Damir G Martin: CG generalist focused on Creature and Character design.
After 3,5 years at Television Company as head of production graphics department where he specialized in creation of virtual sets for TV shows. He then decided to go back to his roots.
He started his freelance career in 2009. In spare time he develops story around DinoMonsters, characters he created in 2009, he aspires towards making them into a graphic novel. He is also an avid photographer, taking his camera with him on most occasions.
We all know he loves to share his knowledge with the CG community. Damir brought and shared couple of insightful tutorial articles on his works. Recently he completed 55 Dragon Design Marathon that was well accepted throughout the computer graphic dedicated forums inspiring many fellow artists. His favorite tool being Zbrush makes him an experienced Zbrush user, and the challenges that he has set for himself with the 55 Dragon Design Marathon; it will bring about a fresh perspective of Judging.
E. Suresh: Founder & Director of STUDIO EEKSAURUS PRODUCTIONS PVT LTD.
Having Founded India's premier Animation studio, Famous House of Animation in partnership with the legendary Famous Studios Ltd. in 1998, E. Suresh (Suresh Eriyat) was the creative director of Famous House till September 2009. Hailing from the prestigious National Institute of Design with Animation Film Design specialization, Suresh led the team that has created films in various media, winning numerous awards globally and nationally.
Directed and/or produced more than 300 odd films in genres ranging from TV commercials, to short films, to music videos, and most recently long format animation. Been in the panel of the prestigious jury of the CLIO awards since 2006, London International Awards 2009, Asia Image Apollo Awards 2005 & 2006 and jury on many other national awards. Suresh has recently been on the panel of advisory board to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and he is in the process of chartering a national curriculum that will be recognized at all premier and future animation institutes across the country. When not animating he turns to cultural, traditional and performing arts.
Jeff Kleiser: Visual Effects Supervisor, CEO and Co-founder, Synthespian Studios
Jeff Kleiser's pioneering work in computer animation has spanned the history of the medium. He has worked, supervised on many path breaking visual effects movies. To name a few: Tron, Stargate, X-Men, The One, Exorcist, Fantastic Four, Scary Movie, Mortal Combat. With Diana Walczack, Kleiser has directed award winning "Amazing Adventures of Spider Man" Sterescopic Thrill ride and much more. They founded Synthespian Studios which does groundbreaking work on movies like the Surrogates and TVCs. Jeff Kleiser has presented papers at international events like SIGGRAPH, INA Imagina, NAB. He is on the Board of Directors of Visual Effects Society. To add to his acheivements he is also the member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science. Also he is The Visual Effects Supervisor for the Most awaited upcoming movie R.A. ONE.
Kireet Khurana: Conceptualiser and Director
Kireet Khurana is currently the Animation Editor at Studio Systems, Director at Climb Media (I) Pvt. Ltd. And the Creative Head at 2nz Animation Co. He was the Conceptualiser & Director of TOONPUR KA SUPERRHERO, India's 1st live-action and 3D animation combination feature film, starring bollywood industry's stalwart actors; Ajay Devgn and Kajol.
He has studied at Sheridn College. His illustrious career spans across many years winning 5 President's National Awards, 3 Int'l awards besides others.
He has directed and co-produced award winning short films for National Film Board of Canada, UNICEF International (1995-97). He has also been the creator, director, and worked on the screenplay of award-winning series "Aventures of Chhota Birbal in 2002, that was premiered on Cartoon Network.
Kireet has also been on the Jury panel of President's National Awards in 2007, Mumbai Int'l Film Festival again in 2007, CNBC Golden Cursor Awards in 2008, at the recently held FICCI BAF Awards 2011 and now he is on board for CGTANTRA COMMUNITY AWARDS.
Max Lang: Animation Filmmaker
Max Lang is an Oscar and BAFTA-nominated animation director, story artist and character designer. He recently served as Assistant Director on the Cartoon Network original series 'The Amazing World of Gumball'. Prior to that, Max was co-director of the award-winning family special 'The Gruffalo'. Max has done character design and storyboards for companies in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States and is currently in development on a CG special. Trained in 2D and CG, Max is a graduate of the Filmakademie Baden Wurttemberg and the animation-school Hamburg. Max lives in London with his girlfriend and baby daughter and aspires to get a kitten before summer's end. Maybe two!
Merzin Tavaria: Chief Creative Director and
Co-Founder of Prime Focus
Merzin Tavaria has been with the company since its inception. He has been integral in the set up of the Film VFX and Animation division and in his capacity as CCD, Merzin leads the two verticals of the company in India. Some of Prime Focus' biggest and most recognized Bollywood and Hollywood feature film projects including 'Guzaarish', 'Scream 4', 'Robin Hood', The Twilight Saga: New Moon', 'Ghajini' has been executed under the direction of Merzin.
In 2010, Prime Focus pioneered View-D, the proprietary 2D to stereo 3D conversion solution. Merzin has been instrumental in setting up the Indian View-D team and has built a team of 2000 talented professionals who currently operate out of Prime Focus' Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chandigarh facilities. Among the key View-D projects, 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader', 'Clash of the Titans', and Wes Craven's 'My Soul To Take' were completed under Merzin's guidance in India.
Besides working on feature films; in his career spanning over 15 years, Merzin has also been involved with some of the most prestigious ad film projects produced in India. Before Prime Focus, he was a trainer at one of Mumbai's premier VFX and animation institutes.
Shelley Page: Head of International Outreach for DreamWorks Animation and is based in London
Shelley has been working in the field of feature animation since 1986. She has credits on over 20 films to date, including "Shrek 1-4", "Shark Tale", "Madagascar", "Kung Fu Panda", and 'How to Train Your Dragon'. Her present role at Dreamworks Animation involves building relationships with schools and events worldwide and sourcing new talent for future projects. Since 2006 she has been closely involved with the creation of the new DreamWorks Dedicated Unit team at Technicolor (Bangalore) and she is also associated with several of the leading academic institutions and festivals in India. Shelley is a member of the graduation juries and advisory boards of leading animation schools and festivals worldwide - and she is currently a Visiting Professor for the prestigious animation program at Central St Martins, University of the Arts, London.
Vijay Raut
Vijay raut is the Owner of The College of Animation Engineering and Research Center. He started his Career from 1987 as an Illustrator with Rediffusion Advertising Agency in Mumbai. He as well as worked as illustrator and Creative Consultant in many reputed Ad agencies in India and now he has been working with eminent personalities in Animation from last two decades. He has been the President of The Bombay Art Society and has many awards and honors to his profile including Animated short film - 'Beauty & The Beast' (Director), he was nominated at IFFA Awards,2002., he was nominated for The Best Realistic Painting Award - The Bombay Art Society,2002, Stage shows for Animation Awareness,'The Animators'.2004 , Best 3D Film in Open Category, 24 FPS International Film Festival,2007. He was Honored with 'Chandrakant Mandhre Award',Kolhapur,Maharashtra in 2007.
Yiannis Koumoutzelis: Art and Creative Director Trine Entertainment Ltd
Yiannis Koumoutzelis is basically from Greece. Since he got his hands on 3D Studio for DOS he decided what he wanted to do for life which was to enter the fascinating world of 3D graphics.
He has successfully contributed in setting up and establishing a Graphic Design Studio in one of the leading creative hubs and has a close understanding of business.
The last 7 years he has focused on what he has loved for so many years that is Video Games. Darkfall Online, Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods, Guild 2:Venice, WiiYoga, RA. One, Agent Vinod-The Game are a few of the projects he is working on lately.
15 years professional experience from DTP and Multimedia to Dome theater Presentations and Games, as well as being an Instructor for the State University of New York branch in Athens for 4 years, teaching Digital Animation and VFX to aspiring cinematographers Yiannis is now a member of the closed testing and usability team for Autodesk Media & Entertainment line of products.
For the last 3+ years he has been working as an Art and Creative Director and even Producer for Trine Entertainment Ltd. A pioneer in high end video game development in Mumbai, and one of the best game development studios in India.
Yogesh Sawant
Yogesh Sawant is a Sr. Lighting artist currently with Rhythm & Hues Studios India and has been here for the past 4 years now.Some of the recent projects he has worked on are "Alvin and the Chipmunk", "Aliens in the Attic" , "Land of the Lost", "Marmaduke", "HOP", as well as TV commercial for "Chocoliebe Eclairs" , "Iodex".
He started his career with GV pan studio as an Asst. Editor working in Avid and FCP, after which he moved to the Star Entertainment PVT Distribution House as an Editor and Graphics designer. Handling posters and publicity of Films and television programs like Asterix and the Vikings, A Chinese Tall Story, The Jacket, SAW 2, Rob-B-Hood, Elephant Tales, Discovery Health, Discovery Kids and Beyblades Vforce for India.
He has a science background and holds a Diploma in Animation and Film Editing.
