Emily Downes

Emily Downes is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Film, Video, Animation, and New Genres at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she received both her BFA and MFA in Film and Animation. Emily is also an interdisciplinary artist, creating works using mostly video, photography, animation, puppetry, and music. She is most passionate about sharing her talents for media arts with all ages while collaborating with local artists to build a strong and vibrant community. Emily is driven to providing youth and young adults the necessary tools to enact change in their communities through the power of digital storytelling, and has initiated the inclusion of digital storytelling into classroom curriculums both abroad in Spain as well as in Milwaukee, WI and Saint Paul, MN high schools.

Emily has made several experimental short videos, documentaries, and animations, which have showcased at film festivals and galleries worldwide, including The Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival, the Milwaukee Film Festival, Minneapolis Underground Film Festival, the Grim Natwick Animation Film Festival, Chicago International REEL Shorts Film Festival, and Demolden Art Gallery in Santander, Spain.