João Gonzalez will screen his Oscar® nominated short film "Ice Merchants", which was initially his graduation project from Royal College of Art in London. He will then dive into his process of filmmaking, from conceptualisation to production, with a special focus on his writing process and animation. He will also talk about the film's journey in film festivals around the world, from a student film to Hollywood, finishing by explaining a bit how the Oscars® work (both the Nomination process and the Ceremony), now as a member of The Academy®.
João Gonzalez is a Portuguese director, animator, illustrator, and musician with a classical training in piano. His short film "Ice Merchants," which premiered in Cannes Film Festival in 2022 and was there awarded the Critics Week Jury Prize for Best Short Film in competition, was also the first ever Portuguese film to receive an Oscar® nomination, and is currently the most awarded Portuguese film of all time, having received more than 150 international awards. João has a great interest in combining his musical background with his artistic practice, as a composer and occasional instrumentalist in all the films he makes. In 2023, he was invited to become a member of The Academy® (of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), serving now as a voter for the yearly OSCARS® Awards.
