Refuge, which is headquartered in Portland and has a base of operation in Vancouver, B.C., is expanding to California, New York, and New Jersey, along with hiring four key people who have deep visual effects industry experience. Jason Sperling joins as VFX supervisor; Matthew Poliquin and Hallana Paula Barbosa are now executive producers; and Michael Lebensfeld is director of new business.
“I founded Refuge [in 2013] to create an environment where artists are free to unleash their creativity and deliver work that goes above and beyond what the client expects. We don’t just solve problems, we exceed expectations by anticipating them and preparing multiple possible paths. Jason, Matthew, Hallana, and Michael are all at the top of their game and I consider them huge assets to our growing studio,” said Fred Ruff, founder and head of studio at Refuge. “Expanding our presence to California, New York, and New Jersey opens us up to even more opportunities.”
Alex Thiesen, EVP at Refuge, added, “In this era of rapid industry change, it’s increasingly evident that nimble, independently-owned companies will lead the way. The inability to pivot swiftly diminishes the value that large VFX companies can offer. Our expansion into these other markets underscores the real ‘bang for buck’ that lies with companies of Refuge’s scale, where we continue to offer the flexibility and impact that directors, showrunners, and studio executives increasingly prefer.”
Jason Sperling
Sperling’s more than 20-year career spans VFX supervision, studio leadership, and production strategy. Prior to joining Refuge in Los Angeles, he was director of VFX for Original Series at Netflix, where he oversaw and led a dynamic team responsible for more than 60+ concurrent and active titles, including notable projects like “3 Body Problem,” “Bridgerton,” “Vikings: Valhalla,” and “Umbrella Academy.” He is particularly proud of his work on the first season of “The Walking Dead” which earned him his first Emmy® nomination. Sperling has been recognized with three Primetime Emmy nominations and two Visual Effects Society Award nominations.
Matthew Poliquin
With more than two decades in the industry, the L.A.-based Poliquin joins Refuge as an EP, bringing a veteran perspective on scaling visual effects operations and fostering deep creative partnerships. Throughout his career, Poliquin has overseen and executive produced a diverse slate of high-profile projects. His credits include feature films such as “Get Out” and “Hellraiser,” as well as series including “Bad Monkey,” “The Studio,” “Ponies,” and “The Audacity.” Previously, he was on the executive team at Ingenuity Studios and one of its founding team members.
Hallana Paula Barbosa
The New York-based Barbosa also joins Refuge as an EP. Her day-to-day work sits at the intersection of creative, operations, and client relationships. She works closely with filmmakers and studios from early concept through final delivery, helping shape the creative approach while also building teams, managing budgets, and ensuring a smooth path across production. She was nominated for two Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) Awards for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects for “The Sympathizer” and “The Night Agent.” She previously worked at Ingenuity Studios, where she started her career and quickly advanced into a leadership role. Her credits include “One Piece” (Seasons 1–3), “The Night Agent” (Seasons 1–3), “Palm Royale” (Season 2), “S.W.A.T.” (Seasons 1–8), and the film “Weapons.”
Michael Lebensfeld
Lebensfeld joins Refuge as director of new business. In this role, the New Jersey-based Lebensfeld interacts regularly with television and feature film post producers, executive producers, financiers, directors, and studio executives about upcoming projects or those currently in post that need Refuge’s services. Lebensfeld was fortunate to work for his older brother David Lebensfeld’s visual effects studio (Ingenuity Studios) beginning in 2007, eventually becoming managing director of the New York office and head of business development. He was nominated for a Video Music Award for Best VFX on Eminem’s “We Made You” and was part of the team that delivered concert graphics for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour.”
