Ruah Edelstein
RUAH EDELSTEIN
Indie • Arthouse • Animation Director | Artist Postdisciplinary | Co-Founder Lumen Animae Studios Los Angeles
Professional Summary
Driven by the spirit of artistic innovation I connect with the global community through arthouse film and animation, art shows and installations, as well as education through masterclasses. International recognition comes from film "Died 100 Times” (12 min. 2012). Recent venues include Directors Guild of America in LA, US Open Tennis Championship, Holocaust Museum LA, Museum of Jurassic Technology LA, Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, Le Festival du Nouveau Cinéma Montréal, National M. K. Čiurlionis Museum of Fine Art in Lithuania, as well as film festivals, including Sundance and Tribeca. In 2012 I co-founded Lumen Animae Studios, the studio's work in the film "Ashe '68” received an Emmy Nomination in 2019. Since 2012 to present I am on the faculty at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) teaching film production in the Department of Character Animation.
2012-present Co-Founder & Creative Director of Lumen Animae Animation Studios Los Angeles2012-present Faculty at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Character Animation Department at School of Film&Video2012-present Consulting for Artist Portfolio, Animation, Film, Graphic Design. Internationally2017-present Film Director in Residence, L’Tamid Genocide Remembrance Program, Media Entertainment Arts Department at College of the Canyons, Valencia, California2005-present Independent Contemporary Artist. Post-disciplinary2013-2019 Film Director, The Righteous Conversations Project dedicated to Holocaust remembrance2013-2015 Art Direction, Animation, Storyboard artist, Warrior Films Studios, Oakland, California2014 Art Direction, Animation, Storyboard artist, Dynamic Communication Studios, Taiwan2014 Program Director, Animation CAPSA Ramon C. School of Visual & Performing Arts, Los Angeles2013 Faculty at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Experimental Animation Winter Session2012 Graphic Designer, Harvard University publication. Dr. E. Shakhnovich, Chemical Biology Dept.2010-2011 Lead Animation Artist, Art Director, Storyboard Artist, Out of Joint Productions, Los Angeles2004 Visual Development Artist, Barley Animation Studio, Dublin, Ireland1998-2001 Theater Director, Actor, C. P. Theater, European headquarters Stuttgart, Germany
Filmography
2024, "Who is the Zookeeper" Co-Director, Screenwriter, Animation Artist2024, (in production) “Coming of Age” Holocaust survivor story of David Weiner, animation documentary. Director, Script Writer
2023, "Tabula Rasa" short film introduction for TABULA RASA art show, Director, Composer2020, AlinaK music video "Revelations" AT remix. Director / Producer / Cinematographer 2020, AlinaK music video "Revelations" Gux remix. Director / Producer / Cinematographer 2020, “Summary” Director / Producer / Cinematographer 2019, (in production) Chain of Rocks, feature animation, Mooshido Productions & Lumen Animae Studios, Animation Director2019, “Sulam Yaakov” (Jacob's Ladder) Director / Animation Artist2019, “My Angel of God” The Holocaust survivor story of Av Perlmutter, animation documentary. Director2018, “Ashe ‘68” VR Experience, virtual reality film, Animation artist, Storyboard artist2018, “Peter Daniels” the Holocaust survivor story, animation documentary. Director2018, “The Allegory of Two Caves” animation PSA. Director2017, “The Promise” the Holocaust survivor story of Leon Malmed, animation documentary. Director2017, “Dieu Merci” the Holocaust survivor story of Michele Rodri, animation documentary. Director2017, “Seder Plate” animated short. Producer / Director2017, “Xenophobia” PSA. Producer / Director2017, “C’est Normal” the Holocaust survivor story of Marie Kaufman, animation documentary. Producer / Director2016, “Yasha” experimental short, Director / Animation Artist2016, “Angeles CT” experimental short. Director / Cinematographer2016, “Peace by Piece” the Holocaust survivor story of Harry Davids, animation documentary. Producer / Director2016, “Chayaleh” the Holocaust survivor story of Helen Freeman, animation documentary. Producer / Director2016, “Letter to the Future” PSA. Producer / Director2016, “My Genesis” animated short, AMAZE SexEd series, Co-Director / Animation Artist2016, “Key to Mystery” animated short, AMAZE SexEd series, Co-Director / Animation Artist2016, “The Departure” animation for live-action film by Noka Films New York. Art Director / Animation Artist2015, “When Man to Man is a Wolf” the Holocaust survivor story of Lidia Budgor. Producer / Director2015, “The Story of Three Rings” the Holocaust survivor story of Dana Schwartz. Producer / Director2015, “Tipping Scales” the Holocaust survivor story of Lisa Jura, animation documentary. Producer / Director2015, “Bench for All” PSA. Producer / Director2015, “Freedom of Speech” PSA. Producer / Director2015, “Rites of Passage” feature documentary. Art Director / Animation artist / Storyboard artist.2014, “River of Art” feature documentary, Dynamic Communication Studios in Taiwan. Art Director / Animation Artist2014, “My Vision” PSA. Producer / Director2014, “Better Place” PSA. Producer / Director2014, “Light” PSA. Producer / Director2014, “The Golden Horse” opening sequence for feature animation. Animation Artist / Art Director2014, “Conflict Minerals” PSA. Producer / Director2014, “Walk to End Genocide” PSA. Producer / Director2014, “Education for a Sustainable Future” PSA. Producer / Director2013, “Camp Na’aleh” short documentary. Producer / Director2013, “Light in Darkness” PSA. Producer / Director2013, “Religious Tolerance” PSA. Producer / Director2013, “Power of Apathy” PSA. Producer / Director2013, “I See You” Cinematographer / Producer / Director2013, “Sharing the Planet” Director / Producer /Storyboard Artist2013, “Couperin visiting the Balkans” Animation Artist / Producer / Director2012, “Died 100 Times” Director / Producer / Animation Artist2012, “Forma et Situs Argi” Director / Producer / Cinematographer2012, “Lombri - Sillas” Director / Producer / Cinematographer2011, “Of Stars & People” Oah & Harlam Episodes. Director / Producer / Animation Artist2011, “Of Care” Oah & Harlam Episodes. Director / Producer / Animation Artist2010, “Of Shepherds” Oah & Harlam Episodes. Director / Producer / Animation Artist2010, “ForGiveness” Oah & Harlam Episodes. Director / Producer / Animation Artist2010, “Of Giants” Oah & Harlam Episodes. Director / Producer / Animation Artist2010, “Secretos Conocidos” Feature. Storyboard Artist / Animation Artist 2009, “Tomorrow” Director / Producer / Animation Artist2008, “The Bond’ Director / Producer / Animation Artist
Selected Awards
2020, SIMA Award, film: ASHE ‘682019, Emmy Award Nominee, film: ASHE ‘682016, Best Animated Short Film Lisbon International Film Festival, Portugal, film: Died 100 Times2016, 1st Prize Experimental Animated Film Athens Animfest, Greece, film: Died 100 Times2016, Best Animation Award, Golden Reel International Film Festival, film: Died 100 Times2016, Finalist, Mini Kino Film Week, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, film: Died 100 Times
Selected Public Screenings | Shows
2023, TABULA RASA solo art show and screening, Vilnius Art Academy Telšiai Gallery, Lithuania
2023, "Mobilization Parable" free-floating projections at Los Angeles Greek Film Festival opening, USA
2022, "Mobilization Parable" installation. Lithuanian Consulate in L.A. event: AFM Networking. Santa Monica, USA
2022, "Mobilization Parable" free-floating projections. Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles, USA
2022, TABULA RASA solo art show, The Art Department of the Immanuel Kant Public Library of Klaipeda City Manicipality, Lithuania
2021, Innovative Regeneration Interactive Art Exhibition, Sino-Finish Design Park, Shenzhen, China2020, Retrospective, Bijou Theater, CalArts, Los Angeles, USA2019, Tribeca Film Festival, New York, USA2019, Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah, USA2018, US Open Tennis Championships, Ashe ’68 VR Experience, New York, USA2017, Mysterium Georgicus, multi-stage multimedia installation, Center for Georgical Jubilism, Virginia, USA2017, IndieWise Convention, AMC Theaters, Miami, Florida, USA2017, Center of Georgical Jubilism, Farfields, Virginia, USA2017, California State Legislature, Sacramento, California, USA2017, Two-Person Exhibition, ANDLAB Gallery, Los Angeles, USA2016, Global Short Film Awards, Cannes, France2016, D100T screening, Museum of Jurassic Technology, Los Angeles, USA2016, Portsmouth International Film Festival, Eastleigh, UK2016, Lisbon International Film Festival, Lisbon, Portugal2016, Animfest Film Festival, Athens, Greece2016, International Film Festival, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia2016, European Film Festival, Ningbo, China2016, Mini Kino Film Week, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia2016, TMC London Film Festival, London, England2016, Global Short Film Awards, New York, USA2016, SEE Film Festival, Paris, France2016, South-East European Film Festival, Berlin, Germany2015, China Central Television, CCTV-9 Documentary channel2015, Hero International Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA2015, Festival de Films Documentaires, Paris, France2015, Documentary Action Train, 17 venues in Taipei, Taiwan2015, St. Louis International Film Festival, St. Louis, USA2014, ArcLight Cinema, Hollywood, USA2013, Timeline Poetic Cinema Festival, Manchester, England2013, Filmpoem Festival. Dunbar, Scotland2013, Walt Disney Modular Theater, CalArts, Los Angeles, USA2013, East China University, Shanghai, China2013, Art Share LA, Los Angeles, USA2013, BIL Conference, Long Beach, USA2013, Karlskrona City Municipal Center, Karlskrona, Sweden2013, Harvard Westlake School, Studio City, Los Angeles, USA2013, The Quest Gallery, Los Angeles, USA2012, Museum of Jurassic Technology, Los Angeles, USA2012, Le Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, Montréal, Canada2012, National M. K. Čiurlionis Museum of Fine Art, Kaunas, Lithuania2012, History Museum, (ongoing exhibition), Klaipeda, Lithuania2012, Klaipeda Municipal Music Library, Klaipeda, Lithuania2012, Galiana Center, New York, USA2012, Wild Beast Theater, CalArts, Los Angeles, USA2011, &NOW Conference for Authors of Innovative Literature, San Diego, USA2011, EuroShorts Film Festival, Warsaw, Poland2011, Animaex Awards Film Festival, England2010, No-Festival of Video Art & Animation, Cheliabinsk, Russia2010, Wild Beast Theater, CalArts, Los Angeles, USA2008, Film & TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic2004, Kennedy’s Art Gallery, Dublin, Ireland1997, Gedminu Gallery, Klaipeda, Lithuania1995, Adomo Brako School of Fine Arts, Klaipeda, Lithuania
Curatorial
2021 Jury at Los Angeles Greek Film Festival2020 "She Was Funny" VR exhibition space, Film University of Babelsberg, Berlin, Germany2017-2020 “Seven Circles” Graphic Novel, the Holocaust survivor story of David Lenga, 210 pages (in production)2018 “The Promise” exhibition at College of the Canyons Library, Los Angeles (Dec2017-Aug2018)2018 “Windows” installation at Sinai Synagogue, Los Angeles (May-July)2016 “When Man to Man is a Wolf” exhibition at Visual & Performing Arts at College of the Canyons (Sept-Dec)2016 “When Man to Man is a Wolf” exhibition at Holocaust Museum Los Angeles (Jan - March)2015 “The Art of David Labkovsky” exhibition at Holocaust Museum Los Angeles (Apr12 - Jun14, 2015)2015 CalArts program at International Animated Film Festival, Poznan, Poland. (July 2015)
Site-Specific Installations
2022 "Mobilization Parable" free floating projections, 30 mins loop. Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles, USA
2017 "Mysterium Georgicus" Total Installation: animation projection on sculpture, paint-on-glass animation, oil paintings, stained glass windows, drawings, surround sound. The Center of Georgical Jubilism, Farfields, Virginia, USA2013 "Re: Love" Project Director, Animation Artist. The Quest Gallery, Los Angeles, USA2012 "Cityscape" Project Director, Animation Artist. Supported by Karlskrona Municipality cultural Department. Karlskrona, Sweden2012 "Visitations" Site-specific frescos, room dimensions 10' x 6', 3m x 2m, Tallinn, Estonia 2012 "Tomorrow" Project Director, Animation Artist. Supported by Karlskrona Municipality cultural Department. Karlskrona, Sweden
Graphic Design
2017-23 "Seven Circles" Graphic Novel, the Holocaust survivor story of David Lenga, 210 pages (in production)2019 Harold Grinspoon Foundation, public poster series2014-16 Harold Grinspoon Foundation, public poster series2015 Holocaust Museum Los Angeles, Art of David Labkovsky book2012 Harvard University research publication. Dr. E. Shakhnovich, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Theater Productions
2014 Director, Producer "I See You Too" feature length show, fusion of theater, dance, music, film, and animation. Community Arts Partnership program at Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, Los Angeles.2013 Director, Producer "I See You" feature length show, fusion of shadow theater, dance, music, film, animation, with audience participation. Black & White Studio, CalArts, Los Angeles.2012 Animation Artist, Jazz Ballet"Dark Matter Obfuscation" 20 min loop animation replica of a Solar System’s stars mapped and shot with slow exposure shutter release using light animation. REDCAT Disney Theater, Los Angeles.
Artist Residency
⚈ Filmmaker in residence, Media and Entertainment Arts at College of the Canyons, Valencia, California, USA. 2017-present⚈ Center for Georgical Jubilism, Virginia, USA. 2017⚈ Yellow Barn an International Center for Chamber Music, Vermont, USA. 2013⚈ ENSAD, École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France. 2010
Guest Artist | Filmmaker Lectures
2023, Speaker at Klaipėda Tech, Lithuania
2023, Speaker at International Student Animation Festival, College of the Canyons, Valencia, CA
2020, Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, Potsdam, Berlin, GERMANY2020, Educational and Consult Co.Ltd., SIA, Beijing, CHINA2020, Cinematic Voices, Bijou Theater CalArts, Valencia, USA2019, School of Visual and Performing Arts at College of the Canyons, Valencia, CA, USA 2019, Educational and Consult Co.Ltd., SIA, Guangzhou, CHINA2019, Educational and Consult Co.Ltd., SIA, Beijing, CHINA2018, Educational and Consult Co.Ltd., SIA, Shenzhen, CHINA2018, Educational and Consult Co.Ltd., SIA, Beijing, CHINA2017, Seoul Institute of the Arts, TV bridge from REEF Los Angeles, USA / South Korea2017, Harvard Westlake School, Studio City, Los Angeles, USA2017, School of Visual and Performing Arts at College of the Canyons, Valencia, CA, USA2017, Shalhevet Modern Orthodox Jewish High School, Los Angeles, USA2016, School of Visual and Performing Arts at College of the Canyons, Valencia, CA, USA2016, Harvard Westlake School, Studio City, Los Angeles, USA2016, Shalhevet Modern Orthodox Jewish High School, Los Angeles, USA2015, Animation Master Class, Sokolniki Park venue, Moscow, RUSSIA2015, School of Visual and Performing Arts at College of the Canyons, Valencia, CA, USA2014, UCLA, School of Theater, Film & Television. Digital Production masterclass, Los Angeles, USA2013, UCLA, School of Theater, Film & Television. 3D Animation masterclass, Los Angeles, USA2013, Milken High Private Jewish School, Los Angeles, USA2013, Harvard Westlake School, Studio City, Los Angeles, USA2013, BIL Conference, Long Beach, USA2012, School of Visual and Performing Arts at College of the Canyons, Valencia, CA, USA2012, Museum of Jurassic Technology, Los Angeles, USA2012, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, USA2011, &NOW Conference for Authors of Innovative Literature. San Diego, USA
Education
⚈ MFA. Experimental Animation. California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), 2010-2012⚈ BFA. Character Animation. California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), 2007-2010⚈ Adomo Brako School of Fine Arts, Klaipeda, Lithuania, 1990-1995⚈ ENSAD, l'École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France, Fall Semester 2009⚈ FAMU, Film and TV School Academy of Performing Arts, Prague, Czech Republic, Summer 2008⚈ Santa Barbara City College, Music Composition and Sound Engineering for Film, Santa Barbara, USA, 2006-2007⚈ National FIlm School of Ireland, Cinematography, Animation, Dublin, Ireland, 2004-2005⚈ Colaiste Ide, Fine Art and Film Studies, Dublin, Ireland, 2003-2004⚈ Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin, Ireland, 2002-2003⚈ C. P. School of Theater, Stuttgart, Germany, 1998-2001