Roland Emmerich, Director, Centropolis

Roland Emmerich is an internationally renowned director, producer and screenwriter whose films – including  Universal Soldier (1992),  Stargate (1994),  Independence Day (1996),  Godzilla (1998),  The Patriot (2000),  The Day After Tomorrow (2004),  10,000 BC (2008),  2012 (2009),  White House Down (2013),  Independence Day: Resurgence (2016),  Midway (2019) and  Moonfall (2022) – have taken in more than $4 billion globally, making him one of the highest-grossing directors and the most commercially successful German filmmaker of all time.   Most recently, Roland directed and executive produced  Those About To Die (2024), an epic TV drama series set in the complex and corrupt world of ancient Rome’s spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition. The show was filmed at the historic Cinecittà Studios in Rome, Italy and released in the U.S. on Peacock in 2024, ranking at #1 on the official streaming charts in 45 countries worldwide.   In his native Germany, Roland’s career began when his first film, a HFF Munich (Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München) student project called  The Noah’s Ark Principle (1984), played in competition at the 1984 Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). He and his sister, producer Ute Emmerich, subsequently established Centropolis Entertainment in 1985. Under this banner, Roland has produced and/or directed over 30 feature films.   Largely recognized as one of the world’s most successful directors, Roland continues to deliver impactful films that challenge both the eye and the mind. While he is known for his blockbuster films, Roland is equally comfortable and capable directing more personal projects such as  Anonymous (2011) and  Stonewall (2015). He is also dedicated and passionate about mentoring the next generation of aspiring storytellers and upcoming filmmakers, such as Academy Award® and Golden Globe® Award nominee Tim Fehlbaum, whom he supported as Executive Producer on  Hell (2011) and  Tides/The Colony (2021). Upon its streaming release on Netflix,  Tides/The Colony was the #1 Movie in the U.S., claiming the top spot in the Top 10 most-watched films.   Acknowledging his cinematic accomplishments and exploits, Roland was invited to be a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the Directors Branch in 1997. Honoring his life’s work as a producer, Roland received the first-ever Carl Laemmle Producing Prize in 2017. In 2019, Roland received the Honorary Award for Career Achievement from the Bavarian Film Awards in Germany, the most highly regarded accolades for filmmaking in his home country. The same year, the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) presented him with the coveted A Tribute to… Award. In January 2020, the Visual Effects Society (VES) bestowed its prestigious Visionary Award upon him at its annual Hollywood gala.

Ian Failes, Editor-in-Chief, befores & afters

Ian Failes is a journalist based in Melbourne specialising in visual effects and animation. Ian publishes the industry VFX and animation publication called befores & afters (beforesandafters.com) and an accompanying print magazine. He has written for fxguide, Cartoon Brew, VFX Voice, 3D Artist, 3D World and many other publications. Ian is the author of the books, 'Industrial Light & Magic: 50 Years of Innovation' and ‘Masters of FX’. He holds the world's largest collection of memorabilia from the film Speed.