Alexander Sokerov is a pioneer of 3D animation and computer graphics in Bulgaria and founder of Studio Sokerov. Trained at the National Academy of Arts in painting, he combines classical artistry with digital innovation, creating visual work for major brands including Coca-Cola, KFC, Pepsi, Danone, IKEA, Tuborg, Orbit and Audi. Since 2020, Alexander has embraced artificial intelligence as a creative partner — exploring, experimenting, and building entirely open-source workflows that expand the boundaries of visual storytelling. His work stands at the intersection of art, technology, and imagination, demonstrating how generative AI can empower artists to create faster, bolder, and more freely than ever before.

Caleb is an award-winning Australian cinematographer working on commercial, narrative and documentary projects globally. With extensive experience in challenging environments - from underwater to remote locations worldwide - he brings technical mastery and creative vision that elevates every brief. His work combines precision execution with compelling storytelling, consistently delivering standout results whether capturing a global brand campaign or demanding stories in the world's most challenging conditions.

Christian is an award winning film director and creative leader with decades of experience directing, producing and architecting large scale international campaigns. His work has been honoured at major global film festivals and respected cultural institutions, and has reached audiences of more than six billion people worldwide across broadcast, digital and public infrastructure.

Emil is a puppet theatre director, an artist with a strong interest in new technologies, and co-founder of the motion capture studio MAGESNIK in Gabrovo. A graduate in Puppet Theatre Directing from NATFA, he has spent more than a decade exploring the boundary between live performance and digital technologies. In 2018, he created Treasure Island v1.0 — the world’s first puppet theatre performance incorporating virtual and augmented reality, selected for the Prague Quadrennial 2019. Today, through MAGESNIK and its optical tracking system, Emil connects the skills of the puppeteer with the precision of motion capture — because movement is what brings stories to life.

Hristo is a veteran VFX professional who began his career in the mid-2000s, contributing to iconic titles like 2012, Sucker Punch, and Iron Man 3. With a background in Computer Science, he successfully bridged the gap between high-end physics simulation and cinematic storytelling. In 2013, he co-founded Bottleship VFX in Sofia, supervising over 20 feature films and fostering a culture of technical excellence and artistic ambition. A dedicated advocate for the Bulgarian CG scene, Hristo co-founded CGBG, hosting over 35 community events so far. The Bottleship intern programs have given a career start to many newcomers to the industry. Lately, he pioneers AI-native development and tools like CLAROS and Cairos that cross over into the next era.

Marin Petkov is one of the pioneers of Projection Mapping in Europe, founder of MP-STUDIO, and the Art Director of Festival of Lights International. Founder of LUNAR Festival of Lights - the largest cultural event in Bulgaria with more than 600 000 visitors. In 2008, Marin founded MP-STUDIO, specializing in immersive experiences, projection mapping, interactive visual solutions for events and public art. His art has transformed landmark buildings in over 28 countries in Europe and Asia, among which: Brandenburg Gate, the Bolshoi Theatre, Berlin TV Tower, Buzludzha monument in Bulgaria, the Senatorial Palace in Rome, the Brussels stock exchange, the Noorderkerk church in Amsterdam, Mimara museum in Zagreb,Votivkirche in Vienna, Meji Memorial Picture Gallery in Tokyo, etc.

Strahil Jordanov is Creative Director and partner at MP-STUDIO, co-founder of LUNAR Festival of Lights, and founder of SPACE DIVE PRODUCTIONS. He also serves as Creative Director of the Bulgarian Pavilion at EXPO Osaka 2025. He has written numerous immersive experiences and global light shows, including Vincent meets Rembrandt in Amsterdam, Kaleidoscope for EXPO 2020 Dubai, and The Wake-Up Experience at COP28 with Sadhguru. His work has received international awards for projection mapping and short filmmaking. Before focusing on immersive media, he worked as a screenwriter, story editor, and director on major Bulgarian television productions, with film writing and directing training at UCLA, the Sundance Institute, and McKee.

Martina Yordanova (b. 1985 in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria) has been appointed curator of the Bulgarian Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia in 2026. Apart from this, she is curator at the National Gallery of Bulgaria, founder and artistic director of the IATRUS Residency Program in Veliko Tarnovo, jury and ambassador of Sofia Art Fair and a founding member of the Eastern Balkans Institute for Art and Architecture. She grew up between Bulgaria and Austria, received her BA and MFA in Publicity, Communication sciences and Film-, Theater- and Media History from the University of Vienna in 2014.

Lead Environment Artist
Born in Sofia, BG, lives in Austin, TX, USA
He has been working in the Game Development industry for 20 years, dealing with Environment Art
Worked as Environment, Senior & Lead Environment Artist at studios such as: Haemimont Games, Ubisoft, Bioware/EA, Certain Affinity
Currently working as Lead Environment Artist at 5by5 Interactive / GALA Games
Worked on projects / franchises such as: Star Wars, Call of Duty, DOOM, Halo, Harry Potter, New World, World Of Tanks, Rayman Raving Rabbits and others

Telling stories is at the heart of everything I've done for the past 24 years in this industry. It was a surprise to me, considering my background in programming and engineering since my school days. I spent the first years of my career doing visual effects for commercials and later directing them. Now I work mainly on films, but no matter where my focus is, I always come back to how important the story is. Sometimes it is a dramatic turn of events, emotional ending, a small and insignificant detail, the light or inspiring epic music. Еach of these tells its own story. That's why I think it's good to try to tell something good with a little bit of fire...

Prof. Dr. Georgi Hristov is a leading expert in 3D digitalization and visualization technologies in Bulgaria. A professor in the Department of Telecommunications and Head of the Centre for Information and Computer Services at the University of Ruse "Angel Kanchev." With over 18 years of experience in telecommunication networks, he has authored over 200 scientific publications and several books. Participated in numerous national and international projects on 3D technologies, cultural heritage digitalization, and education. As a founding member of the UNITe Center of Excellence, he specializes in 3D scanning, printing, and UAV applications. He leads courses and seminars on multimedia, drones, and 3D technologies.

Martin Kostov is co-founder and managing director of Tornado Studios, a creative studio specializing in photorealistic 3D digital twins, reconstructions, VR and AR experiences, animations, interactive applications, and 3D printed models.

Maya Harrigan is an audio producer, composer, and sound designer passionate about audio storytelling and collaborative creative processes. After spending 15 years composing music and crafting sound design for TV commercials and film, she transitioned into the iGaming space, where she builds immersive audio that balances emotional impact with technical precision. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Audio Engineering from New Bulgarian University and a Master’s in Film Scoring from the Film Scoring Academy of Europe, where she studied under Andy Hill, former Music Director at Disney. Her work reflects a continuous dialogue between discipline and creative instinct, driven by a belief that sound is one of the most powerful tools for shaping human experience.

Kolev is a writer, screenwriter, and script consultant, author of the films “11 A” and “12 A” and the novel Final Conquest. He holds a Master’s degree in Bulgarian Language and Literature and leads a screenwriting workshop for high-school students in Stara Zagora.

Tihomir is a seasoned software engineer and AI specialist, having spent over 15 years building scalable platforms and sustainable business models. Throughout his career, he has focused on merging deep technical expertise with a clear vision for innovation, applying AI tools to transform how people interact with digital content. In Bulgaria, Tihomir co-founded Epoha Online, a digital initiative creating engaging and accessible knowledge for the next generation—a mission that combines technological innovation with social impact. Tihomir looks at the modernization of education through technology as his core purpose, building a digital bridge between complex tools and meaningful learning, he feels, to the benefit of all.

Veso Mihaylov is a 3D artist with 11 years of experience at Chaos, specializing in rendering, lighting, and visual development. With extensive production knowledge and a deep understanding of modern CG workflows, he brings practical expertise and industry insight to today’s talk.