2022 Epic ACG Fest Special Guests

 Animation---Jury & Special Guests

	Karl Pontau, Animation Artist, Producer An artist from a young age, Karl grew up in a loving, supportive family, and knew he wanted to study animation in college. A week before his senior year of high school he was diagnosed with two brain tumors. The news hit him like a punch to the chest. Suddenly, everyone felt far away and unreal. Karl had been a very healthy and active kid. So, the diagnosis was a huge surprise to everyone. Fortunately, his family, friends, and school rallied together, helping him overcome the disease and graduate on time. In undergraduate school he saw an auditorium full of strangers laugh as a joke in his animation, and realized he could use animation to help people. Now, Karl owns Squash and Stretch Productions, helping businesses succeed with engaging animated videos. He loves helping businesses that solve problems for their clients. By helping them reach more people, their clients benefit, the business benefits, and Karl gains another happy client! He would not be alive if it weren't for the people who helped him. So, giving and helping others is important to him. You can learn more by visitingwww.squashandstretch.net.
	Gavrilo Gnatovich, Animator Gavrilo “Gav” Gnatovich has been an independent animation professional for over 40 years. His animation career was initiated by a chance meeting with Richard Williams in 1976 which continued while Gav created his first independent animated short, “Lazar”. Due to his desire to experiment with animation technique, Gav went onto direct well over 100 commercials, continued to create independent animated short films, “Prehysterical Daze” (1981), laser animation for the Olympics, NBA, etc. and one of the first online/CD integrations for America Online. In 2000, Gav created several pilots for the Cartoon Network, “Longhair and Doubledome (2000, 2003) and Maktar (2003). “Longhair and Doubledome” was selected as a part of the 2000 Cartoon Cartoon Big Pick. He is presently in production on several independent animated shorts and is working on a graphic novel, “The Dawn of Longhair and Doubledome”. He has a BFA/MFA in painting (Boston U/ SCAD)
	Marco Milone, Director, Writer, Game Manager Enjoying being intellectually stimulated by wide variety of interests, Marco Milone studied Economics and graduated with a master's degree in General Management, but meanwhile he was pursuing his real interests working for comics publishing houses and magazines as editor, and writing article as comics critic. He switched then from comics books to animated movies, working at the begining as film curator and then as movie critic, lecturing at universities and conservatories mainly about abstract cinema, Russian and Chinese animated movies, and then as film producer (Revengeance, The Mafia Is No Longer What It Used To Be). As japanologist he also lectured at universities and in many festival about Japanese board games, ukiyo-e, emaki and shinto, and wrote articles and books. He's also a shareholder of many startup, and actually he's board member of Freedom Waves and Undo Studios as well as Administrative Director of The Nemesis, a gaming, entertainment and social platform, launching an anticipation of how the web will evolve in the coming years. Among his honours, he has been awarded with an honorary mention as comics journalist at Franco Fossati Award for his book “Fumetti”, has played twice as Italian representative in the shogi tournament “Yingde Cup” (2009, 2010) and has received an honorary degree in Naturopathy
	Mike Ryan, Animator Mike Ryan is a traditional animator who specializes in the three primary forms of 2D animation: hand drawn, paperless, and rigging. Together, they form the traditional animation seen in his films. He strives to create films that reflect the influence of the Golden Age of Animation and the Animation Renaissance, the animated works that inspire him to be an animator.Ryan has animated for 15 years. He graduated from the University of Central Florida Experimental Animation BFA Program under Professor Scott F. Hall. Ryan teaches animation courses on the online learning platform SkillShare. He is a volunteer animator for the VR project FuturePort 82', which recreates EPCOT CENTER from the 1980's. And he is a filmmaker whose new animated short film, "A Midwinter Night's Dream", is now playing in the film festival circuit.
	Nicole Lim, Illustrator Nicole Lim is a published and award-winning children’s book illustrator from the Philippines who is currently based in Los Angeles. It is her life’s passion to create meaningful content for children and the young at heart through art.
	Herb Moore, Animator Herb Moore has been passionately entrenched in the animation industry for 27 years, having worked for all of the major studios, such as Disney, Cartoon Network, Universal and Warner Bros., and numerous smaller studios as well. Some of his favorite productions include Animaniacs, Pinky & the Brain, Scooby Doo, The Simpsons, Class of 3000, Firehouse Tales, Special Agent Oso and Phineas & Ferb. He has been privileged to work with many talented people in pre-production, post production, sound effects, music & voice recording. Herb has been nominated for three Emmys and has received five Emmy certificates in recognition of his contributions on Animaniacs, Pinky & the Brain, Tutenstein,and Phineas & Ferb. He is currently working at Disney TV Animation on the Owl House, as well as several productions at Warner Bros. and has finished illustrating his yet untitled third children’s book.
	Sadia Ashraf, Screenwriter & Author Currently working on an undisclosed Universal TV pilot, Sadia Ashraf is the author of the bestselling Juniper Smoke series, being optioned for a film. Sadia is the creator of the TV show, Memory of Water, screenwriter of the thriller film Harbor Haven, the creator of a British period drama Time and Tide (BBC), and the writer and creator of A Girl in Istanbul, a mini-series. Sadia has edited several indie film scripts, and has consulted with television programs, such as Ugly Betty (NBC), and Community (NBC) and Glee (Fox). She has also worked on foreign TV adaptation at Intrigue Entertainment and serves on the board of Bring Hollywood Back and Cinespots. For two years she was the LA Media Director for a NASA and Pentagon project, the Aeroscraft. From 2006 to 2011, she volunteered for different non-profits and helped raise six million dollars for girls illiteracy and schools. Sadia holds an English Master's degree from Loyola University, Chicago and a Screenwriting postgraduate specialization in from UCLA
	Ed Gomez, , Publisher, graphic desginer Ed has been a graphic designer with over 25 years experience. His are of expertise is with commercial printing. For 12 of those years, he has been a production and pre-press manager for a local magazine. In 2010, a friend suggested to start up an anime-themed magazine to play a part of the fandom. He currently publishes an on-line fan magazine called Genki Life Magazine and often attends conventions, either as a professional, press, photographer, volunteer or an ordinary fan. Ed has been anime fan when anime was still a niche fandom."
	Amor Sanchez, Actress Amor Sanchez is an International Actress from Madrid, Spain. She has appeared in many Film, Television and Theatre Productions. You may have seen her in Brando Unauthorized, Mexican Gangster, Scorpion Girl and Crypto Game to name just a few. Her unusual ability to embody different characters landed her various Awards Nominations in her career. She studied acting at the prestigious Promenade Playhouse Conservatory and attended several UCLA courses. She has been part of the jury committee in some of the most prestigious International Film Festivals such as the Universe Multicultural Film Festival and the San Diego International Kids' Film Festival. Amor Sanchez can be reached at www.amorsanchez.com
	SILVER, Music Producer  Silver is an awarded Mexican Music Producer and DJ with 9 years experience in Techno and House Music. He is also Founder-CEO of the famous underground artists collective in Mexico called Sessions Mx. Recently he just became the 2019 Mixmag Lab Opener Contest Winner, also Independent Horror Movie Awards Best Music Winner for the music he produced for Crypto Game. During his musical trajectory he has played in some of the most famous International Music Festivals and Nightclubs.
	Eiko Jin, Composer As a professional film composer and music supervisor, Eiko has participated in multiple film projects, industrial events, and film music panels. With her rich experiences of the music for visual media, she'd love to dedicate and share her passion through her professions. This year, besides her jury duty, Eiko also would perform on the Award Ceremony of 2019 Epic ACG Fest and amaze the audience with her fabulous voice. Her new music album will be released very soon in 2020.