C. A. MACFINN

Conor is a Canadian / American filmmaker and is the Senior Creative Partner at CGMuse: he oversees all projects from conception through development to launch. His roles are varied: Project Conception, Director, Screenwriter, Animator, Animation Lead, Editor, and Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, as needed. Work on ARIEL began shortly before the pandemic, and Conor recruited and led a multinational team, working remotely across continents and time zones, to create the film. He's grateful for and proud of the work they did together under challenging circumstances! Since the 2024 premiere, Ariel has won awards for Best Animation, Outstanding Achievement in Animated Film, Best Sound Design, Best Original Score, for a Jewish Filmmaker and Jewish themes, Awards of Excellence and Official Selections at festivals on five continents, including in New York, London, L.A., Vancouver, Tokyo, Vienna, Israel, and Dubai. Ariel is also a selection of the Kid’s First / Coalition for Quality Children’s Media.

Conor’s film, Glooscap and Noogami, was a Best Animated Short nominee at Red Nation International Film Festival, Los Angeles, the largest international Indigenous Film Festival, and he was honored that his animated shorts were invited to show at Mní Wičhóni Nakíčižiŋ Owáyawa (Defenders of the Sacred Water School) at The Water Protector's Camp in Standing Rock, North Dakota. His award-winning works have screened at international festivals and streamed on AOL On, Roku, Amazon, and Tribal TV/Hulu.

Conor’s work was recognized by The New York State Arts Council with an “Arts Alive” grant for the initial storyboarding of Ariel, and another grant for artists during the pandemic. An invited presenter at SIGGRAPH for his animated iTunes apps, Conor’s also done AR animation for The Museum of the Dog, and animation for other films and children’s media. An enthusiastic dog dad, he loves playing and singing bluegrass and Appalachian folktunes.