The Ensemble
Director
Avery Kroll
Produced by
Kristen Breshears, Avery Kroll
Pietro Schito, Skylar Testa
Screenwriter
Avery Kroll
Editor
Hunter Dixon
Executive Producer
Tony Bancroft, Chris Conner, Damian Perea Lezcano, Raquel Camacho
Art Director
Kristen Breshears
Compositor
Dakota Byard
Avery Kroll is a 25-year-old storyteller from Nashville, Tennessee, with a passion for animation and meaningful narratives. She earned a BFA in Character Animation from Southern Adventist University and will receive an MFA in Film and Animation from Lipscomb University in May 2025. Inspired by the animated films of her childhood, Avery strives to craft stories that entertain while sparking thought and emotion. The Piano is her debut festival short.
Avery Kroll
Director
Kristen Brehears is an artist with years of experience working on various projects and productions in the industry as an art director as well as a background and visual development artist.
Kristen Brehears
Producer
Ryan O’Neil
(Sleeping at Last)
Ryan O'Neil, the heart of Sleeping at Last, is a Chicago-based artist known for emotive, cinematic music featured in Twilight, Grey’s Anatomy, and more, with innovative projects like "Yearbook" and "Atlas."
Composer
Hunter Dixon is a multidisciplinary editor with a background in animation, documentary, and advertising. He recently wrapped as Assistant Editor on Netflix’s animated feature In Your Dreams and has joined Laika as Assistant VFX Editor on Wildwood.
Hunter Dixon
Editor
Pietro Schito is an Italian animation writer and producer whose work spans original IP and collaborations with top-tier talent. He co-wrote a feature at Guillermo del Toro’s stop-motion studio and founded Write for Animation, a popular channel exploring story craft along with top animation industry creators.
Pietro Schito
Producer
Tony Bancroft is a veteran Disney animator with over 30 years of experience. Co-director of Mulan, known for animating Pumbaa, Kronk, and Cogsworth. He’s worked on Stuart Little 2, Space Jam: A New Legacy. He is the author of Directing for Animation, and co-host of the Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast.
Tony Bancroft
Executive Producer
Damián Perea is an award-winning animation producer and founder of the Oscar-qualifying Animayo Festival. With over 26 years in the industry, his credits include Goya-nominated and winning films, as well as major educational initiatives. He’s also a member of the European Film Academy and ASIFA Hollywood.
Damian Perea
Executive Producer
Raquel Camacho is a Madrid-based head of production and executive producer with a background in events, advertising, and film. She has worked across major cities and produced award-winning films, including Cafuné (2024), winner of the 2025 Goya for Best Animated Short Film.