Yukai Du, a director, illustrator and animator from Guangzhou, China via London and Central Saint Martins, has signed with NY-based studio Hornet for North American representation. Du made her first mark at Central Saint Martins working in the two-year program on her short film Way Out based on her home city Guangzhou. Growing up in one of the biggest cities in China, she saw the shift from writing down everyone’s number in her paper phone book to messaging friends on social media with smart phones. Way Out is about the relationship between humans and technology. She found it revelatory that in China her work was primarily black and white with hints of yellow, but Way Out was the first time color was introduced. Du’s inspiration for her work lies somewhere in the dichotomy of Impressionism, the dash of lines and layering of dots to create a surface, combined with a love for the simplistic and geometric structures of Brutalism. This makes sense when looking at her short film An Anthology, a personal project with a limited color palette and focused aesthetic that is a bit of a departure from her existing style but a direction she would like to play in more. Already the recipient of many awards including a D&AD New Blood Wood Pencil, Du is being introduced to the U.S. and Canadian markets via Hornet….
Film Festival Alliance (FFA) has named Lela Meadow-Conner as the organization’s executive director; She has served as acting executive director since April 2017. Meadow-Conner came to FFA with over 15 years of experience in the film festival industry. A founder of the Tallgrass Film Festival, she filled several roles within that organization between 2003-2017, including six years as executive director. She’s also served in consulting roles for the Woods Hole Film Festival, and most recently for Geena Davis’ Bentonville Film Festival, and has attended dozens of film festivals, nationally and internationally in various roles and capacities. FFA is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization with over 150 active members from across North America, including founding members Sundance Institute, Heartland Film, and the Full Frame Documentary Festival. The organization is singular in its dedication to film festivals and festival professionals, and is committed to creating a sustainable environment for festivals of all sizes and types, while championing the vital role they play within the film industry. FFA’s year-round programming includes an annual conference in conjunction with the Art House Convergence in Utah each January, Regional Roundtable mini-conferences taking place at member festivals, professional development opportunities, and a job board and monthly webinars. Membership benefits include revenue-generating programs for festivals and discounts on goods and services as well as access to resources, conversation and networking groups and more. FFA’s board of directors is comprised of film festival professionals including board president Dan Brawley (Cucalorus Festival), VP Andrew Rodgers (Denver Film Society), treasurer Anne Chaisson (Hamptons International Film Festival), secretary Judy Laster (Woods Hole Film Festival), and members at large Beth Barrett (Seattle International Film Festival), Clint Bowie (New Orleans Film Festival), Mark Fishkin (Mill Valley Film Festival), Jon Gann (Festival Consultant), Rachel Morgan (Sidewalk Film Festival), Cara Ogburn (Milwaukee Film), Patrick Shepherd (Cleveland International Film Festival) and Ryan Watt (Indie Memphis)….
