Amelia Wyeth Ponirakis is a filmmaker, animator, and media artist originally from Upstate New York, whose work exists at the intersection of dreams and speculation. A graduate of Purchase College, SUNY Film Conservatory, she is deeply influenced by surrealism, sci-fi, and experimental cinema, utilizing fabrication, animation, and analog filmmaking to construct worlds that defy convention. By embracing varying formats such as 16mm, Super 8mm, and direct animation, Amelia builds tactile and intricate cinematic experiences that invite audiences to explore themes of the environment, performance, social commentary, and technology.
Amelia’s creative journey has been shaped by a robust foundation in experimental filmmaking. Prior to university, she studied for two consecutive summers at the New York State Summer School of Media Arts (NYSSSA), focusing on analog techniques. During her time at Purchase College, she
worked as a teaching assistant for the Experimental Film Workshop class, engaging students in both theory and production. She has also interned at notable organizations such as the Forum Art Space, Blackbird Film Festival, and WXHC X101 radio station. Currently, she serves as a production assistant
at WCNY PBS and an artist in residence at The Gear Factory.
Her films have screened extensively across New York State, including at the Student Experimental Film Festival (SEFF) Binghamton, Millennium Film Workshop, Rod Serling Film Festival, Hudson Valley Film Festival, and Buffalo International Film Festival (BIFF). On the international stage, her short film "CAUGHT THE BUG" (2022) was showcased at London’s Exploding Cinema and Darkroom Film Festival. Last fall, her film "BLUE LIGHT" (2024) won "Best Student Short" and "Best Soundtrack" at the Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival, where it was screened at the Brooklyn Alamo Drafthouse in partnership with Cyber NY and sponsors with Kino Lorber and Zeitgeist Films. Most recently, Amelia won big at the 2025 Blackbird Film Festival for
"Best New York State Film", an audience choice award within her screening block "Tech Support" and was recognized as being this year's
"Black Feather Award" recipient.
Amelia’s work is characterized by a fusion of handcrafted techniques and speculative storytelling. She uses direct animation to manipulate film stock, crafting a raw and immediate dialogue with the medium. Fabrication and animation converge in her practice to create intricate physical environments and surreal landscapes that challenge conventional narratives. Her films often critique the impact of technology on our lives, explore human relationships with the natural world, and use performance as a lens to reflect on identity and societal constructs.
Through her filmmaking, Amelia aims to disrupt comfort zones, spark curiosity, and inspire dialogue. Her work is an invitation to dream wildly, to see the world differently, and to embrace the unknown. With a dedication to exploring experimental formats and profound thematic inquiries, Amelia continues to push the boundaries of contemporary filmmaking.