Ru Kuwahata is an Oscar-nominated animation filmmaker born in Tokyo, Japan, living in Providence, USA. Since 2007 she has been collaborating with Max Porter as the directors duo Tiny Inventions. Known for their unique mixed-media animation, they have directed and produced TV commercials, music videos, PSAs, comics, interactive games, and four independent films. Their films have screened in more than 1000 festivals around the world, including Sundance Film Festival, Clermont-Ferrand and Annecy International Animated Film Festival. Their most recent short, Negative Space (2017), was nominated for the 90th Academy Awards and has garnered 135 prizes. They are currently working on their first feature-length animated film, Porcelain Birds, with Miyu Productions in France.
Keynote: Learning to write, talk and walk (notes on developing a feature film and raising a child)
After the completion of Negative Space (Oscar nominated, Prix Fipresci at Annecy, Grand prix at Anima Mundi), Ru and Max started writing their first feature length animation, “Porcelain Birds.” Ru will talk about transitioning from short to long format, visual development, motherhood and discovering a new writing method along the way.
