Guest Artists

Meet the featured guest artists joining us for the 2026 Mount Gretna International Film Festival. From award-winning animation directors to internationally recognized production designers, these artists bring decades of creativity, storytelling, and innovation to MtGIFF.

Featured Events

Friday Evening • Guest Artist Presentation

Following the Welcome Reception, guest artists Joanna Priestley and Paul Harrod will present a special multimedia discussion exploring their filmmaking and animation processes. This exclusive event is open to filmmakers, donors, and MtGIFF volunteers.

Saturday Evening • Screenings & Talkback

After the film blocks, Joanna Priestley and Lynn Tomlinson will present selections of their award-winning work followed by a live talkback with attendees. Open to the public.

Sunday Morning • Filmmaker Breakfast

Filmmakers, students, and industry guests are invited to a special breakfast discussion with Joanna Priestley, Paul Harrod, and Lynn Tomlinson, moderated by longtime festival director Richard Herskowitz. Guests will discuss careers in independent animation, creative collaboration, and advice for emerging filmmakers.

Space is limited. RSVP by August 1, 2026 at info@mtgiff.com

Joanna Priestley

Known as the “Queen of Independent Animation,” Joanna Priestley has directed, animated, and produced 36 award-winning films. Her feature North of Blue earned international recognition, and retrospectives of her work have been featured at institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, the British Film Institute, and film festivals around the world.

Her latest project, Big Green, explores plants and flowers through hand-made stop-motion animation and experimental filmmaking techniques.

Highlights

36 award-winning animated films
Screened internationally at major museums and festivals
Fellowships from the NEA, AFI, Creative Capital, and more
Pioneer in independent and experimental animation

Joanna Priestley Official Website

Paul Harrod

Paul Harrod is an acclaimed production designer and director specializing in stop-motion animation and visual storytelling. With more than three decades of experience, Harrod has worked on major productions including Isle of Dogs, Wendell & Wild, and Apple TV+’s Shape Island.

His work combines handcrafted design, miniature environments, and cutting-edge animation techniques that have helped shape some of the most recognizable animated productions of the last decade.

Highlights

Production Designer for Wendell & Wild
Co-Production Designer for Isle of Dogs
2019 Art Directors Guild Award Winner
Director and designer for major commercial campaigns and television productions

Lynn Tomlinson

Lynn Tomlinson is an award-winning animation director and artist known for her signature clay-on-glass animation style. Her films blend painting, movement, and storytelling into immersive visual experiences inspired by history, nature, and human connection.

Her acclaimed works have screened at more than 100 festivals worldwide and at renowned institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the Pompidou Center.