The workshop, with a program focused on directing and animation, allows participants to explore the moment when a seemingly inanimate object, space, or presence appears to acquire intention and consciousness.
Collegium with Paolo Gaudio
Following the success of the first edition, a new call for applications is now open for the Stop e-Motion Days COLLEGIUM.
This experience allows you to experience the festival in an immersive way, participating in the scheduled events, meetings, and screenings with a facilitated approach, but above all, participating in the professional and intensive 7-day workshop dedicated to the art of stop-motion animation!
The program will take place in person from April 15th to 19th , 2026, at the M9 Museum in Venice-Mestre, with two days of online training added. Combining theoretical and practical aspects, the workshop will allow participants to experience all phases of making a stop-motion production: from concept to set construction, from frame-by-frame animation to post-production and final screening. During the activities, participants will be guided by Paolo Gaudio, one of Italy's leading stop-motion directors, a renowned professional in the industry as a multi-award-winning and nationally and internationally recognized professional.
The course will be structured as follows:
Study of the theory of stop-motion directing and pre-production, to be covered in the first two lessons, which will be held online and will last 4 hours and 4 hours respectively.
Set construction for the creation of animations for the short film, to be completed on April 15th, with 5 hours of in-person time.
Beginning of actual production, followed by animation of the first sequence, to be completed on April 16th, with 6 hours of in-person time.
Continuous animation rehearsals to be completed on April 17th, with 6 hours of in-person time.
Conclusion of filming and rough cut with a first edit of the scenes, to be completed on April 18th, with 6 hours of in-person time. Post-production and critical review, with editing of the short film and final screening, to be completed on April 19th, with 3 hours of in-person time.
The workshop is free and has limited places available. It is aimed at animators, professionals, and enthusiasts under 35 who wish to deepen or consolidate their skills in stop-motion animation. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive an official certificate certifying their acquired skills.
Participation includes: training, a puppet, Dragonframe license and a set station.
Travel, room and board are not included.
Your own computer is required.
To participate, please apply by completing the form on this page by March 8th. Space is limited, and applications will be evaluated by the Festival staff.
Participants in the SeM Days Collegium will:
Take part in a professional stop-motion workshop led by Paolo Gaudio
Privileged access to industry meetings
Screenings of competing films
Dialogue with industry professionals
Gain exclusive access to festival screenings, masterclasses, and networking events
Receive an official certificate of participation
The workshop is free and has limited places and is aimed at animators, professionals, and enthusiasts under 35 who wish to deepen or consolidate their skills in stop-motion animation.
Spots are limited, and the selection process consists of two stages:
March 8 – Application deadline
March 22 – Announcement of the 15 selected participants
Apply now and take part in a unique stop-motion experience.
For any questions, please contact us at stopemotion@gmail.com
What is SeM Days Collegium?
Why join the Collegium?
Who can apply?
How to apply?
Paolo Gaudio is a director, screenwriter, and animator. For years, he has been experimenting with animation techniques such as stop motion, cut-out animation, and computer graphics.
Fantasticherie di un Passeggiatore Solitario (Fantasy of a Solitary Walker) marks his feature film debut, winning 14 international awards.
In 2018, he received the Nastro d’Argento for Best Animated Short Film for LOONEY FOODZ!
Dagon
The Black ReCAT
Paolo Gaudio: the Workshop Tutor
In 2022, he produced and distributed the short film THE BLACK reCAT, which appeared on the lineups of major fantasy film festivals around the world and won 12 international awards. The film was also nominated for the Silver Méliès for Best European Fantasy Short. Since 2014, he has been part of the editorial staff of InGenereCinema.com and is the director of the format Il Giro dell’Horror, a docu-series dedicated to Italian horror, produced by InGenereCinema.com and distributed on home video by Weird Entertainment.
In 2024, he directed and wrote the short film DAGON: a stop-motion animated adaptation of the eponymous story by cult author H.P. Lovecraft, produced by Emma Film, which won 35 international awards and the Silver Méliès for Best European Fantasy Short. The film was also nominated for a Nastri d'Argento for Best Animated Short Film. That same year, he joined the organizing committee of FANTAFESTIVAL: Italy's longest-running fantasy film festival.
Contact us:
stopemotiondays@gmail.com
M9 - MUSEUM OF THE 20TH CENTURY
Via Giovanni Pascoli 9
30171 Venezia Mestre
Stop-eMotion Days
The first stop-motion film festival
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