Kristen Palana

Acting Chair of Department (As of January 2013), Communication and English, The American University of Rome (AUR) Associate Professor of Digital Media.

Contact: k.palana@aur.edu

Kristen Palana is an American/Portuguese multimedia artist based in Rome, Italy. She has taught digital media, art and communication courses in the United States and Italy for over twelve years, as well as offered art and multimedia courses in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa at sold-out international conferences as well as in dirt floor schoolhouses in remote villages. Her fine art/multimedia animations routinely screen in international film and animation festivals and have won a number of awards. They have also been featured in DVD compilations, traveling international tours, and in online campaigns. Kristen also works on video, graphic design, illustration, web and interactive projects independently, as well as for clients and non-profit organizations. The vast majority of her work promotes positive social change. Kristen’s number one interest is helping people in developing countries overcome poverty and lack of opportunities. She uses multimedia projects and tools to help raise awareness and continuously attempts to foster a sense of social responsibility in her students by having them partake in real-world multimedia projects for non-profit organizations in Rome and beyond whenever possible.  Please feel free to visit her online portfolio at http://kpalana.com.

Qualifications

• MFA Degree in Computer Graphics and Interactive Media, Pratt Institute College of Art and Design. New York City, NY. USA.
• BFA Degree in Painting, Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Boston, MA. USA.

Current Teaching Activities

• Associate Professor & Acting Chair, Department of Communication and English, AUR
  (As of January, 2013)
• Prof. Palana has been teaching Animation, Video, Communication Theory, Web Design, Fine and Digital Art, Graphic Design and Interactive Design at AUR since 2006.
• Her specialization topics are: Media, Art and Social Activism, Online Fundraising and Social Media Marketing, Interaction Design, Color Psychology and Theory, Concept Development and Idea Generation, Preproduction and Storyboarding, Multimedia Editing and Special Effects, 2D Fine Art and Digital Animation,  Sound Design, Fine Art and Digital Art.

Past Teaching Activities

• 2002-2006- William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Assistant Professor of Digital Media. Taught Computer Graphics, Print, Interactive and Multimedia courses. Students were BA, BFA and MFA candidates.
• 2000 – 2001- Pratt Institute, Brooklyn and Manhattan campuses, NYC. NY. Visiting Instructor. Students were BFA candidates and Continuing Education students.

2013. -Society for Animation Studies. Selected to present lecture, “Enhancing Empathy: How the Mighty Mediums of Comics and Animation Help Bring About Positive Social Change” at the symposium, Change and Continuity: Interdisciplinary Aspects of Animation, Comics and Literature at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film. Stuttgart, Germany.

2013. -Official Selection. Best of the Southeast New England Film, Music and Arts Festival. Larry and Roz. Warwick Museum of Art. Warwick, RI. USA.

2012- 2013. Veggie Propaganda. Selected for The 15th CinemAmbiente Environmental Film Festival’s year-long traveling screening events throughout Italy.

2012. Juror’s Award. Love Unlimited Film Festival & Art Exhibition. Veggie Propaganda. Los Angeles, CA. USA.

2012- First Prize. Vegetarian Resource Group Video Award. Veggie Propaganda. USA.

2012 – The Indie Fest. Award of Merit: Liberation/Social Justice/Protest. Veggie Propaganda. USA.

2012 – Audience Award for Best Animated Film. Southeast New England Film, Music and Arts Festival. Veggie Propaganda. Providence, RI. USA.

2012 – Accolade Film, Television, New Media, and Videography Awards. Award of Merit. Veggie Propaganda. USA.

2011 – Society for Animation Studies. Selected to teach a color theory course at 2011 “Rise of the Creative Economy” conference. Athens, Greece.

2009 – Online New England Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Selection for Month-long Screenings at Coolidge Corner Theater, Brookline, MA. USA.

2009 – Top 3 Award in Animation and New Media Category. Reel HeART International Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Toronto, Canada.

2009 – Best Animated Short. Sunscreen Film Festival. -Larry and Roz. Tampa, St. Petersburg, & Clearwater, FL. USA.

2009 – Best Animation. Smogdance Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Pomona, CA. USA.

2009 – Best Animated Film. Southeast New England Film, Music and Arts Festival. Larry and Roz. Providence, RI. USA.

2009 – Best Animated Short. DIY Film Festival. -Larry and Roz. Hollywood, CA. USA.

2008 – SiggraphAsia. -Selected to co-teach an animation course at 2008 Conference in Singapore.

2007 – First Place. UN World Food Programme’s Fight Hunger Viral Video Competition. End Child Hunger. Italy.

2006 – Director’s Citation Award. Black Maria Film Festival. – Lucky. Traveling Festival, USA.

2005 – ART. William Paterson University. Assigned Release Time for academic year 2005- 2006. Project was a multimedia documentary called Lucky. USA.

2004 – ACM Siggraph. -Selected to co-teach an animation course at 2004 Conference. USA.

2003 – ACM Siggraph. -Selected to co-teach an animation course at 2003 Conference. USA.

2002 – Juror’s Award for Animation. 36th New York Expo of Short Film and Video -Five O’Clock Shadows. USA.

2002 – Altman Foundation Award. Pratt Institute. USA.

2002 – Pratt Circle Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement. Pratt Institute. USA.

2001 – Barret Endowed Scholarship. Pratt Institute.

2000 – Milia 2000. Nominee. -Zeitgeist Interactive CD-ROM. Cannes, France.

1999 – CGIM Department Fellowship. Pratt Institute. USA.

1994 – National Talent Search. Top 10 Finalist. Pratt Institute. USA.

1994- National Talent Search. Top 10 Finalist. Maryland Institute. USA.

Animation and Film Festivals

Veggie Propaganda (2011)

2012. Love Unlimited Film Festival & Art Exhibition. Veggie Propaganda. Los Angeles, CA. USA.

2012. Directors Circle Festival Of Shorts. Veggie Propaganda. Online Festival. USA.

2012 -The Pollygrind Underground Film Festival of Las Vegas. Veggie Propaganda. Las Vegas, NV. USA.

2012 -World Music and Independent Film Festival 2012. Veggie Propaganda. Washington, DC. USA.

2012 -The Third World Independent Film Festival. Veggie Propaganda. San Francisco, CA. USA.

2012 -Fear No Film Festival. Veggie Propaganda. Salt Lake City, UT. USA.

2012 -International Freethought Film Festival. Veggie Propaganda. Denver, CO. USA.

2012 -15th CinemAmbiente Environmental Film Festival. Veggie Propaganda. Turin, Italy.

2012 -The Green Film Festival in Seoul. Veggie Propaganda. Seoul, South Korea.

2012 -SENE Film, Music & Arts Festival. Veggie Propaganda. Providence, RI. USA. Award: Audience Award for Best Animated Short.

2012 -SURGE Film Festival. Veggie Propaganda. Traveling Festival, USA.

2012 -Vegas Independent Film Festival. Veggie Propaganda. Las Vegas, NV. USA.

2012 –Accolade Film, Television, New Media, and Videography Awards. Award of Merit. Veggie Propaganda. USA.

2012 – The Indie Fest. Award of Merit: Liberation/Social Justice/Protest. Veggie Propaganda.

Larry and Roz (2008)

2013. -Official Selection. Best of the Southeast New England Film, Music and Arts Festival. Larry and Roz. Warwick Museum of Art. Warwick, RI. USA.

2010 -London Independent Film Festival. Larry and Roz. London, UK.

2010 -Victoria International Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Victoria, Australia.

2010-Society for Photographic Education Women’s Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Philadelphia, PA. USA.

2009 -European Film Festival. Larry and Roz. London, England.

2009 -Chicago International Children’s Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Chicago, IL. USA.

2009 -Online New England Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Internet.http://newenglandfilm.com. Award: Selection for Special Monthlong Screenings at Coolidge Corner Theater, Brookline, MA. USA.

2009 -San Francisco Women’s Film Institute Tour. Larry and Roz. San Francisco, CA. USA.

2009 -42nd Humboldt Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Arcata, CA. USA.

2009 -Hollywood East Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Danbury, CT. USA.

2009 -Reel HeART International Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Award:Top 3 in Animation and New Media Category. Toronto, Canada. USA.

2009 -DIY Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Award: Best Animated Short. Hollywood, CA.USA.

2009 -Sunscreen Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Award: Best Animated Short. St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa, FL. USA.

2009 -Washington DC Independent Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Washington DC. USA.

2009 -Southeast New England Film, Music and Arts Festival. Larry and Roz. Award: Best Animated Film. Providence, RI. USA.

2009 -Washougal International Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Washougal, WA. USA.

2009 -New Beijing International Movie Week. Larry and Roz. Beijing, China.

2009 -Smogdance Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Award: Best Animation. Pomona, CA. USA.

2008 -FuzzB Family Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Internet.

2008 -Zero Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Los Angeles, CA. USA.

2008 -Radar Hamburg International Independent Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Nomination for Best Art and Animation. Hamburg, Germany.

2008 -Gold Lion International Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Masuru, Lesotho.

2008 -Bushfire Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Manzini, Swaziland.

2008 -Rome International Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Rome, GA. USA 

Lucky (2006)

2006- Black Maria Film Festival. -Lucky. Director’s Citation Award. Traveling Festival, USA.

2006- 7th DC Independent Film Festival. Lucky. Washington, DC. USA.

2006- The Seaside Repertory Film Festival -Lucky. Santa Rosa Beach, FL. USA. 

Five O’Clock Shadows (2002)

2003- Creative Alliance Film Festival -Five O’Clock Shadows. Baltimore, MD. USA.

2003- 4th DC Independent Film Festival -Five O’Clock Shadows. Washington, DC. USA.

2003- 1st Annual Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival -Five O’Clock Shadows. Nevada City, CA. USA.

2002- 36th New York Exposition of Short Film and Video- Five O’Clock Shadows. Juror’s Citation Award. NYC. NY. USA.

Film Distribution

2009 -Indiflix. Larry and Roz. This film channel has non exclusive rights to the film.

2009 -Crushed Planet. Larry and Roz. This is online network affiliated with HBO has non exclusive rights to the film.

2009 -Glimtz. Larry and Roz. This Swedish online film channel has non exclusive rights to the film.

Online Exhibitions

2012 -Veggie Propaganda was featured and embedded on the following websites: People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Tumbler Blog, VegVideos.com, The Progressive Radio Network, TrueActivist.com, TruthTheory.com, The Veggie Channel, NatureTV.com, Films for Action, and GoodVeg.Squidoo.com

2012. Directors Circle Festival Of Shorts. Veggie Propaganda. Online Festival. USA.

2009 -Online New England Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Internet. http://newenglandfilm.com

2008 -FuzzB Family Film Festival. Larry and Roz. Internet.

2007 -U.S. State Department E-Journal, Economic Perspectives. September 2007. U.S. Food Aid: Reducing World Hunger. Video Feature: End Child Hunger.

2007 -Walk the World Liberia -Video Compilation and School Feeding Liberia -Still Photo Gallery. The UN’s World Food Programme’s Fight Hunger Division.

2007 -The United Nations World Food Programme Official Campaign. End Child Hunger - Multimedia Animation Viral Video.

2005 -Poetry Southeast -an online journal of poetry and art. Digital artwork was featured in the Fall 2005 issue.

2004 -MoveOn.Org. -Bush in 30 Seconds. Political Ad- Yellow Ribbons

2002- Machida City Museum of Graphic Arts, Tokyo. Art on the Net 2002. Tokyo, Japan-Pause- Web Video Installation

DVD Compilations

2012- 2013. Veggie Propaganda. Selected for The 15th CinemAmbiente Environmental Film Festival’s year-long traveling screening events throughout Italy.

2004. Independent Media Magazine DVD. Political Ad- Yellow Ribbons. Independent Media Magazine is a DVD Video Magazine featuring short films, music, videos, animation, movie trailers, computer game trailers, PSA’s, and other democratic based video material.

One Person Gallery Exhibitions

1999- Envy Gallery. Temple Bar. Dublin, Ireland

1999- Montaque’s Café. Dublin, Ireland

1995- Huntington Gallery. Boston, MA. USA. 

Two Person Gallery Exhibitions:

1998- Installation Station. Aftermath. Massachusetts College of Art. Boston, MA.

Selected Juried and Group Gallery Exhibitions:

2011 -”Rise of the Creative Economy.” Society for Animation Studies Conference. Larry and Roz Animation Screening and Preproduction Stills. Athens, Greece.

1996-2007- Narrows Center For the Arts. Fall River, MA. USA.

2002-2005 Art Department Faculty Show, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ. USA.

2002- Pratt Show. Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC. NY. USA.

2002- CGIM Gallery. Sugar and Spice: Women in Computer Graphics.

Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY. USA.

2001- Pratt Show. Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC. NY. USA.

2000- PostArtum. Visiting. The Vault. Long Beach, CA. USA.

1999- Provincetown Art Association Members Show. Provincetown, MA. USA.

1998- Tower Gallery. Massachusetts College of Art. Me4. Boston, MA. USA.

1998- Gallery 349. Provincetown, MA. USA.

1998- Wellfleet Art Co-op. Wellfleet, MA. USA.

Invited Lectures and Workshops

2013. -Society for Animation Studies. Lecture: “Enhancing Empathy: How the Mighty Mediums of Comics and Animation Help Bring About Positive Social Change” at the symposium, Change and Continuity: Interdisciplinary Aspects of Animation, Comics and Literature at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film. Stuttgart, Germany.

2011 -Rise of the Creative Economy. Society for Animation Studies Conference. Lecture: “Harnessing the Power of Color to Create Mood.” Athens, Greece.

2008 ACM SiggraphAsia. Course: “There Can Still Be Only One; Independent Animation Production for the Lonely.” Singapore.

October 2005. –Was a guest speaker at Tufts University and led a class entitled, Art, Community and Social Activism. Boston, MA. USA.

2005 -Led a web design workshop at the Maua Hills Vocational Training Centre. Students were teachers at the school and implemented eight art, music, and computer courses I created, including Web Design. Together we started the school’s first website which they now maintain themselves. Moshi, Tanzania.

2004- ACM Siggraph. Course: “There Can Still Be Only One; Independent Animation Production for the Lonely.” Los Angeles, CA. USA.

2003- ACM Siggraph. Course: “There Can Be Only One; Independent Animation Production for the Lonely.” San Diego, CA. USA.

Online Publications

2012 -The Lamp. Articles about media literacy at: http://www.thelampnyc.org/lamp-post/

2010 -Help Liberia Foundation. Video Feature on Website: School Meals Liberia

2007 -U.S. State Department E-Journal, Economic Perspectives. September 2007. U.S. Food Aid: Reducing World Hunger. Video Feature: End Child Hunger

2005 -Poetry Southeast -an online journal of poetry and art. Digital artwork was featured in the Fall 2005 issue.

2003- 2005 -NetArt Review. -An art criticism website that reviews web art. Contributed reviews and articles on a monthly basis. URL: http://www.netartreview.net

2004. -Furtherfield.org in conjunction with Rhizome and Net Art Review. -Featured review. URL: http://www.furtherfield.org/displayreview.php?review_id=103.