Thursday, November 5 · 4 pm – 5 pm

Working in film and animation from Florida

Moderated by Dana Corrigan

Tim Searfoss

Founder, Fire Pillar Entertainment

Tim Searfoss is an international award-winning director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and animator with over 20 years of experience in the film industry. His work spans feature films, documentaries, short films and animations. He is a board member of The Christine Ortoll Charity, a non-profit working to inspire hope about mental health and substance use disorders, and founder of Fire Pillar Entertainment which focuses on creating stories that inspire.

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Jaimie Engle

Writer and producer

Jaimie Engle is the Architect of the Engleverse, stories in books, film, and tv. She wrote, sold, and produced Just Jake (2023), sold and developed a story with DreamWorks Animation Studios (2025), and was hired to write an audiobook for Fresh Produce Media (2025). Her book Metal Mouth is in development with Jenny Daily, EP of Ginny and Georgia for series adaptation. Learn more at www.JaimieEngle.com and connect on social @jaimieenglewrites

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Friday, November 6 · 2 pm – 3 pm

The state of film and animation in Florida

Moderated by Gregg Perkins

Tyler Martinolich

Film Commissioner and Executive Director, Film Tampa Bay

Tyler Martinolich is the Film Commissioner and Executive Director of Film Tampa Bay. Since 2018, he has overseen Hillsborough County's film and digital media initiatives, administering local production incentives and attracting major feature films, series, and national commercial campaigns to the region. A longtime producer and former University of Tampa film faculty member, he holds a BA from UTampa and an MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

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Kevin Riley

Owner + Animation Director, Riley Animation Studios, Tampa

Kevin Riley owns Riley Animation Studios, a boutique 19-year Tampa-based animation studio that specializes in 3D + 2D animation, illustration, and branded design for broadcast, film, literature, interactive, video games, and new media/multimedia. He's produced work for Nickelodeon, Discovery Networks, NASA, Busch/Sea World, Animal Planet, Nat Geo, Red Bull and a host of high-end network, corporate, and advertising agency clients around the globe. Kevin has won a collection of prestigious awards, including 2 Emmy® Awards for "Outstanding Achievement in a Children's Television Program," and "Children/Youth (Under 12) Programming." He worked as Director on the Discovery Kid's series "Kenny the Shark," and is currently serving as Director of the original animated feature films "Neighborhood Pet Watch" (SCFilms), THUMBELINA: WARRIOR OF THE WIND (Conglomerate Media) and CHIPPER MISSISSIPPI; and an animated series project with Stevin John (aka BLIPPI), along with several original animated series.

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Marco Franzolim

Founder & CEO, MonkeyBusiness · São Paulo, Brazil

Marco Franzolim is an advertising professional, educator, and the founder, CEO, and Creative Director of MonkeyBusiness—one of Brazil's pioneering creative studios specializing in presentations, videos, and animations, with a track record spanning over 17 years. A recognized authority on corporate storytelling and visual communication, he has transformed how more than 2,000 companies present their ideas through creative, audiovisual means, delivering around 7,000 projects across more than 12 countries. Passionate about creativity, corporate communication, cinema, and marketing innovation, Marco developed a unique, groundbreaking method—integrating planning, argumentation, scriptwriting, and motion design—to turn corporate presentations into truly creative and effective communication pieces; this method became the foundation of MonkeyBusiness, a company that revolutionized the market. A dedicated researcher and scholar, Marco explores how creativity and strategy can work in tandem to drive real business impact. He is also a speaker and columnist with over 1,000 published articles covering creativity, communication, motion design, and audiovisual media.

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Saturday, November 7 · 1:45 pm – 2:30 pm

Students emerging into Florida’s film and animation industry

Gina Bernardini

Creative Associate, Tampa Animation Festival

Gina Bernardini is a stop motion animator and muralist based in Chicago, IL. She is a graduate from the University of Tampa, where she earned a BFA in Animation and a BS in Mathematical Programming. Currently working as a freelance artist, she collaborates with clients to form their visual language through animation, design, or public art, from concepts through to final product execution. Gina's films have been screened at Gasparilla International Film Festival, SIGGRAPH, and Tampa Animation Festival. She is currently attending Aardman Academy online to further her strengths in animation, and is very hopeful to someday work on a stop motion feature film crew.

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Abby Byrne

Associate Director, Tampa Animation Festival

Abby Byrne is a producer based in Tampa, Florida. Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, she earned a BFA in Film and Media Arts, with a minor in Business Administration, from the University of Tampa. Over 7+ years in the production industry, Abby has worn many hats, leading crews from fewer than 10 people to more than 70. Her work spans from animation project management, off-grid productions, to celebrity talent, for clients from Fortune 500 companies to local brands. Known for her work ethic, her commitment to storytelling, and her clear communication, Abby is passionate about empowering filmmakers and is thrilled to collaborate with such a talented team at the Tampa Animation Festival.

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Jaliyah Francois

Paper Warriors, production manager and lighting lead

As the production manager and lighting lead for the award-winning film Paper Warriors, South Florida filmmaker Jaliyah Francois uses her technical expertise to help bring authentic, community-driven narratives to life. Their current work focuses on translating the richness of Caribbean identity into striking visual art, while dedicating their platform to uplifting and empowering fellow Florida creators.

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Geoffrey Asch

Footprints

Geoffrey Asch is a Florida-based animator with a BFA in Art History from FSU and an MFA in Animation and Motion from SCAD.

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Sunday, November 8 · 2 pm – 2:45 pm

Florida filmmakers

The filmmakers behind Homegrown: Florida Shorts, right before their films screen at 3:00 pm.

Moderated by Dana Corrigan

Ellie Roberts

Idle Hands

Ellie Roberts, a recent animation grad from Florida State University, specializes in 3D modeling and loves mixing the supernatural with reality to explore the nature of individuals.

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Chris Brown

Tutto Passa

Chris Brown is a 3D animator and VFX artist.

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Jose Bello Sanchez

Mad Tide

Jose Bello Sanchez is an animator, director, and pirate enthusiast studying film at NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

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Jeremy Weed

Frosted

Jeremy Weed is a 3D animator from Orlando, FL. He enjoys experimenting with different animation techniques and learning as much as possible about anything related to the medium.

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Aisa Uchimura

Paper Warriors, co-director

Aisa Uchimura is an Orlando-based filmmaker and co-director of the animated short film, Paper Warriors, whose storytelling explores themes of community, interdependence, and identity. Currently an MFA student in Animation and Visual Effects at UCF, they are channeling these narrative themes into their upcoming thesis film, Luminary.

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Geoffrey Asch

Footprints

Geoffrey Asch is a Florida-based animator with a BFA in Art History from FSU and an MFA in Animation and Motion from SCAD.

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