Signe Baumane

Signe Baumane, an independent animator known for her controversial films on the subjects of sex, pregnancy, dentists and madness, was born in Latvia in 1964. In 1983 Signe successfully passed exams to enter Moscow State University and study Philosophy. In 1991 Signe was given an opportunity to direct her first animated short and after this experience she started to work as a freelance designer and illustrator with publishing houses in Moscow and Riga. She illustrated several children’s books, made sets for a puppet theatre, directed short films in which she pursued the subjects that she was most interested in: violence, power, womanhood, relationships between men and women. Between 1999 and 2009 Signe wrote and directed 11 more award winning shorts.