photo by Matthias von Loebell © 2025 ACM SIGGRAPH
In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, Marina Antunes and Mikki Rose sit down with the directors behind three award-winning films from the SIGGRAPH 2026 Computer Animation Festival Electronic Theater.
Pola Maneli (Apart), Paulo Garcia (18 Months), and Antoine Barbannaud (Beyond Words) discuss the stories, themes, and creative choices behind their acclaimed films, sharing how animation can illuminate human connection, emotion, and resilience across cultures and generations.
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About Our Guests
Antoine Barbannaud is an Environment Artist and Generalist TD at Unit Image. At Creative Seeds, he co-developed the Hunter pipeline and worked on lighting and compositing for Beyond Words. With a computer science degree from Université Paris-Saclay and a passion for image making, he works at the intersection of technology and art. Repeatedly told to choose between the two, he has so far successfully avoided the question.
Pola Maneli is the director and lead creator behind Apart.
Paulo Garcia is a director and co-founder of Zombie Studio, where art, animation, and storytelling come together to create visually striking and emotionally charged projects. Over the years, he has collected 600+ awards across advertising and entertainment, earned three Vimeo Staff Picks, and directed music videos for renowned artists like Moby, Gorillaz, and Vintage Culture. He has also had the honor of judging major festivals such as Cannes Lions, D&AD, Clio Awards, and many others, always contributing his artistic vision and passion for animation. Based in Lisbon, Paulo keeps pushing creative boundaries and building bold work with his incredible team.
