CA

Carys Allen

University of Salford • Salford

Carys Allen , University of Salford (Salford, United Kingdom)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  The First Woman

Bio:

Carys L Allen is a Manchester and North Wales based filmmaker. A recent graduate from the BA in Film Production at The University of Salford with a specialism in Production Design and Sound Design. Th... Carys L Allen is a Manchester and North Wales based filmmaker. A recent graduate from the BA in Film Production at The University of Salford with a specialism in Production Design and Sound Design. Through The First Woman installation Carys was able to expand her skills in these areas to achieve an immersive experience. Read more

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Maria Andronikou

Stavrakos Film & TV School • Athens

Maria Andronikou , Stavrakos Film & TV School (Athens, Greece)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 17:15 —Conference Close & What Next?
  Teaching Production Design in the 21st Century (2026)

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Jane Barnwell

University of Westminster • London

Jane Barnwell , University of Westminster (London, United Kingdom)

Scene & Unseen:

• Wednesday October 22 , Regent Street Cinema, 307 Regent Street London W1B 2HW , 19:30 —Screening: The Fountain (2006)
• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 10:00 —Conference Welcome
• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 17:30 —Education and Publication on Production Design
• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 11:30 —Space and Story
• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Production Design and the Cinematic Home
• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 17:15 —Conference Close & What Next?
  Perspectives on Production Design: Practice, Education and Analysis (2026)

Bio:

Jane Barnwell is Reader in Moving Image at the University of Westminster.  Graduating from Leeds University and The Northern Film School she began her career at the BBC, before working freelance in p... Jane Barnwell is Reader in Moving Image at the University of Westminster.  Graduating from Leeds University and The Northern Film School she began her career at the BBC, before working freelance in production. Her research and writing focusses on the impact of visual storytelling through the prism of the production designer.  Jane has authored articles in a range of forms and genres including popular magazines, periodicals and websites, (The Guardian, The Scenographer, International Journal of Production & Costume Design, Journal of British Cinema and Television, The Conversation, Widescreen and The Production Designers Collective). Barnwell is the author of four books, Production Design for Screen; Visual Storytelling in Film and TV (2017), Production Design: Architects of the screen (2004), The Fundamentals of Film Making (2008) and Production Design & the Cinematic Home (2022).    Read more

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Natalie Beak

Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) • Sydney

Natalie Beak , Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) (Sydney, Australia)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Sensory Storytellers

Bio:

Natalie Beak is the Discipline Lead in Production Design at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and a founding committee member of the Production Design Research and Education Netw... Natalie Beak is the Discipline Lead in Production Design at the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) and a founding committee member of the Production Design Research and Education Network (PD-REN). Her pedagogical practice is grounded in collaborative, interdisciplinary methodologies and integrates real-time visualisation and virtual production technologies into design education. Natalie’s research explores innovative frameworks for world-building, distributed authorship, and the sensory dimensions of production design practice.

A graduate of AFTRS, Natalie has over twenty years’ experience across film and television in Australia and the UK. She was the inaugural recipient of the Thelma Afford Award for Excellence in Costume Design, and her screen credits include Franswa Sharl (Berlinale Crystal Bear, 2009), Black Comedy (ABC, 2014–2020), We Are Still Here (2022), Year Of (Stan, 2023), and Boss Cat (Bus Stop Films, 2026). Read more

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Angelica Boehm

Filmuniversity Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF • Potsdam / Berlin

Angelica Boehm , Filmuniversity Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF (Potsdam / Berlin, Germany)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Co-creating Tomorrow's World
• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 15:00 —Future Directions
  Co-Creating Tomorrow’s World, The Art for Futures Lab

Bio:

Prof. Angelica Böhm is Professor of Scenography and Artistic Research at the Film University Babelsberg (FUB). She is a member of the German Film Academy due to her successful film work. She has been... Prof. Angelica Böhm is Professor of Scenography and Artistic Research at the Film University Babelsberg (FUB). She is a member of the German Film Academy due to her successful film work. She has been a professor of scenography since 2013 and is currently on the board of the Institute for Artistic Research at the FUB.
Her co-creative transmedia artistic research project www.camillaplasticoceanplan.com has 500,000 visitors and won the State Teaching Award 2022.In 2019 she co-founded the Art For Futures Lab. In 2023, she was invited to Griffith Film School, Brisbane as an artist in residence to carry out a futuring project with the Rivers Institute Australia.
Since 2023 until today she has been researching new teaching formats in the Erasmus+ project ‘Green Eduction in Media’. Her latest projects revolve around Creativity & AI as well as Art & Embodiment. Read more

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PB

Paraskevi Bokovou

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki • Thessaloniki

Paraskevi Bokovou , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki, Greece)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Generative AI and the shifting role of the production designer

Bio:

Paraskevi Bokovou is a greek set and costume designer that has worked in feature and short films, television, theatre, music videos and advertising.
She is a Ph.D candidate at A.U.Th. under the dir... Paraskevi Bokovou is a greek set and costume designer that has worked in feature and short films, television, theatre, music videos and advertising.
She is a Ph.D candidate at A.U.Th. under the direction of Dr. Nefeli Dimitriadi, experimenting with the emerging new media and cinematic practices on and off stage through a set designer’s perspective.
She has a masters degree in film studies from the School of Fine Arts, A.U.Th. where she majored in scenography and costume design, taught by Mrs. Ioulia Stauridou; and another masters degree in theatre from the University Paris 8 Vincennes – Saint-Denis, subject Scènes du Monde, histoire et création where she explored the use of colors and shapes from Bauhaus to postdramatic theatre alongside Dr. Érica Magris. Read more

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Kerry Bradley

Nottingham Trent University • Nottingham, UK

Kerry Bradley , Nottingham Trent University (Nottingham, UK, United Kingdom)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 10:00 —Tying Worlds Together
• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 11:15 —Pedagogical Approaches
  A Global Framework for Teaching PD

Bio:

Kerry Bradley is the Course Leader for BA (Hons) Design for Film and Television at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. She is a creative practitioner with over 30 years experience in Film and Telev... Kerry Bradley is the Course Leader for BA (Hons) Design for Film and Television at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. She is a creative practitioner with over 30 years experience in Film and Television art departments working as an Art Director, Production Buyer and Set Decorator (Sid Gentle, UKTV/AMC, BBC, DNA Films, Warp films, CBBC, Steel Mill Films, Shed TV and Channel 4), as well as a Set & Costume designer for Theatre, Festivals and Exhibitions.She has also lectured at the Northern Film School (Leeds Beckett), run BA Set Design courses at Wimbledon College of Arts and lectured at Goldsmiths University, University of Gloucester, Central St. Martins, Lewisham College and St. Mary’s University, Twickenham. Read more

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Jo Briscoe

Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne • Melbourne

Jo Briscoe , Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia)

Scene & Unseen:

• Wednesday October 22 , Regent Street Cinema, 307 Regent Street London W1B 2HW , 19:30 —Screening: The Fountain (2006)
• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 10:00 —Conference Welcome
• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 16:00 —Immersion
• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 11:30 —Space and Story
  Provoking Narrative through Spatial Possibility
• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 17:15 —Conference Close & What Next?
  Perspectives on Production Design: Practice, Education and Analysis (2026)

Bio:

Jo Briscoe APDG is a Production Designer and Senior Lecturer in Design at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne (VCA).  She has designed multiple award winning projects with inte... Jo Briscoe APDG is a Production Designer and Senior Lecturer in Design at the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne (VCA).  She has designed multiple award winning projects with international distribution including the TV series Please Like Me, Little Lunch, Mustangs FC and Nowhere Boys and also has an extensive professional background in theatre set and costume design.  She holds an MFA in Theatre Design from Pennsylvania State University and is a current PhD candidate at VCA, examining production design as a narrative cinematic tool.  Jo is a co-founder of PD-REN. Read more

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Danny Brown

Totom Construction •

Danny Brown , Totom Construction

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 10:00 —Tying Worlds Together
  Tying Worlds Together

Bio:

Danny Brown, Managing Director at Totom Construction, has 25 years’ experience in set construction.Originally a carpenter by trade, he worked his way up through the ranks from carpenter to Construct... Danny Brown, Managing Director at Totom Construction, has 25 years’ experience in set construction.Originally a carpenter by trade, he worked his way up through the ranks from carpenter to Construction Manager to Managing Director and has worked on everything from EastEnders to Star Wars.Taking part in this year’s conference has given Danny the opportunity to give something back to the industry and share with the up and coming members of the Art Department his practical knowledge. Read more

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Boyana Buchvarova

National Academy of Theatre and Film Art "Krastyo Sarafov" • Sofia

Boyana Buchvarova , National Academy of Theatre and Film Art "Krastyo Sarafov" (Sofia, Bulgaria)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 15:00 —Future Directions
• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Portraits in Motion
• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 16:15 — AI as Co-Visionary: Imagining the FilmEU Campus of the Future
  AI as Co-Visionary: Imagining the FilmEU Campus of the Future

Bio:

Boyana Buchvarova is a production designer based in Sofia, Bulgaria. She holds a B.A. in Stage and Set Design, an M.A. in Theatre Arts, and a Ph.D. in Scenography from the National Academy for Theatre... Boyana Buchvarova is a production designer based in Sofia, Bulgaria. She holds a B.A. in Stage and Set Design, an M.A. in Theatre Arts, and a Ph.D. in Scenography from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA). Since 2009, she has worked as a freelance designer and art director for over 50 projects across theatre, film, television, commercials, events, and graphic design. Since 2018, she has served as an Senior Assistant Professor at NATFA, where she teaches Film and TV Design within the Screen Arts Faculty. Her academic work focuses on the intersection of film design, digital technologies, and visual storytelling.She is a member of the Production Designers Collective, the Union of Bulgarian Artists, and the international research and education project FilmEU. In addition to her academic and design practice, Boyana is also a performance artist and co-founder of the experimental theatre collective “O3.” Read more

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Eli Bø

The Norwegian Film School •

Eli Bø , The Norwegian Film School

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 10:20 —Light Bulb Moments - Where Do Ideas Come From?
  Light Bulb Moments - Where Do Ideas Come From?

Bio:

Eli Bø is the Head of the Norwegian Film School. She trained at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design and as a Production Designer at the National Film and Television School (UK) and combines ex... Eli Bø is the Head of the Norwegian Film School. She trained at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design and as a Production Designer at the National Film and Television School (UK) and combines extensive production design experience with over twenty years of academic leadership. She has held senior posts across Scandinavia and the UK, including Pro Vice Chancellor and Professor at Stockholm University of the Arts and Course Leader at the University of the Arts London. Eli has led and contributed to programmes at all degree levels, supervised artistic research, and earned teaching awards.
She is currently the co-editor of the CILECT 21C Books volume on Teaching Production Design for Film, Television and games. Read more

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James Chinlund

Production Designer •

James Chinlund , Production Designer

Scene & Unseen:

• Wednesday October 22 , Regent Street Cinema, 307 Regent Street London W1B 2HW , 21:00 —In Conversation with James Chinlund, Production Designer
  In Conversation with James Chinlund, Production Designer

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IC

Ian Christie

Birkbeck Institute • London

Ian Christie , Birkbeck Institute (London, United Kingdom)

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 14:00 —Making the Production Designer Visible
  Not Just Great Directors:

Bio:

Ian Christie is a film historian, broadcaster and curator, currently Professor of Film and Media History at Birkbeck, University of London. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and has been a visitin... Ian Christie is a film historian, broadcaster and curator, currently Professor of Film and Media History at Birkbeck, University of London. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and has been a visiting professor and fellow at universities in Oxford, Cambridge, Stockholm, Canberra, Paris and Olomouc, and at Gresham College in London 2017-21.  He has written and edited books on Powell and Pressburger, Russian cinema, Martin Scorsese and Terry Gilliam, and the production designer John Box (The Art of Film, 2008). He has contributed to many exhibitions, including Spellbound: Art and Film (Hayward Gallery 1996), Modernism: Designing a New World (V&A, 2006), Revolution: Russian Art 1917-32 (Royal Academy, 2017), and a series of exhibitions about Robert Paul and early British cinema in 1919-21. For Amsterdam University Press’s Key Debates series, he has edited Audiences (2012) and Spaces (2024), and co-edited Stories (2018). His most recent books are Robert Paul and the Origins of British Cinema (2020) and The Eisenstein Universe (2021), with a contribution to The Cinema of Powell and Pressburger (BFI, 2023). He has also co-directed a film about Eisenstein in Mexico, A Trip to Tetlapayac (2023).  Read more

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DCR

Daniela Cruz Rodríguez

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) • Mexico City

Daniela Cruz Rodríguez , Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (Mexico City, Mexico)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Production Design as Interpretative Practice

Bio:

Daniela Cruz Rodríguez is a production designer, film professor, and student in the BA in History at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, UNAM. She graduated in Film with a specialization in Art Di... Daniela Cruz Rodríguez is a production designer, film professor, and student in the BA in History at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, UNAM. She graduated in Film with a specialization in Art Direction from ENAC (UNAM). Her work includes the feature film Mente Revólver (2017), part of UNAM’s Ópera Prima program, and the design of over 150 sets for audiovisual productions. She has served as a jury member at the Guadalajara International Film Festival and attended international forums such as The Gathering (Spetses, Greece, 2024). Her academic work bridges historiography, visual semiotics, and production design as interpretative practice. Read more

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GDA

Geraint D'Arcy

University of East Anglia • Norwich

Geraint D'Arcy , University of East Anglia (Norwich, United Kingdom)

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 14:00 —Making the Production Designer Visible
• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 11:30 —Space and Story
  Formalist Visibility, Conspicuous Realism and Louder Production Design

Bio:

Geraint D’Arcy is Associate Professor in Media Practice at The University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. He is author of Mise en Scène, Acting and Space in Comics (Palgrave, 2020) which looks at the ... Geraint D’Arcy is Associate Professor in Media Practice at The University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. He is author of Mise en Scène, Acting and Space in Comics (Palgrave, 2020) which looks at the crossover of production design theory from film, and theatre, into comics, and of Critical Approaches to TV and Film Set Design (Routledge, 2018) which established theories of production design. Geraint is on the organising committee of the International Graphic Novels and Comics Conference (IGNCC), has had extensive experience in professional theatre, film and television production and has been a practicing scenographer for over twenty years.  Read more

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May Davies

British Film Designers' Guild • London

May Davies , British Film Designers' Guild (London, United Kingdom)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 11:00 —Our Teams
  We're Only as Good as Our Team

Bio:

May Davies is a production designer and art director originally from Cumbria and based in London. Recent feature films include Learning to Breathe Under Water (in post), Witches (BIFA Best Documentary... May Davies is a production designer and art director originally from Cumbria and based in London. Recent feature films include Learning to Breathe Under Water (in post), Witches (BIFA Best Documentary 2024 Winner, premiered at Tribeca Festival 2024); and Hansal Mehta’s The Buckingham Murders (premiered at BFI London Film Festival 2023). Art direction credits for feature film and tv drama include Black Mirror S7 Ep2 ‘Plaything’ (2024), The Critic (2023), and Landscapers (2021) which won a TV BAFTA for best production design.May has 10+ years experience in community engagement for underrepresented people in the industry through her work at leading film and arts charity, Signal Film and Media in Barrow-in-Furness. She remains committed to sharing the craft and encouraging new faces into the industry through mentoring with BFI Film Academy, UAL and BAFTA, as well as guest lecturing in higher education when schedules allow, most recently at Ravensbourne University. Read more

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Russell De Rozario

Production Designer •

Russell De Rozario , Production Designer

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 10:00 —Tying Worlds Together
  Tying Worlds Together

Bio:

Russell De Rozario has over 30 years’ experience working as a Production Designer within the film industry.  De Rozario started his professional career as an artist after finishing his training at ... Russell De Rozario has over 30 years’ experience working as a Production Designer within the film industry.  De Rozario started his professional career as an artist after finishing his training at Chelsea School of Art and Design and University of East London. After this, De Rozario moved into film, working as an Art Director at Tony Kaye’s company. De Rozario then worked on several high-profile commercials for Sky TV. The first feature film that De Rozario worked on was Mean Machine for Matthew Vaughn at SKA films. De Rozario's other notable credits include Swept Away, directed by Guy Ritchie, Telstar: The Joe Meek Story directed by Nick Moran, Kick Ass for Matthew Vaughan, Kick Ass 2 directed by Jeff Wadlow, Brandy and Pep, directed by Tim Pope, Eat Locals directed by Jason Flemyng, The Hitman’s Bodyguard and Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard directed by Patrick Hughes, Angel has Fallen directed by Ric Roman Waugh, Jolt directed by Tanya Wexler, Mutiny, directed by Jean-Francois Richet and Cleaner, directed by Martin Campbell. Read more

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IDC

Itxaso del Castillo

University of the Basque Country •

Itxaso del Castillo , University of the Basque Country

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 11:00 —Our Teams
  The Role of Graphic Design in Production Design

Bio:

Assistant Professor in the department of Audio-visual Communication and Advertising at EHU/UPV. Graduate in Journalism from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU, Spain), Master’s in Film an... Assistant Professor in the department of Audio-visual Communication and Advertising at EHU/UPV. Graduate in Journalism from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU, Spain), Master’s in Film and TV Studies from the University of Amsterdam (Holland), Master’s in Creative Documentary from Pompeu i Fabra (Spain), and PhD in Social Communication at at the University of the Basque Country.

She was previously a scriptwriter for 12 years. She had a research stay at the University of Groningen. She teaches Screenwriting and Genre, Image and Identity, She is together with Andoni Iturbe the Main Researcher of the the group research group ADI, which is focused on the audiovisual industry, narratives and genre(s). Read more

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María Del Rincón Yohn

Universidad de Navarra •

María Del Rincón Yohn , Universidad de Navarra

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 11:30 —Space and Story
  Liminal spaces: Production Design as Memory Embodiment in The Father

Bio:

María Del Rincón Yohn holds a PhD in Film and Media, complemented by a BA in Theology. She is a Film and TV lecturer at the Universidad de Navarra (Spain) and Academic Visitor at the Faculty of Engl... María Del Rincón Yohn holds a PhD in Film and Media, complemented by a BA in Theology. She is a Film and TV lecturer at the Universidad de Navarra (Spain) and Academic Visitor at the Faculty of English at the University of Oxford. She teaches undergraduate modules on Film History, Film Aesthetics and Film Theory. Her research focuses on the cinematic representation of memory and Film Aesthetics. Read more

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ED

Ella Drinkwater

AFTRS • Sydney

Ella Drinkwater , AFTRS (Sydney, Australia)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Who Makes a Film?

Bio:

Ella Drinkwater is an emerging production designer from Sydney, Australia, and working in art departments for long-form film and television across the country. She recently graduated from the Master o... Ella Drinkwater is an emerging production designer from Sydney, Australia, and working in art departments for long-form film and television across the country. She recently graduated from the Master of Arts Screen at AFTRS, wherein her exegesis research focused on the possibilities of feminist practice for production designers. Read more

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MDL

Marie Dülberg

Internationale Filmschule Köln • Köln

Marie Dülberg , Internationale Filmschule Köln (Köln, Germany)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  ZERO: Feverdream

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KE

Kay Eldridge

British Film Institute • London

Kay Eldridge , British Film Institute (London, United Kingdom)

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 14:00 —Making the Production Designer Visible
  The British Film Institute Collection

Bio:

Kay Eldridge is the Assistant Curator of Screencraft at the BFI National Archive. Kay supports on outreach, collection care and the development of the photograph and design holdings. Previously Kay ... Kay Eldridge is the Assistant Curator of Screencraft at the BFI National Archive. Kay supports on outreach, collection care and the development of the photograph and design holdings. Previously Kay has worked on the Audit to Access project at the BFI National Archive and worked at the River and Rowing Museum. Read more

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NE

Nathan Evans

AFTRS • Sydney

Nathan Evans , AFTRS (Sydney, Australia)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Expediting World Building Through Agile Innovation

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JF

James Frith

University of South Wales •

James Frith , University of South Wales

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Cosmic ambition on a student short film budget! - Liminal

Bio:

James is a recent graduate of the University of South Wales TV and Film Set design course and loves getting hands on with pre-production. I’ve worked on a handful of productions designing a hero pro... James is a recent graduate of the University of South Wales TV and Film Set design course and loves getting hands on with pre-production. I’ve worked on a handful of productions designing a hero prop for ITV’s McDonald and Dodds and working as an art department trainee on a BBC drama along with many short films. Pre-production has always fascinated me from a young age spending my childhood sketching Hogwarts castle and analysing its design and I’m always looking to learn and expand my artistic skills from murals and watercolour to technical drawing and digital modelling. Read more

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MGR

Michael Gärtner

Internationale Filmschule Köln •

Michael Gärtner , Internationale Filmschule Köln

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  ZERO: Basil

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SGL

Signe Gerda Landfald

Norwegian Film School, University of Inland Norway •

Signe Gerda Landfald , Norwegian Film School, University of Inland Norway (Norway)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Workshop in Virtual Production at the Norwegian Film School

Bio:

Signe Gerda Landfald is an associate professor in Production Design and subject manager for the BA programme at The Norwegian Film School, University of Inland Norway. She holds an MA in scenography f... Signe Gerda Landfald is an associate professor in Production Design and subject manager for the BA programme at The Norwegian Film School, University of Inland Norway. She holds an MA in scenography from Oslo National Academy of Theatre, and works freelance across major theatres in Norway and abroad. She creates interactive performances for children and youth with the Oslo-based theatre Tigerstadsteatret, which received the Oslo City Artist Award in 2021. Landfald also has a BA in Production Design from The Norwegian Film School and has designed for numerous films and TV productions. She has twice been nominated for the Gullruten Award for Best Production Design. Read more

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Will Htay

British Film Designers' Guild •

Will Htay , British Film Designers' Guild

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 15:00 —NOOR previs demonstration
  NOOR Previs Demonstration

Bio:

Will Htay is an Artist, Designer and Creative Director, who trained in Theatre Design before working as a Production Designer of commercials, tv and large-scale films for franchises including Star War... Will Htay is an Artist, Designer and Creative Director, who trained in Theatre Design before working as a Production Designer of commercials, tv and large-scale films for franchises including Star Wars and Marvel, whilst developing his own practice as an artist.Will’s focus is storytelling through world building, using old and new technologies to illuminate contemporary themes around ownership and agency. Read more

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Andoni Iturbe Tolosa

University of the Basque Country •

Andoni Iturbe Tolosa , University of the Basque Country

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 11:00 —Our Teams
  The Role of Graphic Design in Production Design

Bio:

Andoni Iturbe Tolosa is a Senior Lecturer and Vice-Dean at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU, Spain). He holds a PhD in Film Studies from the ... Andoni Iturbe Tolosa is a Senior Lecturer and Vice-Dean at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU, Spain). He holds a PhD in Film Studies from the University of the Basque Country, and degrees in Journalism and Art History.

He has extensive professional experience in the media and film festival sectors, having worked with the San Sebastián International Film Festival (Spain) and the New Horizons International Film Festival (Poland). He has presented at more than thirty international conferences and published around fifty academic works.

He leads a research group devoted to the study of the audiovisual industry, narrative forms, and genre. He has undertaken research stays at the University of Texas at Austin, Tecnológico de Monterrey (Mexico), Leipzig University (Germany), and Lumière University Lyon 2 (France). He teaches courses on Production Design and Cultural Industries. Read more

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Maria Kavalioti

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki • Thessaloniki

Maria Kavalioti , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki, Greece)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 11:00 —Our Teams
• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Designing, Building, (Re)Creating

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LKL

Louis Knudsen Loges

Internationale Filmschule Köln • Köln

Louis Knudsen Loges , Internationale Filmschule Köln (Köln, Germany)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  ZERO: River Creature

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Siri Langdalen

The Norwegian Film School •

Siri Langdalen , The Norwegian Film School

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 11:15 —Pedagogical Approaches
  Development of Visual Scripts: Visualising Narrative Time

Bio:

Siri Langdalen is a Norwegian production designer and professor of production design at the University of Inland Norway and the Norwegian Film School. She teaches at both the bachelors and masters lev... Siri Langdalen is a Norwegian production designer and professor of production design at the University of Inland Norway and the Norwegian Film School. She teaches at both the bachelors and masters levels and supervises Ph.D. candidates. Langdalen previously held the position of Professor of Stage Design at the Norwegian Theatre Academy, Østfold University College. During her tenure at the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), she worked as a production designer on more than 30 major television drama productions.Her most recent project is Harald & Sonja (2025), a television drama produced for Amazon Prime that portrays the lives of the Norwegian King and Queen in the 1960s.  In addition to her work in film and television, Langdalen has designed sets and costumes for major theatre productions across Norway, Denmark, Canada and Greenland, including work for the National Theatre of Greenland. Read more

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Jamie Lapsley

British Film Designers' Guild •

Jamie Lapsley , British Film Designers' Guild

Scene & Unseen:

• Wednesday October 22 , Regent Street Cinema, 307 Regent Street London W1B 2HW , 21:00 —In Conversation with James Chinlund, Production Designer
  In Conversation with James Chinlund, Production Designer

Bio:

Jamie Morgan Lapsley is a British production designer celebrated for her innovative and immersive designs across film, television, and commercials. Splitting her time between London and Scotland, Jami... Jamie Morgan Lapsley is a British production designer celebrated for her innovative and immersive designs across film, television, and commercials. Splitting her time between London and Scotland, Jamie’s career encompasses award-winning TV shows such as “Bodyguard”, “Fearless”, and “Murdered for Being Different”, as well as films like “Out of Darkness”, “Shell”, and “Tommy’s Honour”.
With a background in both industrial design and theatre, Jamie brings a unique perspective to her work, focusing on storytelling elements that enhance the narrative. Her advertising portfolio includes collaborations with brands like Lego, Google, HP, Sainsbury’s, and Kodak, showcasing her versatility and creative vision. Passionate about increasing diversity and equal access in the industry, Jamie actively engages in discussions and initiatives aimed at opening up opportunities for underrepresented groups through her membership of the Academy, Bafta and the British Film Designers Guild. Read more

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Jette Lehmann

National Film School of Denmark •

Jette Lehmann , National Film School of Denmark

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 11:15 —Pedagogical Approaches
  Expanding the Language of Film

Bio:

Jette Lehmann is a trained architect from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. She worked at architecture studios in both London and Copenhagen before an opportunity arose to work in s... Jette Lehmann is a trained architect from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. She worked at architecture studios in both London and Copenhagen before an opportunity arose to work in scenography. Her first role as a production designer was on The Kingdom (Riget) with Lars von Trier in 1993. She holds a diploma in Arts and Cultural Leadership and has previously taught at The Norwegian Film School, The National Film School of Denmark, and Station Next. Jette has worked on more than 35 film and television productions, including Flame & Citron (2008), Melancholia (2011), A Fortunate Man (Lykke Per, 2018), and ThePromised Land (Bastarden, 2023). Her work has earned numerous awards, including the European Film Award, as well as Denmark’s prestigious Robert and Bodil awards.

She is currently Head of Department at the National Film School of Denmark. Since May2024, she and three colleagues have been responsible for teaching Production Design and developing the curriculum for the newly established Production Design program. Read more

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Karen Maness

University of Texas • Austin

Karen Maness , University of Texas (Austin, United States)

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 16:00 —Immersion
  The Art of The Hollywood Backdrop

Bio:

Karen Maness is a College of Fine Arts Assistant Professor of Practice at The University ofTexas at Austin, Associate Director of the Fabrication Studios at Texas Performing Arts, andDirector for the ... Karen Maness is a College of Fine Arts Assistant Professor of Practice at The University ofTexas at Austin, Associate Director of the Fabrication Studios at Texas Performing Arts, andDirector for the Texas Performing Arts Hollywood Backdrop Collection. She is the co-author of The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop, 2016 (ReganArts), co-curator of the 2022 world premiere Boca Raton Museum of Art exhibition Art of the Hollywood Backdrop: Cinema's Creative Legacy and contributing author for the PSTLA publication Fabricating Wilderness: The Habitat Diorama of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 2024.

Maness teaches painting and visual communication to digital and analog artists through observational painting and Hollywood motion picture scenic art history. Her previous roles include Commissioner of Scenic Design and Technology and Director for the United States Institute of Theatre and Technology. She received the 2024 USITT Distinguished AchievementAward in Scenic Design and Technology, inducted as a Fellow of the Institute in 2025. Read more

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LM

Lilli Manner

Internationale Filmschule Köln • Köln

Lilli Manner , Internationale Filmschule Köln (Köln, Germany)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  ZERO: About Glass

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LMR

Lara Marlies Rabitsch

Internationale Filmschule Köln • Köln

Lara Marlies Rabitsch , Internationale Filmschule Köln (Köln, Germany)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  ZERO: Candle Wax

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MMN

Mani Martínez

Catalonia?s Higher School of Cinema and AVs (ESCAC) • Barcelona

Mani Martínez , Catalonia?s Higher School of Cinema and AVs (ESCAC) (Barcelona, Spain)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 15:00 —Future Directions
  Taming AI: How to create and maintain authorship

Bio:

A Production Designer & Art Director with 25 years of experience in national and international productions, Mani holds a background in Fine Arts from the UK and has worked across all departments relat... A Production Designer & Art Director with 25 years of experience in national and international productions, Mani holds a background in Fine Arts from the UK and has worked across all departments related to production design.

His work on service productions in different countries, in both roles, has given him a creative and technical perspective that has shaped his vision for more efficient workflows in the audiovisual industry.

His most recent work includes production design for Lucky Luke (Federation & Disney). He has also contributed to high­profile productions such as Perfume (Constantin Film) as Props Buyer or Black Mirror (Netflix) as Local Art Director. 

He designed and leads the Design Film_lA, an EU-funded course exploring Al applications in production design at E.S.C.A.C. (Catalan Higher School of Cinema and Audiovisuals).

As co-founder and artistic director of the startup Keynema, he develops Al-powered tools to support production teams, facilitating the information flow and logistics of departments - especially within the art department.  Read more

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LM

Lee McQueen

Ravensbourne University •

Lee McQueen , Ravensbourne University

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 16:00 —Immersion
  Working with a Visual Artist on a VP Project

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AM

Alexis Molloy

University of South Wales •

Alexis Molloy , University of South Wales

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Nevermore

Bio:

Alexis is a recent graduate in Set Design for Film and TV from the University of South Wales. I have always been passionate about film and design which led me to study the subject at university, where... Alexis is a recent graduate in Set Design for Film and TV from the University of South Wales. I have always been passionate about film and design which led me to study the subject at university, where I loved learning about the art department and using my existing creative skills whilst developing new ones. During my studies I developed skills in model making, technical drawing, and digital visualisation. I am now keen to continue improve my skills and contribute to the film and television industry. Read more

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Miriam Phelan

British Film Institute • London

Miriam Phelan , British Film Institute (London, United Kingdom)

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 14:00 —Making the Production Designer Visible
  The British Film Institute Collection

Bio:

Miriam Phelan is Curator of Screencraft at the BFI National Archive. Miriam works to activate the collection of posters, costume and production designs and visual and graphic arts through research, en... Miriam Phelan is Curator of Screencraft at the BFI National Archive. Miriam works to activate the collection of posters, costume and production designs and visual and graphic arts through research, engagement and the wider BFI programming. Previously Miriam worked at The Charleston Trust, The V&A and The Charles Dickens Museum. Her own research focusses on the impact of conflict on remembering, forgetting and the making of history. Read more

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RP

Roberta Pilleri

University of Salford •

Roberta Pilleri , University of Salford

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  The First Woman

Bio:

Roberta Pilleri is a Manchester-based filmmaker from Sardinia, Italy, currently working towards an MA in Film Production with the aim of pursuing a PhD. Drawing on a range of professional and academic... Roberta Pilleri is a Manchester-based filmmaker from Sardinia, Italy, currently working towards an MA in Film Production with the aim of pursuing a PhD. Drawing on a range of professional and academic experiences, Roberta’s practice focuses on bringing her diverse skills into a purely DIY and low-budget mode of filmmaking. Read more

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LP

Liv Pohl

Internationale Filmschule Köln • Köln

Liv Pohl , Internationale Filmschule Köln (Köln, Germany)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  ZERO: Oi Ocha

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PR

Panos Raptis

Ravensbourne University •

Panos Raptis , Ravensbourne University

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 16:00 —Immersion
  Working with a Visual Artist on a VP Project

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JR

Jon Rowlands

University of Lincoln •

Jon Rowlands , University of Lincoln

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 11:30 —Space and Story
  Corridors of (Warp) Power: A love Letter to the Connecting Spaces in Star Trek
• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Analogue Origins

Bio:

Jon Rowlands is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln, specialising in production design for television and film, and live television production. Jon's interest in production design and telev... Jon Rowlands is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln, specialising in production design for television and film, and live television production. Jon's interest in production design and television stems from a lifelong love of sci-fi, namely Doctor Who and Star Trek. A career highlight are his regular interviews with industry production designers, including Dave Blass of Star Trek: Picard fame. For five years he was Director of Teaching and Learning within the Lincoln School of Film, Media and Journalism, leading on curriculum development, pedagogy and the student learning experience. Jon is a BAFTA Albert certified trainer, ensuring that his students centre their production design work on environmentally sustainable methods. He has written on several topics, including his experiences of neurodiversity, and how creating welcoming spaces for neurodiverse people can (and should) be celebrated and developed within the higher education sector. Read more

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TS

Tata Saakashvili

Internationale Filmschule Köln • Köln

Tata Saakashvili , Internationale Filmschule Köln (Köln, Germany)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  ZERO: Kite

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JS

Jayne Sayer

University of Salford •

Jayne Sayer , University of Salford

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 16:00 —Immersion
  The Spatialisation of Film Narrative Through PD in Immersive Cinema

Bio:

Jayne Sayer is a lecturer in Film Production at the University of Salford, and an Art Departmentspecialist with a particular focus on the integration of digital processes into film design andaesthetic... Jayne Sayer is a lecturer in Film Production at the University of Salford, and an Art Departmentspecialist with a particular focus on the integration of digital processes into film design andaesthetics. Drawing from over 10 years of corporate and broadcast industry experience, Jayne’scurrent practice is centred on how audience experiences in immersive theatre and artinstallations can be translated into the cinematic form, specifically within the fields ofProduction Design and Expanded Cinema, alongside developing new smart technology andVirtual Production solutions. Most recently, Jayne has been a co-investigator on the NestedCinema research, also contributing as a production designer and creative technologiespractitioner to the practical realisation of the project. Jayne currently acts as an advisor on aresearch project developing responsive costume lighting and projection techniques for livemusic performance, funded by the Arts Council England. Read more

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Ben Simpson

Leeds Arts University •

Ben Simpson , Leeds Arts University

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 11:15 —Pedagogical Approaches
  ‘Wokking-It’

Bio:

Ben Simpson, a.k.a Doctor Simpo, is a seasoned educator and creative, serving as the MA Course Leader for Worldbuilding with Creature Design and Senior Lecturer for BA (Hons.) Animation. A self-identi... Ben Simpson, a.k.a Doctor Simpo, is a seasoned educator and creative, serving as the MA Course Leader for Worldbuilding with Creature Design and Senior Lecturer for BA (Hons.) Animation. A self-identified "Sequential Narrative Specialist," Simpson has expertise in 2D sequencing, influenced by notable figures from Glasgow's Hope Street Studios. He honed his skills at institutions like the Glasgow School of Art, the Pratt Institute and The Royal College of Art. Simpson has authored the book "Bring Stuff to Life" and created popular gag-based picture books. His work has been internationally exhibited alongside major artists like Dali and Picasso. Known for his long-running ‘underground-kids-comic’ Space Dork, Simpson has expanded his portfolio into children's TV, co-creating the animated series SnotDog. He has directed various award winning animated projects, including Derek the Sheep, and continues to develop innovative visual storytelling content. His current research involves re-imagining WOKKER for an upcoming exhibition in 2025. Read more

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AS

Anna Solic

University of South Wales • Cardiff

Anna Solic , University of South Wales (Cardiff, United Kingdom)

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 11:15 —Pedagogical Approaches

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Sebastian Soukup

Internationale Filmschule Köln • Köln

Sebastian Soukup , Internationale Filmschule Köln (Köln, Germany)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 15:00 —Future Directions
  Sustainability project ZERO

Bio:

Sebastian Soukup, whom David Cronenberg referred to as “a full production designer at heart” after working together on A Dangerous Method (2010) has collaborated with acclaimed directors such as J... Sebastian Soukup, whom David Cronenberg referred to as “a full production designer at heart” after working together on A Dangerous Method (2010) has collaborated with acclaimed directors such as Jordan Scott on Berlin Nobody (2022), Wim Wenders on Anselm (2023), Palermo Shooting (2007), Volker Schlöndorff on Return to Montauk (2016), Larry Charles on Army of One (2015), Julie Delpy on My Zoe (2018) and Lulu Wang on Posthumous (2012).He received nominations for Best Production Design at the German Film Academy Awards in 2023 for Der vermessene Mensch // The Measures of Men (directed by Lars Kraume) and in 2020 for Narziss & Goldmund (directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky).  His storyboards for Palermo Shooting were showcased in the exhibition “Between Film and Art: Storyboards from Hitchcock to Spielberg” at the Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen in 2011. Since 2023, he holds a professorship in Scenography / Production Design at the Internationale Filmschule Köln. Read more

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Sofia Stål

National Film School of Denmark •

Sofia Stål , National Film School of Denmark

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 11:15 —Pedagogical Approaches
  Expanding the Language of Film

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AS

Abigail Stephenson

University of South Wales •

Abigail Stephenson , University of South Wales

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Organic Architecture

Bio:

Abigail recently graduated from the University of South Wales with a degree in TV and Film Set Design. This became something she wanted to pursue after being inspired by the behind the scenes of fanta... Abigail recently graduated from the University of South Wales with a degree in TV and Film Set Design. This became something she wanted to pursue after being inspired by the behind the scenes of fantasy films, which demonstrated how whole other worlds are created on screen - a process that fascinated her. She loves learning about new things to bring ideas to life, such as architectural styles or information needed to create a convincing graphic. During her degree she became more interested in the digital side of graphics and draughting and is keen to work her way towards these roles. Read more

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Jørgen Strangebye Larsen

Norwegian Film School •

Jørgen Strangebye Larsen , Norwegian Film School

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 16:00 —Immersion
  Intersection of VP and Design Practice

Bio:

Jørgen Stangebye Larsen is a Norwegian production designer working across Scandinavian and international cinema. He graduated from The Norwegian Film School in 2010, and his first feature was Joachim... Jørgen Stangebye Larsen is a Norwegian production designer working across Scandinavian and international cinema. He graduated from The Norwegian Film School in 2010, and his first feature was Joachim Trier’s Oslo, August 31st. In 2025 he reunited with Trier to design Sentimental Value, winner of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.

Larsen has designed a wide range of films, from large-scale genre productions such as The Burning Sea and The Quake, to intimate art-house projects like Eskil Vogt’s Blind. His credits also include Hans Petter Moland’s Absolution and Cold Pursuit, as well as the Norwegian films Hope and Out Stealing Horses. He has been nominated several times for the Amanda Award — Norway’s national film prize — and won for Maria Sødahl’s Hope. He also received the Nordic Film Talent Prize for The Quake, recognizing him as an innovative designer contributing to the increasing quality of Norwegian cinema. He is a member of the Art Directors Guild (IATSE Local 800).

Alongside his professional work, Larsen is pursuing a PhD in Artistic Research at The Norwegian Film School / Inland University of Applied Sciences. His project, Cyclorama of the Future, explores how Virtual Production and real-time technologies are reshaping production design and collaboration in filmmaking. Read more

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CS

Catherine Surowiec

Freelance •

Catherine Surowiec

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Art Directors: America's First Motion Picture Production Designers 1905 -1929

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Moira Tait

BFDG FRCA •

Moira Tait , BFDG FRCA

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 10:20 —Light Bulb Moments - Where Do Ideas Come From?
  Light Bulb Moments - Where Do Ideas Come From?

Bio:

Moira, BA Hons graduate in English from KCL, studied theatre design at the Slade School of Art. Moira joined the BBC as a production designer working on many series, one-off dramas and several Play Fo... Moira, BA Hons graduate in English from KCL, studied theatre design at the Slade School of Art. Moira joined the BBC as a production designer working on many series, one-off dramas and several Play For Today productions with Alan Bennett and Stephen Frears.Subsequently Moira became an educator, constructing and tutoring PD BA and MA courses at Kingston University, The National Film & TV School, The Royal College of Art, Wimbledon School of Art, the Norwegian Film School and Stockholm University of the Arts.Formerly Head of the NFTS PD department, Moira is currently a Senior Tutor there and a visiting tutor at the LFS and is PD External Examiner at Nottingham Trent University. In 2016 Moira was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Film Designers Guild and is a BFDG core committee member and an Honorary Fellow of the RCA. Read more

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JT

Jordan Taylor

AFTRS • Sydney

Jordan Taylor , AFTRS (Sydney, Australia)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Interlude and the layers of worldbuilding

Bio:

Jordan Taylor is an emerging production and costume designer from Valencia, California, U.S.A. She is a recent graduate of the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School (AFTRS) in Sydney, Australi... Jordan Taylor is an emerging production and costume designer from Valencia, California, U.S.A. She is a recent graduate of the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School (AFTRS) in Sydney, Australia, and was featured at the UCLA Design Showcase West. Jordan enjoys projects with strong female-led stories, a heavy amount of craft skills, and the use of colour. She is a former professional athlete and current softball
coach in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A, but plans to be back in Australia to continue working in film and television while also helping Softball Australia prepare for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games. Read more

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Noelle C. Thomas

DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts • Chicago

Noelle C. Thomas , DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts (Chicago, United States)

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 11:15 —Pedagogical Approaches
  A Global Framework for Teaching PD

Bio:

Noelle C. Thomas is a Production Designer and Set Designer whose work spans film, television, opera, and theater. Her approach to design emphasizes storytelling, collaboration, and the thoughtful inte... Noelle C. Thomas is a Production Designer and Set Designer whose work spans film, television, opera, and theater. Her approach to design emphasizes storytelling, collaboration, and the thoughtful integration of visual and spatial language across different forms of media.

Her production credits include work on Chicago Med (NBC Universal), Reservation Dogs (FX/Hulu), Night Sky (Amazon Studios/Legendary Television), South Side (HBO Max), Empire (20th Century Fox Television), and Fargo: Kansas City (FX). She has also designed independent and short films including Stronghold, Tensile Strength of Air, and The Lagoon, as well as commercial projects for Barstool Sports, IKEA, and Accenture. In addition to her screen work, she has designed opera and theater, including a Joseph Jefferson Award-nominated scenic design for Awake and Sing!

At DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts, Thomas serves as Assistant Professor and Head of Production Design. Her teaching brings together traditional design practices, digital modeling, and virtual production tools, encouraging students to develop strong visual design foundations while exploring new technologies shaping the industry. She is a Journeyman Member of IATSE Local 476 and draws on her professional experience to connect classroom learning to current production practices.

Thomas’s research and teaching focus on production design, art direction, set design, and virtual production, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary and global collaboration. She has collaborated with Nottingham Trent University to develop shared learning projects that connect students internationally through design and storytelling. Her ongoing research examines global storytelling, AI-assisted visualization, and the evolving role of the production designer in virtual and hybrid production environments. She contributes to the upcoming CILECT Production Design Anthology and is a member of The Production Design Research and Education Network (PD-REN). Thomas holds an MFA in Stage Design from Northwestern University and a BFA in Scenic Design from The Theatre School at DePaul University. Read more

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Elena Trencheva

National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) • Sofia

Elena Trencheva , National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) (Sofia, Bulgaria)

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 15:00 —NOOR previs demonstration
• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Portraits in Motion
• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 16:15 — AI as Co-Visionary: Imagining the FilmEU Campus of the Future
  AI as Co-Visionary: Imagining the FilmEU Campus of the Future

Bio:

Elena Trencheva is a professor in Production design at NATFA, Bulgaria. As the Head of the BA programme in Production design she has taught courses in Costume Design for Film, Previsualization and Sto... Elena Trencheva is a professor in Production design at NATFA, Bulgaria. As the Head of the BA programme in Production design she has taught courses in Costume Design for Film, Previsualization and Storyboarding, and Visual Design since 2003.Elena actively works as a production designer and costume designer in numerous Bulgarian feature and documentary films, web series, and sitcoms. In 2007, she defended her doctoral dissertation Semiotics of Costume in Science Fiction Film, which won a competition for scientific research by the National Culture Fund. From 2013 to 2015, as a postdoctoral researcher at Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland, she conducted research on the Representations of Finnish Identity in Early Finnish Cinema 1919-1929 and in 2016, she presented her habilitation thesis Violating Accuracy or Costume Verisimilitude in Historical Film, further establishing her expertise in the nuanced relationship between history, narrative, and visual storytelling. As a member of the Steering Committee of FilmEU she contributes to shaping the future of film education and collaborative research across Europe. Read more

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TW

Thomas Walsh

Freelance •

Thomas Walsh

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Art Directors: America's First Motion Picture Production Designers 1905 -1929

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Richard Whitby

Ravensbourne University •

Richard Whitby , Ravensbourne University

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 16:00 —Immersion
  Working with a Visual Artist on a VP Project

Bio:

Richard Whitby is an artist working in video and live performance. Richard completed his PhD at the London Consortium in 2016 on arena-based adaptations of screen narratives. Research interests includ... Richard Whitby is an artist working in video and live performance. Richard completed his PhD at the London Consortium in 2016 on arena-based adaptations of screen narratives. Research interests include post-cinema, experimental film, urban regeneration. In 2019 Richard was awarded a Jerwood FVU commission that resulted in the film The Lost Ones and he releases music with Bulkwash. Recent publications include ‘The Matrix Now: Liveness and Artisanal Labour’ in the journal Luxury Studies.He and the two co-researchers on this project, Lee McQueen and Panos Raptis, teach at Ravensbourne University London in the TV, Media and Film department. Read more

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GW

Gage Williams

University of Utah • Utah

Gage Williams , University of Utah (Utah, United States)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Regent Street Foyer , 14:00 —Poster Presentations
  Pathways to Production Design

Bio:

Gage Williams is an award-winning Art Director with over 50 network and cable television design credits. He received a 1990 CableACE Award for Showtime’s Mastergate, written by Larry Gelbart, and co... Gage Williams is an award-winning Art Director with over 50 network and cable television design credits. He received a 1990 CableACE Award for Showtime’s Mastergate, written by Larry Gelbart, and contributed to HBO’s Def Poetry Jamon Broadway, winner of the 2002 Tony Award for Best Theatrical Event. His work spans sitcoms, comedy and musical specials, and variety shows. Williams holds an MFA in Stage Design from Southern Methodist University and is Professor of Theatre at the University of Utah. A 2000 John R. Park Fellowship supported his creation of a Production Design curriculum. And providing him advanced study with Production Designer Lawrence G. Paull (Academy Award Nominee, Blade Runner). Read more

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Petra Maria Wirth

Internationale Filmschule Köln • Cologne / Germany

Petra Maria Wirth , Internationale Filmschule Köln (Cologne / Germany, Germany)

Scene & Unseen:

• Friday October 24th , Fyvie Hall , 15:00 —Future Directions
  Sustainability project ZERO

Bio:

As a scenographer, Petra Maria Wirth explores the invention of visual worlds as a stage and costume designer in theater and as a concept artist and illustrator in German and international film product... As a scenographer, Petra Maria Wirth explores the invention of visual worlds as a stage and costume designer in theater and as a concept artist and illustrator in German and international film productions.

Her career in theater has led her to municipal theaters such as Schauspiel Köln, Staatstheater Hannover, Volksbühne Berlin, Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Theater Dortmund, Heidelberg, Bonn, Mainz, Lucerne, Lüneburg …, as well as independent theater groups such as Theater Collective “Futur 3” Cologne, FFT Düsseldorf, the International Wow Company / New York City, Theatro Praga / Lisbon, kobalt.works / Brussels, selma 45 / Lausanne, Teatr Lesi / Lviv, Ukraine etc.

For feature film productions, she enjoys collaborating with the production designers Uli Hanisch and Volker Schäfer, for example, on Tom Tykwer's "Perfume" (illustrator), Sönke Wortmann's "The Miracle of Bern" (illustrator), and Hans Steinbichler's "The Diary of Anne Frank" (concept artist). She has also worked with international production designers on Jim Jarmuch's "Only Lovers Left Behind" (set designer), David Cronenberg's "A Dangerous Method" (drawing artist), and Sherry Hormann's “Desert Flower” (art director), or with Christina Friedrich on “Sons of Whores – a Requiem” as production designer, to name just a few.

At the International Film School Cologne, Petra Maria Wirth heads the BA Film Production Design. Read more

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JW

John Wyver

University of Westminster • London

John Wyver , University of Westminster (London, United Kingdom)

Scene & Unseen:

• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 10:20 —Light Bulb Moments - Where Do Ideas Come From?
• Thursday October 23 , Fyvie Hall , 14:00 —Making the Production Designer Visible
  Designing for ‘High Definition’ TV 1936-39

Bio:

John Wyver is a writer and producer with the independent production company Illuminations, which he co-founded in 1982, and Professor of the Arts on Screen, University of Westminster. He has produced ... John Wyver is a writer and producer with the independent production company Illuminations, which he co-founded in 1982, and Professor of the Arts on Screen, University of Westminster. He has produced numerous documentaries about the arts for BBC Television, Channel 4 and Five, as well as broadcasters in France, Germany and the USA, and more than 50 screen adaptations for television and event cinema of theatre plays and dance. His productions have been honoured with a BAFTA, an International Emmy and a Peabody. His publications include The Royal Shakespeare Company on Screen: A Critical History (2019), Screen Plays: Theatre Plays on British Television (co-edited with Amanda Wrigley; 2022) and the forthcoming Magic Rays of Light: The Early Years of Television in Britain (2026) Read more

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