SIGGRAPH Spotlight

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, Diana Arellano is joined by Nicolas Henchoz, Kendall Ho, and Barbara Solenthaler to explore how computer graphics and interactive technologies are driving real-world impact in healthcare. From digital humans and treatment planning to remote care and medical training, the conversation examines how innovations emerging from the SIGGRAPH commun...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, Production Sessions Subcommittee member Nathaniel Peters is joined by members of the “Dear Upstairs Neighbors” team to explore the role of generative AI in animation. Drawing from their collaborative work at Google DeepMind, the conversation examines how artists, researchers, and engineers came together to integrate emerging tools into a pro...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2026 Spatial Storytelling Chair Esen K. Tütüncü is joined by Scarlett Kim, Omid Zarei, and Marco Cermusoni to explore the role of emergent technologies in narratives. Drawing from their diverse creative and technical practices, the conversation examines how storytelling is evolving across mediums — from immersive and interactive for...

SIGGRAPH Spotlight Show Notes: Episode 101 Title: 101 – Where Education Meets Innovation ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2026 Education Chair Nick Jushchyshyn and SIGGRAPH 2027 Education Chair Dr. Nandhini Giri explore how SIGGRAPH connects educators, students, and institutions with industry through hands-on learning, technical sessions, and meaningful networking....

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, host Valerie Bernard is joined by Byron Howard, Marlon West, and Kira Lehtomaki to explore the creative and technical journey behind “Zootopia 2”. Together, the creators share how story, animation craft, and visual effects came together at Walt Disney Animation Studios to expand a beloved world while pushing performance, pipeline, and collab...

SIGGRAPH Spotlight Show Notes: Episode 99 Title: 99 – Debugging Your SIGGRAPH Talk ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, host Nora Wixom is joined by Carrie Paff and Charles Poynton to unpack why presentation anxiety is so common and how to communicate your work with clarity and confidence across stages, screens, and high-stakes moments. MUSIC Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH," composed...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2026 Education Chair Nick Jushchyshyn sits down with Craig Slagel and Michael Collins from the ACM SIGGRAPH Early Career Development Committee to explore the world of early career demo reels. They discuss the key elements that make a reel stand out, common pitfalls to avoid, and strategies for telling a unique creative story. Listen...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2026 Production Sessions Chair Valérie Bernard sits down with General Submissions Chair Veronica Orvalho and Courses Co-Chair Nora Wixom to explore the submission process from every angle. They discuss common pitfalls that can lead to rejection, share practical tips for crafting stronger proposals, and give listeners a behind-the-sc...

SIGGRAPH Spotlight Show Notes: Episode 96 Title: 96 – Live From SIGGRAPH 2025: Impact of SIGGRAPH at All Career Stages ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, recorded live from Vancouver at SIGGRAPH 2025, Steve Granados Lopez (production assistant, Voyage Productions) sits down with Kevin McNulty, professor of animation at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), and Kat Shattuc...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, we pass the microphone to SIGGRAPH 2026 program chairs Mirela Ben-Chen (Technical Papers) and Adam Bargteil (Technical Workshops) to discuss all-things technical. Mirela and Adam explore emerging technical topics in computer graphics and interactive techniques and how work showcased at SIGGRAPH can have a large-scale impact in industry, acad...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, recorded live at SIGGRAPH 2025 in Vancouver, we explore the Student Volunteer program and its impact on the conference experience. Steve Granados Lopez, host and production assistant at Voyage Productions, sits down with Antonio (Tony) Bonet, Student Volunteer Communications Lead, to share stories, tips, and reflections about how volunteerin...

SIGGRAPH Spotlight Show Notes: Episode 94 Title: 94 – Live From SIGGRAPH 2025: A Career of Outstanding Service From Mk Haley ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, recorded live in Vancouver, ACM SIGGRAPH Membership and Communications Chair Barb Helfer sits down with Mk Haley, recipient of the 2025 ACM SIGGRAPH Outstanding Service Award. From her beginnings as a Student Volunteer...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, recorded live in Vancouver, SIGGRAPH 2025 Education Chair Nandhini Giri continues the conversation from the SIGGRAPH 2025 Educator’s Forum Panel: Education Disrupted. Joined by Greg Berridge, Glenn Goldman, and Derek Ham, the group explores emerging trends in education, innovative teaching strategies, and ways academia and industry can colla...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, ACM SIGGRAPH History Archive Co-Director Bonnie L. Mitchell is joined by two legends in computer graphics: Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, and Frederic Parke, whose early innovations set the stage for decades of digital advancement. The conversation journeys through the early days of SIGGRAPH, the rapid evolution of digital imagery, and the...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2025 Technical Papers Test-of-Time Awards Chair Sylvain Paris catches up with two of this year’s Test-of-Time award winners: Kavita Bala (“Learning Visual Similarity for Product Design With Convolutional Neural Networks”, 2015) and Hui Huang (“L1-Medial Skeleton of Point Cloud”, 2013). The guests share why they think their research...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2026 Computer Animation Festival Director Marina Antunes sits down with the creators of “Forevergreen”, “Wednesdays with Gramps”, and “End of Summer”. Discover the inspiration, collaboration, and creative process behind these powerful SIGGRAPH 2025 Computer Animation Festival Electronic Theater films. MUSIC Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH,...

SIGGRAPH Spotlight Show Notes: Episode 88 Title: 88 – In Conversation With Women of SIGGRAPH Conversations ABOUT THE EPISODE In this special Women’s History Month episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, we welcome Kalina Borkiewicz, Eveline Falcão, and Dawn Fidrick from the Women of SIGGRAPH Conversations (WOSC). They share insights on the impact of women in the SIGGRAPH community, the role of mentorship,...

ABOUT THE EPISODE SIGGRAPH 2025 Art Gallery Chair Francesca Franco sits down with Manfred Mohr, Christa Sommerer, and Laurent Mignonneau for an in-depth conversation about their journeys at the intersection of art, science, and technology. From algorithmic and generative art to interactive systems and AI, they discuss pivotal moments, groundbreaking exhibitions, and the evolving role of technology...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2025 Computer Animation Festival Director Dawn Fidrick chats with Marina Antunes, Kalina Borkiewicz, Tim Cheung, John Kalaigian. These past, present, and future Computer Animation Festival directors reveal what reviewers and juries value in submissions, tease this year’s exciting program, and provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse into co...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2025 Art Gallery Chair Francesca Franco welcomes friends and colleagues Ernest Edmonds and Matthew Attard to the podcast. These distinguished artists discuss their pivotal works and how generative art can bridge the gap between the natural world and digital technology. MUSIC Podcast theme, "SIGGRAPH," composed by Julius Dobos. || LI...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2024 Emerging Technologies Chair Angus Forbes welcomes SIGGRAPH 2024 Real-Time Live! Best-in-Show and Audience Choice Awards Winner Tim McGraw for an enriching conversation about his award-winning work and his passion for computer graphics. Tune in for a thrilling conversation that will leave you feeling inspired and excited about t...

ABOUT THE EPISODE This episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight was recorded live in Denver during SIGGRAPH 2024. In this conversation, SIGGRAPH 2025 Conference Chair Ginger Alford sits down with three SIGGRAPH 2025 Program Chairs — Adam Bargteil, Kalina Borkiewicz, and Francesca Franco — who share insights on how discoveries at SIGGRAPH apply to industries outside of research and entertainment, blurring the...

ABOUT THE EPISODE This episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight was recorded live in Denver during SIGGRAPH 2024. In this conversation, SIGGRAPH 2024 Labs Chair Jonah Brucker-Cohen and four Labs contributors — Brandon Ables, Julia Daser, Yi Qing Ng (Pepi), and Jeremiah Teipen — share more about the hands-on classes and demos they showcased in the Labs and how we use hardware to shift our perception of how in...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2024 VR Theater Director Yangos Hadjiyannis leads an engaging discussion with contributors Mariana Cadenas, Ilan Cohen, Marion Burger, Omid Zarei, and Anne Jeppesen. They delve into this year's innovative VR Theater content, offering visionary insights on the future of XR technology. Additionally, they explore how VR at SIGGRAPH 202...

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode of SIGGRAPH Spotlight, SIGGRAPH 2025 Electronic Theater Director Dawn Fidrick welcomes four SIGGRAPH 2024 Electronic Theater contributors, Toby Cochran, Adrian Ochoa, Mo Mahler, and Bill Shannon, for an enriching discussion about the world of animation and their wonderful works of art that will be showcased this year in Denver. Push the boundaries of what is possi...