Ola Szmida

ILLUSTRATOR & ANIMATION DIRECTOR

ILLUSTRATION WORK

PERSONAL PROJECTS 

RASCALS: THE COOLEST LITERARY HEROINES | text: Sylwia Chutnik

Culture.pl | Series of illustration for Culture.pl Living Tradition. Soundscapes of Poland

ANIMATIONS

as Director & Scriptwriter

UNWANTED DESIRES | animated short film, 2015

Unwanted desires’ is a compilation of short scenes having one thing in common: an 'inappropriate’ behavior. It’s a personal diary
– notebook with collection
of never realized 'bad thoughts’ or 'bad impulses.

PELETON MEMBER STORIES | animated comics stories for client

Animated comics about Peloton members and their stories for their social media channels. The goal was to capture their fitness journeys in a fun and unpretentious way. 

BNP Paribas Foundation | animated short film for client

This short film presents the goals and achievements of the BNP Paribas Foundation charitable initiative. Mixed animation techniques were used to combine the client’s various materials.

as Animation director & Illustrator

NOT FOR MONEY, NOT FOR LOVE, NOT FOR NOTHING | animated short film, written and directed by John Robert Lee 2020 

In this animated short film, women who work in the s*x trade in Wales anonymously share their experiences. Animation was included to ensure women felt comfortable sharing their often ignored stories without fear of judgement or invasion of privacy.
The film was included in The New York Times award-winning Op-Docs series of short documentaries by independent filmmakers.

 BBC Teach | BBC Teach educational series

One of the episodes from the animated A to Z guide for children aged 11-14 that explores and introduces a variety of religious topics.

POSTERS

PPL LOT Polish Airlines Poster Contest, 2024 / special mention 

Poster for the 45th anniversary of the Museum of Caricature in Warsaw

Answear Graphic Design Matters Contest, 2023 / 4th place

non-standard Formats

Illustrations for Hotel Art Gallery

Poland celebrating 100 years of independence lllustration for national train operator locomotives

lllustrations for Gin Dom Box

BIO

Ola Szmida is a professional animator, motion designer and illustrator with over 10 years of experience. Ola studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznań and the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne. Her experience includes book publishing and illustration, animation, post-production and storyboarding. Her main skills and inspirations come from traditional drawing and animation.

Ola’s works are characterized by dynamics, humor and sensitivity. Her films and illustrations have been presented and awarded at many international festivals and exhibitions.

She has worked with, among others: BBC, Ermenegildo Zegna, One Peloton, Boiler Room, Southbank Centre, Häagen-Dazs, Polin Museum, Vogue Poland, Google Creative Lab.

Projects & Awards

as Director & Scriptwriter

MEDUSAS | animated short film, production: Poland, 2023
AWARDS

  • Best Experimental Animation
    Animed Festival 2025, Spain
  • Best Animation
    Cyprus International Film Festival 2024, Cyprus
  • Special Mention
    CutOut Fest 2024, Mexico

UNWANTED DESIRES | animated short film, 2015–2016
AWARDS

  • 3rd Jury Award
    Kurzfilmfestival Koeln No. 9, 2015, Germany
  • Michael Horbach Award
    Kurzfilmfestival Koeln No. 9, 2015, Germany
  • Special Mention
    Short Waves Festival 2015, Poland
  • Special Mention
    ASAP – As Simple As Possible Festival 2016
  • Selected for AG Kurzfilm German Short Films Catalogue 2016
 
as Animation director, animator and illustrator

NOT FOR MONEY, NOT FOR LOVE, NOT FOR NOTHING | script&dir. by John Robert Lee |  animated short film, 2020
AWARDS

  • The New York Times Op – Docs
    The film was included in The New York Times award-winning Op-Docs series of short documentaries by independent filmmakers, 2024
  • Best Animation
    Wimbledon International Short Film Festival 2020, United Kingdom
  • Best Animation
    Factual Animation Festival 2020, United Kingdom


students short’s 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION | student short film, 2011

AQUARIUM | student animated short film, 2010
LULLABY | student animated short film, 2008

as Illustrator 

  • 1st Jury Award – Most Beautiful Sketchbook
    Sketch Has a Power / Szkic ma Moc, Poland (2024)
  • Special Mention
    PPL LOT Polish Airlines Poster Contest, Poland (2024)
  • 4th Place – Graphic Design Competition
    Answear – Graphic Design Matters, Poland (2023)
  • Award – Best Comic Book
    Nagroda Literacka M. St. Warszawy / The Literary Award of the Capital City of Warsaw, Poland (2022)
  • 1st Jury Award – Illustration
    Antalis Design Award, Poland (2017)
  • Award – Most Beautiful Book Category
    Biblioteka Raczyńskich, Poland (2013)