Bigyan Sapkota

Bigyan Sapkota is a filmmaker born and raised in Kathmandu. The capital, filled with countless stories, has shaped his perspective, and he now explores narratives of home, space, and migration through his films. He is currently exploring these themes and honing his craft as a Master's student in Film Direction at LUCA School of Arts.

Fóla O’Grady

Fóla O’Grady is an educator and interdisciplinary practitioner whose work examines the role of narrative, interpretation, and systems thinking in strategic and organisational contexts, particularly within creative and sustainability-oriented domains. Her approach integrates critical analysis with applied strategy, foregrounding how meaning, structure, and value are shaped and enacted in practice.

Her work is informed by a strong foundation in the humanities, including literary, philosophical, and film-based modes of inquiry, which shape her interest in narrative form, sense-making, and cultural frameworks. These perspectives underpin her engagement with strategy and financial decision-making, supporting a reflective and analytically rigorous approach to business and creative development.

Fóla has extensive experience in higher education, where she designs and delivers interdisciplinary curricula for creative practitioners and emerging professionals. Her teaching emphasises critical thinking, reflective practice, and the movement between complex ideas and structured action. She is particularly interested in how narrative frameworks support strategic clarity and resilience in contexts of economic, cultural, and environmental change.

Her work sits at the intersection of narrative theory, systems thinking, and strategic practice.

Jozef Smrek

Jozef Smrek is a Bachelor’s degree student in Film and Television Directing and Screenwriting at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. He has professional experience in the audiovisual industry as a freelance 2nd Assistant Camera, where he supported camera operations, maintained equipment, managed camera accessories, and ensured effective coordination between the camera department and other teams on set.

In addition to his creative background, he previously worked as a Financial Consultant at OVB Allfinanz Slovakia, advising clients on personal finance, insurance, and investment solutions, and preparing customized financial plans based on individual objectives. His earlier education in Advertising Creation provided him with a strong foundation in visual communication, branding, and digital production, including advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and basic experience with 3D tools.

He is a native Slovak speaker with intermediate proficiency in English and basic knowledge of German and Russian.

Kamilė Zinkevičiūtė

Kamilė is a 2nd year Bachelor student of Film Culture in LMTA (Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre).

I am interested in the academic world, which is why I joined the AGORA think tank. I also write film criticism publications and I am one of the organizers of the Šoblė film festival – a student-oriented festival here in Lithuania.

Katrin Sigijane

Katrin Sigijane is a visiting lecturer in audiovisual solutions and project manager at the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School (BFM) of Tallinn University in Estonia. With an MA in Audiovisual Art and an MSc in Digital Learning Games, she combines her expertise in AV-storytelling, STEAM education and technology. As well as teaching multimedia, animation and media literacy, she is passionate about developing innovative educational programmes and environments that combine storytelling with the psychology of persuasion. Notable examples of her STEAM work include the BFM Children's Film School for children aged 6 to 16, and the "Tudeerum" Game Design web programme for primary and secondary school students.

Koenraad Hinnekint

Koenraad Hinnekint is a performing artist, art educator, and posthuman researcher working at the intersection of the arts and educational sciences, with a keen interest in utopianism, new materialism, and posthumanism. He is currently focused on organising futures art school labs, in which he explores innovative cartographies and alternative modes of representation for art schools in a posthuman era.

His research posits that the cultural shift brought about by the posthuman condition compels higher arts education institutions to serve as crucial platforms for debate and transformation in the journey towards the future. Central to his work is the exploration of what vision for higher arts education institutions emerges from this hypothesis.

Based in Brussels at LUCA School of Arts and in Leuven at KU Leuven's Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Koenraad holds an MA in Music Pedagogy, an MA in Conducting, and is a PhD researcher in Educational Sciences.

His research interests lie in the future of educational design in higher arts education, with a particular focus on ecologies of justice through posthuman and post-digital lenses. Koenraad has extensive experience as a project coordinator for numerous initiatives, funded by institutions such as Association KU Leuven, the Flemish Government, and Erasmus+.

Kristian Zahariev

A PhD student from NATFA, Sofia, Bulgaria. The topic of my dissertation is “The aesthetics of tragic in animation”, in which I want to explore what is the animation directors approach to sensitive topics like death, grief, war, depression e.t.c., and what are the tools used by the directors to do that.

I finished both my BA “ANIMATION” (2022) and MA “Animation Directing”(2024) also in NATFA. My graduation short film “GARLIC SOUP”, written, directed and animated by me, has more than 20 selections in international animation and film festivals and won 7 awards ( WFAF Varna 2024 - Critic’s choice - Union of Bulgarian Artists; 44th VGIK International Student Festival – Special Diploma from the student jury; Golden Kouker 2025 – “SPECIAL MENTION” for Best Student Film.

I’ve just finished my second short film (my debut), funded by the Bulgarian National Film Centre. I hope it has its premiere in 2026. I am an animator in some short animated films. I have a special interest in hybrid cinema, the mix between different techniques, and mixing of different types of cinema – animation and live action/ documentary.

I am also leading an animation workshop for kids. Also an assistant in NATFA “Krastyo Sarafov”.

Mah Ziaei

Mah Ziaei is a Master’s student of Textile Design at LUCA School of Arts in Ghent, Belgium. She holds a BA in Carpet Design and an Advanced Bachelor’s in Design Thinking & Innovation, supported by over a decade of professional experience as a creative designer and art director working at the intersection of fashion and interiors.

Mah is deeply interested in multidisciplinary collaboration and is driven by a sensitivity to socio-political issues and a curiosity about the human experience within the evolving world of art and design.

Margareta Trapp

I am from Hungary and moved to Ireland in 2023 for college.

Currently in the third year of my four-year Television course, I plan to major in Documentary Editing in my final year.

In 2024, I had the opportunity to participate in the FilmEU+ Imagination Challenge, and this experience inspired me to get involved in similar projects.

My college course is heavily practice-based, so another reason why I joined AGORA was my aspiration to gain more insight into academic research.

Margarida Prieto

PhD in Fine Arts – Painting. Teacher at the Bachelor in Visual Arts and Teacher at the Master in Painting.

Patrick Gregg

Patrick Gregg is a Dublin-based camera operator, cinematographer, and researcher whose work focuses on the development of technical solutions that facilitate the realisation of directors' and cinematographers' artistic visions. He is currently pursuing a Master's by Research at the National Film School of Ireland, Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), where his research examines the mediating function of camera technology in shaping perception, employing a post-phenomenological theoretical framework

Pelle Sølvkjær Christensen

I am a dedicated and user-centred game/experience designer with over 15 years of experience in designing and creating immersive experiences for education, marketing and entertainment.

I work as an assistant professor, lecturing on game development and design in the field of Extended Reality. I have a great passion for creating interactive learning solutions and developing new learning methods.

I am Perfectionist, creative but structured. Optimistic, always seeking challenges, a team player, academically rooted and experienced in practice.

Reeni Metsküla

I am studying in the final year of my bachelor´s degree in early childhood education at Tallinn University.

I have been working as a kindergarten teacher for children aged 3-7 for the second year.

Silvester Buček

Silvester Buček, PhD is a researcher and lecturer in art and media studies, currently affiliated with the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VŠMU), Masaryk University (MU), and the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (UCM). His work focuses on new technologies in culture, with a particular emphasis on digital games, game design, and game studies in educational, artistic, and societal contexts. He is actively involved in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of art, media theory, and technology, and regularly contributes to international academic and creative projects, conferences, and collaborative initiatives within European university networks.

Viltė Pukelytė

I am a second-year Bachelor’s student of Film Culture at LMTA (Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre). Alongside my studies, I have been working in the film industry since 2022, primarily in production and assistant director (AD) departments. Additionally, I serve as the International Relations Coordinator at the student-run Šoblė Film Festival.

YOANN STOEV

I am a PhD student from Sofia, Bulgaria, specializing in Film and Television Studies. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Film and TV Design and my Master’s degree in Film and TV Production at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts “Krastyo Sarafov” (NATFA).

My doctoral research focuses on “The Application of Visual Effects in Film Design: Contemporary Techniques and Creative Approaches,” examining the intersection between aesthetic principles and emerging technological practices in contemporary visual storytelling.

Professionally, I work as a freelance graphic designer, production designer, music video director, and VFX artist, contributing to a wide range of artistic and commercial projects. Since 2023, I have also been a lecturer at NATFA, teaching first-year and fourth-year students in subjects related to film design.

Alexandre Saunier

Alexandre Saunier is an artist, professor in the Audiovisual department at LUCA School of Arts — KU Leuven, and senior researcher at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK). With a deep interest in the theories and histories of media arts, artificial intelligence, cybernetics, and complex systems theory, his work merges artistic practice with academic research, focusing on the interactions between light, sound, autonomous systems, and sensory perception.

Alexandre holds a PhD from Concordia University (2023), where he studied the contemporary and historical practices of light as an artistic medium driven by real-time computational systems. His previous studies include mathematics and physics (CPGE, 2009), sound design and engineering (ENS Louis Lumière, 2012), and he was a fellow at ENSADLab, where he conducted research on behavioral robotics and interactive lighting (ENS Arts Décoratifs, 2015).

Alexandre’s artistic and research work is regularly presented at major international venues, including CTM Berlin, Mutek Montreal, Elektra BIAN, Festival Internacional de la Imagen, Ars Electronica, ISEA, Impakt Festival, MuffatHalle, Bcn_llum, ALIFE Conference, Media Art History, and Nuit Blanche Toronto.

Alexander Gerner

Alexander Gerner is a media philosopher and Tenure-Track Research Professor at Universidade Lusófona/ FilmEU European University. He investigates technology relations, AI aesthetics, artistic research, and algorithmic cinema, such as AI avatars. His research examines arte(f)actors—artifacts simulating agency and mimicking actors through generative, agentic, and gamified systems of synthetic intimacy and persuasive computing —while experimenting with soliloquy production architectures and para-medially in human-machine interfaces in Cinematic and Play Media. Currently working on Climate Theater, Urban Ethics, Human Rights, and contemporary challenges in urban design, particularly in the context of environmental sustainability social equity in digital and green transformations, his theoretical framework interrogates how AI and algorithmic processes reshape media presence, creative artistic workflows, educational frameworks and skills in artistic practices contributing to foundational questions of computational performance in contemporary media arts heeding policy impacts on the audio-visual fields between art and technology.

Anton Saenko

I am a second-year Sound Design student at NATFA, specializing in film and television sound. I have a strong background in video editing and sound for film, combining creative and technical skills to support storytelling. With experience in both editing and sound design, I focus on creating immersive audio environments for film projects. Passionate about innovation and collaboration, I continuously explore how new technologies, including AI, can enhance the creative process.

Ciara Schaefer

Soon

Cocompi

Composer-performer, sound designer and non-binary artist from Peru. They use digital and computational techniques, along with immersive sound and new technologies, to explore the tensions between identity, performativity, and political action.

Collaborating in projects across film, new media, performance and XR, their work is driven by experimental, interactive and socially engaged practices. Cocompi holds a BA in Music Composition from PUCP (Peru), and an Erasmus scholarship for the Kino Eyes – European Fiction Film Masters.

Fredrik Fleischer

Fredrik Fleischer is a multidisciplinary filmmaker with 10 years of experience in the film, TV, and media industry. His work spans short films, music videos, trailers, corporate content, animations, and social media campaigns.

Currently studying Multiplatform Storytelling and Production, he's looking to bring his creative expertise to new collaborative projects.

Kärt Laidma

Kärt Laidma is a third-year student at the Baltic Film, Media and Arts Institute at Tallinn University, Estonia, studying Integrated Arts, Music and Multimedia. As a multidisciplinary artist, her work spans a wide range of creative expressions, from traditional art forms like drawing, painting, and sculpture to audiovisual projects such as animations, short films, and music videos. Kärt has participated in both Estonian and international projects, gaining experience in different creative environments. Her particular interest lies in blending various mediums, such as dance, performance, video, and sound, into cohesive and immersive experiences.

Katrin Sigijane

Katrin Sigijane is a Visiting Lecturer of Audiovisual Solutions and Project Manager at the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School (BFM) of Tallinn University, Estonia. With a background in audiovisual art (MA) and a MSc degree in Digital Learning Games, she bridges the worlds of storytelling, education, and technology. In addition to teaching multimedia, animation, and media literacy, Katrin is passionate about developing educational and innovative programs and environments that combine storytelling with the psychology of persuasion. Notable examples include the BFM Children's Film School for children aged 6 to 16 and the Game Design program "Tudeerum" for high school students. In the context of both creativity and media literacy, she is fascinated by the opportunities and possible threats (fake news, ethics etc) of AI.

Leila Atabua

I consider myself primarily a 3D artist with a passion for film making, debuting as a director in June 2025.

I worked on the first Ugandan 3D animated series and was team leader of Women In Animation Uganda until I pursued the Erasmus ReAnima Masters in Animation.

I developed a project to create an African digital asset library for the entertainment and content creation industry which was shortlisted top 10 for the THU Sony talent League.

I Taught animation at the National Ugandan University Makerere and worked on multiple artistic projects with The British Council and Goethe Zentrum to develop and support artists in Africa.

Leonid Davydov

Leonid Davydov is a Russian student studying animation at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is an alumni of Deutsche Schule Sofia, which is part of the German Abroad Schools network (DAS).

For him, the canvas is a place where he can visualize anything and bring life to drawings. He is always on the lookout to improve his skills to one day create an animation studio, which will be able to bring compelling stories and entertainment to the masses.

Michelle B. Larsen

I have been working with film for the past seven years, primarily focusing on short films and other fiction-based projects. My main area of expertise lies in sound – both recording on set and creating immersive sound design in post-production. Currently, I am studying Multiplatform Storytelling & Production to broaden my creative horizon and explore new ways of telling stories across formats and media. I’m curious about how emerging tools like AI can challenge and enhance creative workflows and storytelling perspectives in film.

Mohammed Cherbatji

Mohammed Cherbatji is a Lecturer at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT). He has an MSc in Software Engineering & Database Technologies and currently teaches in subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, Front-End Development, Back-End Development, Web Design, and more.

He has contributed to several Erasmus+ research projects. In addition, he has led multiple projects focusing on UI/UX design, system design and development, web development, and Generative AI platforms.

His research interests are centred around Natural Language Processing, Generative AI, and other related areas.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9683-0863

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammedche/

Silvester Buček

Silvester Buček is a Lecturer at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VŠMU), Masaryk University, and the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (UCM). He holds an Art Doctorate with a specialization in Digital Games and teaches subjects such as Game Analysis, Game Design, and Games in Education, combining academic insight with creative practice.

As a co-founder of the Central and Eastern European Game Studies (CEEGS) conference, he fosters regional collaboration in the field of game research. He has also worked with the Slovak Ministry of Education on curriculum reform, with a particular focus on digitalization and its role in modern curricula.

His research focuses on the future of education and the evolving language of games as a cultural and artistic medium.

Thomas Bjørnsten

Thomas Bjørnsten is Head of Research Program at VIA University College’s Research Center for Animation, Film, and Digital Processes. He holds a PhD in Aesthetics and Culture from Aarhus University and works across disciplines at the intersection of XR technologies, digital media, and experimental design practices.

His research has focused on creative approaches to data visualization and sonification, sound studies, and visual culture. Currently he is engaged in research and development projects related to XR-based simulations for cross-sectoral training, Human-Centric AI application, and digital tools that support co-creation and citizen participation in climate change adaptation efforts.