08/04/2026
ARTIST PRESENTATION: NAYELLI OJEDA
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21st 6PM
MOSMA HQ
Tickets @ mosmapdx.org
Shaping Yugen: Mexican Ceramics Meets Stop Motion
A behind-the-scenes evening on Yugen, a handmade stop motion short made with traditional Mexican ceramics and inspired by the natural world. Eight years in the making, the film had its world premiere at the Manchester Film Festival, a BAFTA-qualifying festival, where it won Best Animated Short. It is now in competition at the Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology (PFCAT), with nominations for Best Stop Motion Short and Best Fantasy Animated Short.
For this special evening, animator, director and producer Nayelli Ojeda will pull back the curtain on the making of Yugen, from concept art, sculpting and mould-making to character fabrication, set building, and the painstaking, frame-by-frame work of filming. She'll bring photos and video from the process and share the story behind each material and creative decision, plus guests will get the rare chance to meet the puppets in person. The evening will close with an open conversation, giving the audience a chance to ask questions and connect directly with her process.
About the artist:
Nayelli Ojeda is a Mexican stop-motion filmmaker whose vision explores Latin American identity and cultural symbolism through handcrafted cinematic universes. Founder of Wisdom House Films, she was selected as an animation director for Talents Guadalajara, the Berlinale's talent development program, and her short film Yugen was selected for ANIMARKT Poland. Supported by the Mexican Film Institute (IMCINE), Yugen was made over eight years with hand-built ceramic and tree bark puppets, won Best Animated Short at the Manchester Film Festival (BAFTA-qualifying) and was invited to the Short Film Corner at Cannes 2026. Currently on its festival run, Yugen has screened at Oscar-qualifying festivals across England, the United States, Spain, Italy, Chile and Argentina.
