Born in Hilversum in the Netherlands in 1959, Erwin Olaf lives and works in Amsterdam since the early 80′s. His current studio is situated in a former church hall.
Mixing photojournalism with studio photography, Olaf emerged in the international art scene in 1988 when his series ‘Chessmen‘ was awarded the first prize in the Young European Photographer competition. This award was followed by an exhibition at the Ludwig Museum in Cologne, Germany. Since then Olaf has continued to explore issues of gender, sensuality, humor, despair and grace in each successive series.
Over the years many of Olaf’s works – from his unabashed nude portraiture and intense symbolism to the unflinching gaze in his blood-drenched images of staged violence – have provoked controversy. Not surprisingly, this ability to attract attention has seen his work embraced by the advertising world, resulting in commercials for Lavazza, BMW, Microsoft and Nintendo among many others. Lately Erwin is frequently shooting in commission for magazines such as The New York Times Magazine, The Sunday Times Magazine, Elle and Citizen K.

James Nares was born in 1953 in England and living in New York since 1974. After a foundation year at Falmouth Art College he went on to study fine art at Chelsea in 1972. While there, he took advantage of a student exchange program to go to the School of Visual Arts in New York from 1974-76 and has lived in America ever since. He has worked in film and music but it is his painting that has brought him the greatest recognition. His beautiful non-objective paintings, which despite being large are executed in single gestural strokes, often using brushes he makes himself.

A strange man builds a world using holographic tools for the woman he loves.
This award winning short was created by filmmaker Bruce Branit, widely known as the co-creator of ’405′. World Builder was shot in a single day followed by about 2 years of post production. Branit is the owner of Branit VFX based in Kansas City.