Young Talents 2022
Young Talents is a new programme for international film students. Its aim is to create an exchange platform for young upcoming professionals to let them explore and learn more about the international market. The programme is also designed to give industry representatives an opportunity to scout and get to know new voices and young talents that are the future creators of the market reality.
For the first edition of the programme, we have invited seven students representing the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków (Poland), the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg (Germany), and the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague – FAMU (the Czech Republic).
The first edition of Young Talents wouldn’t be possible without Prof. Lilian Klages, Markéta Pášmová, and Prof. Robert Sowa, as well as our partners: Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, Zlín Film Festival, and Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. We would like to thank all of you for your support, a positive response and cooperation on this programme.
Link to the full press release. Bios of the Young Talents 2022 participants below.
Meet Young Talents participants:
YELYZAVETA DAVYDENKO, Producer, Germany
School: Film Academy Baden-Württemberg
Yelyzaveta Davydenko was born in Dnipro, Ukraine, but grew up in Germany. She studied at the University of Heidelberg, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2020. In the same year, she began her production studies at Film Academy Baden-Württemberg (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg). She is a social activist and advocate for diversity.
IHABO AZZAMO, Director, Germany
School: Film Academy Baden-Württemberg
Ihabo Azzamo studies animation at Film Academy Baden-Württemberg (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg). In 2013, he graduated as a certified fashion designer from Gewerbliche Schule Metzingen. Since then, he has been working as a freelancing character artist and animation supervisor for clients like Sony Music Entertainment, East Fish Studio, PH Studio, and OLM Digital.
YORK V. SYDOW, Director, Germany
School: Film Academy Baden-Württemberg
York v. Sydow has studied animation at the Institute of Animation of Film Academy Baden-Württemberg (Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg)since 2016. As part of his studies, he frequently works on short films. As a freelancer, he creates advertisements and music videos. He deepened his skills in illustration and as a 3D generalist throughout his time at Institute of Animation of FABW.
ANNA WOWRA, Director, scriptwriter, The Czech Republic
School: Film and TV Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU)
Anna Wowra currently studies film directing at FAMU in the Czech Republic. Before that, she studied Slavistics and philosophy at the Jagiellonian University. In addition to fictional filmmaking, she creates documentaries.
HYNEK SPURNÝ, Producer, The Czech Republic
School: Film and TV Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU)
Hynek Spurný is an upcoming producer studying for his master’s degree at FAMU in Prague. He is the founder of a film production company Altum Frames, which focuses mainly on fiction and animated films. As a producer, he supports projects by emerging filmmakers with an emphasis on authenticity of artistic expression across forms and genres.
ANNA KARWALA, Illustrator, director, scriptwriter, Poland
School: Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków
Anna Karwala is a children’s illustrator known as Bujnowłosa. She got interested in animation during her studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. The main themes of her works are love, friendship, and coping with difficult emotions. She usually presents these subjects through animal protagonists, mainly bears.
KINGA KOCIARZ, Director, scriptwriter, Poland
School: Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków
Kinga Kociarz is a student of painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. She began creating animations as part of the Animation Film Studio at the Academy and she has participated in this free-choice course for a couple of years now. In her works, she brings up the subjects of childhood (often difficult), home, and family relationships. Her films so far have been addressed to adults but she is interested in young audiences as well.