HELLO!
Luca Schenato and Sinem Vardarli are award-winning directors based in London working together under the name of Luca&Sinem. We are passionate about bringing character driven stories to life with an artful voice in animation.
Our combined skills in art direction and writing allow us to design, direct and animate compelling stories that spans across various genres and formats, ranging from commercials and branded content to narrative-driven short films and tv series.
Our films are grounded in character driven storytelling with a raw directing style employing a mix of illustration, 3D and 2D highly stylised animation techniques.
Alongside commercial projects, we write, direct and create independent short films; ‘Fingers Tale’ and 'The brave Heart' awarded and selected at major film festivals around the world including Oscar qualified festivals Atlanta Film Festival, SiggraphAsia, Anima Mundi, getting also VimeoStaffPicks. Our docu-short ‘A pistol against my head’ is shortlisted at British Animation Awards.
Recognition
Jury Award - Florence Short Film Festival 2019
Audience Award - Animakom Fest, Bilboa International Animation Festival 2019
Audience Award 'Best Humour Film' - Les Nuits Magiques Animation Film Festival 2018
Best Animated Film Award - Anima Mundi 2014 (Oscar Qualified)
Vimeo Staff Pick Premiere 2018
British Animation Awards 2017 (Shortlisted)
Vimeo Staff Pick 2014
Honorable Mention - Los Angeles Animation Festival 2018
'Best Short Film' - Los Angeles Cinefest 2018 (Finalist)
Atlanta Film Festival 2014 - Festival Collective Selection (Oscar Qualified)
Best Narrative Award - Tampa Bay Comic Con 2019
Best Visual Effects Nominee- Indiana Comic Con 2019
Best New British Animation Nominee - Edinburgh International Film Festival 2018
Best of Selection - Toronto Animation Arts Festival International 2013
Showcase Selection - Lucerne International Film Festival 2014
SIGGRAPH Asia 2013 (Oscar Qualified)
Pictoplasma 2013
Official Selections
Edinburgh International Film Festival 2018
Melbourne International Animation Festival 2019
LIAF-London International Animation Festival 2019
FilmQuest 2019
Filmfest Dresden 2019
SPARK ANIMATION 2019, Vancouver
Krampusnacht Freeky Film Festival 2019
The Black Sea Film Festival 2019
Animatricks Animation Festival 2018
Future Film Festival of Bologna 2018
ANIMATION BLOCK PARTY 2018
CARTON 2018
ANIMAGE Pernambuco 2018
The Smalls Film Festival 2018
Fancine – Fantastic Film Festival of the University of Malaga 2018
LES NUITS MAGIQUES Festival International Du Film D'animasion 2018
Balkanima European Animated Film Festival 2018
ASIFA-SOUTH Animation Festival 2018
Catacumba Film Festival 2018
Dublin Animation Festival 2018
International Animation Festival AJAYU 2018
CUT OUT Festival 2018
Animax Skopje 2019
Bucharest Short Film Festival 2018
ANIMAGE Pernambuco 2018
The Smalls Film Festival 2018
Fancine – Fantastic Film Festival of the University of Malaga 2018
LES NUITS MAGIQUES Festival International Du Film D'animasion 2018
Balkanima European Animated Film Festival 2018
ASIFA-SOUTH Animation Festival 2018
Catacumba Film Festival 2018
Dublin Animation Festival 2018
International Animation Festival AJAYU 2018
CUT OUT Festival 2018
Animax Skopje 2019
Bucharest Short Film Festival 2018
TAAFI-Toronto Animation Arts Festival International 2019
AnimFest Athens 2019
Indiana Comic Con 2019
Atlanta Comic Con 2019
Tampa Bay Comic Con 2019
Animakom 2019
LIAF-London International Animation Festival 2017
ANIMA MUNDI 2014 (Oscar Qualified)
Festival Chilemonos 2013
Animation Block Party 2013
ANIBAR International Animation Festival 2013
ANIM'EST International Animation Festival 2013
Balkanima European Animated Film Festival 2013
Bradford Animation Festival 2013
La Scatola Blu, Italy 2013
MECAL Festival International of Short Film and Animation of Barcelona 2014
Cine-Court Anime Roanne 2014
Northwest Animation Festival 2014
Melbourne International Animation Festival 2014
Imaginaria 2014
Milano Film Festival 2014