the future. We look forward to experiencing the pioneering work they champion at SIGGRAPH 2025!
Don’t miss this incredible event — register now for SIGGRAPH 2025 and be part of the future of animation!
