Robertino Zambrano - Kapwa

director, producer, and founder of Kapwa

About Robertino:
Robertino is an Oscar-shortlisted director and producer, and the founder of KAPWA, a Sydney-based animation studio. His short film, Love in the Time of March Madness was shortlisted for an Academy Award in 2016. In 2019, his TED-Ed poetry animation Accents, won the Cristal for Commissioned Films at Annecy. Most recently Robertino directed Billie Eilish’s music video Not My Responsibility, as part of the Grammy-nominated Disney+ concert film Happier Than Ever (2021). In 2025 Robertino was invited to join the Annecy Festival Jury. He has created work for Titmouse, Cartoon Network, ESPN and Adult Swim.

Robertino and his co-creator Dulce Aguilar, are currently developing Fish Boi, the first adult animation being developed under the SBS & Screen Australia Digital Originals initiative.

About Kapwa:

KAPWA STUDIOWORKS is an animation studio specialising in hybrid 2D and 3D animation. We’re best known for our Tribeca-winning and Oscar-shortlisted animated documentary, Love in the Time of March Madness, our Annecy-winning animated poem called TED-Ed: Accents, and for our work on Billie Eilish’s Grammy-nominated concert film, Happier Than Ever (Disney+). Our work has screened in dozens of festivals world-wide, including multiple official selections at the Annecy Festival for our work with Titmouse, Adult Swim and Cartoon Network. KAPWA is in late development on our original adult-oriented animated comedic drama called FISH BOI and developing an original slate of exciting culturally exciting hybrid animation projects in the adult animation, kids and family, and animated documentary space.

Fahim boukhelifa - Gobelins Paris School

Head of the Animation Department at Paris GOBELINS School

About Fahim:

Fahim has nearly 20 years of experience in the animation industry, having worked with leading studios such as Watchnext Media, Je Suis Bien Content, Millimages, GoN, and Normaal.

He is passionate about education, and he is currently Head of the Animation Department at GOBELINS Paris, where he oversees curriculum development and guides students toward professional careers. He also serves as Vice President of RECA (Réseau des Écoles du Cinéma d’Animation), contributing to the structuring and advancement of animation education in France. Internationally, he collaborates with French embassies to promote cultural and educational exchanges, supporting academic excellence and nurturing the next generation of animation talent.

About Gobelins:

GOBELINS Paris is recognised as an international leader amongst higher education institutions dedicated to the visual arts fields, including animation; photography and video; graphic, motion, game, sound, and digital design. With 60 years of experience in visual arts education, GOBELINS Paris specializes in all aspects of the creative process, from conception to preproduction to the finished product in fixed, animated, interactive or immersive images. Training nearly 1,300 undergraduate and graduate students annually, as well as 1,500 continuing and executive-level students, GOBELINS Paris champions its proximity to the creative industries and its professionals with 40% of the student population training within apprenticeship, work-study programs. 

Resolutely in tune with the contemporary world, GOBELINS Paris is committed to the utmost freedom of creative expression; to combatting discrimination of any kind including a Charter for Gender Equality and sexism / sexual-violence prevention programs; to diversity initiatives with over 60 nationalities present within the cursus and inclusion-based scholarship programs; and to equal opportunity measures equating to 23% of students holding assistance-based scholarships. 

Enrolment at GOBELINS Paris welcomes students from diverse backgrounds from all over the globe, with over 200 international students currently enrolled. GOBELINS Paris is affiliated with the Paris regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  

Michelle Cotterill - Cheeky Little

Head of production

About Michelle:

Michelle  is a cross-medium producer with over 25 years of experience across television, digital, post-production, animation, VR, and interactive media. Having worn many hats—producer, director, line producer, and production manager—she now brings this broad expertise together in her role as Head of Production at Cheeky Little Media.

Her work spans observational documentary, TVCs, live events, short films, interactive experiences, and award-winning transmedia projects. Michelle has produced for companies including Discovery Network, Princess Cruises, Fairfax Media, WildBear Entertainment, Barangaroo Delivery Authority, ABC, SBS, and NBC Universal.

Driven by a passion for storytelling and emerging technology, Michelle moved into animation and virtual production, leading projects such as the Unreal Engine-powered Vegesaurs series and Vegesaurs Immersive. She’s known for her collaborative leadership style, commitment to cultivating talent, and focus on delivering high-quality, innovative productions.

Michelle is also a black belt in Aikido—bringing focus, discipline, and calm under pressure to every production she leads.

About Cheeky Little:

Cheeky Little is an award-winning Australian creative studio redefining animation and family entertainment. Blending local charm with global impact, the studio creates, produces, and licenses original IP across TV, film, immersive, and digital platforms. More than content makers, Cheeky Little builds brands—extending stories into multi-platform ecosystems that engage audiences worldwide with a signature cheeky spirit and world-class production.