Vera Neubauer

Vera Neubauer is a Czech born British experimental filmmaker, animator, feminist activist and educator. She is known for her jarring, provocative and anti establishment approach. Her life's work spans genres, from cinematic short film to television series for children. Neubauer has received two BAFTA Cymru awards. In 2023 Neubauer was made an Honorary Doctor of The Royal College of Art.

Early life Vera Neubauer was born to Dr. Helene and Dr. Karl Neubauer in Prague. In December 1965, several years before the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, Neubauer fled the totalitarian regime with her parents and siblings. Arriving in Vienna, Neubauer gained refugee status and traveled on to Düsseldorf. Here she studied Print-making at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart under professor Gunter Bohmer.

In 1968 Neubauer journeyed to London. She continued to study printmaking at the Royal College of Art and in 1970 switched departments to study film-making. She struggled to survive and squatted in central Brixton. During this period she worked in a local Brixton Youth Centre and taught print-making at Isleworth Polytechnic.

Career Neubauer's experiences of life as a refugee and the loss of her family, often inform her works. As do her personal takes on the themes of birth, death, abuse, femininity, myth and existence.

In the UK Neubauer became one of founding members of the film collective 'Spectre' that included Stephen Dwoskin, Phil Mulloy, Simon Hartog, Anna Ambrose, Michael Whyte, John Ellis, Keith Griffiths, and Thaddeus O'Sullivan.

Neubauer's collected works are distributed by the BFI, LUX and New York based The Film-Makers' Cooperative.

Neubauer is known for her work in multiple moving image disciplines and for her nuanced feminist stance. She has won multiple awards for her work including two BAFTA Cymru Awards.

Animation

She is a key figure in the History of British animation and is linked to the Second Wave of British Animation (1979–1996). Neubauer has been active as a filmmaker, animator and instigator of social reform for five decades. Vera Neubauer's films are the terrorist branch of the art form, the Red Brigade of the animated film. (Animating the Unconscious: Desire, Sexuality and Animation by Leslie Felperin) Her first animated series after graduation was 'Pip and Betssie' that was commissioned for three years by the Germany television station Bayerischer Rundfunk.

Neubauer's oeuvre of animated works is often considered experimental and ‘cutting edge’. Vera Neubauer is one of Britain’s most innovative and provocative animators. Her highly idiosyncratic style uses an array of techniques, combining animated sequences with documentary and live action drama, provoking and entertaining in equal measure. (British Animation Awards)

She is frequently cited for her ability to combine her personal stories of pain, loss and rebirth, underpinned by a wider societal commentary. Her canon of work mixes various techniques such as 2D drawing with photography, scratching into film emulation, cut out collage and giving character to found objects.

Live action Neubauer's works often center around, and are created within her own neighborhood. Many of her films are short and meditative. Neubauer often uses the camera, much as a painter would use a brush, to create broad poetic strokes.

Neubauer's first drama film “Don’t be Afraid” made in 1990 starred a young Nick Moran in the lead. It was based on the life of a squatting white couple who gave birth to a mixed race baby. The film gave an insight into issues facing young urban youth, both political and personal, whilst confronting audience's expectations and prejudices.

Her narrative and experimental films make use of guerrilla production techniques and are often socially critical and focus on social issues, poverty, women's rights, abuse and the homelessness.

Education Neubauer taught for nearly 30 years at Royal College of Art, Central Saint Martins and Goldsmiths College.

In literature / film Neubauer is the subject of Maria Anna Tappeiner's 2012 45 minute documentary for 3sat 'Das Ganze Leben im Trickfilm' ('An Entire Life in Animation').

Retrospectives The International Festival of Animation Bristol 1987 Unity Theatre, Liverpool 1987 Fantoche Film Festival Switzerland 1997 Animania Mostra Internationale Del Nuovo Cinema, Rome 1998 Metro Cinema (Derby) 2000 Lleida International Animation Film Festival (now known as Animac) 2002 Mecal International Short Film Festival Barcelona 2002 Tampere Film Festival 2003 Anima Mundi (event) 2003 Mumbai International Film Festival 2004 Interfilm Berlin 2005 Volda University College Norway 2006 International Animated Film Festival Sienna 2009 Mediawave, Hungary 2010 China Academy of Art – Hangzhou, China 2012 Anifilm – Třeboň 2015 Epos Art Film Festival Tel Aviv 2018 Fantoche Baden 2018 Cinanima Espino Portugal 2018 Animator in Poznań, Poland 2018

Filmography Year Film Role Notes 2019 Fields of Vision Director, Animator 4 min. 2019 The Mummy's Curse Returns Director, Animator 18 min. 2016 A Tragedy of No Importance Director 7 min. 2015 You Are Director 15 min. 2014 Scarred Skies Director 4 min. 2014 Life Story Director 3 min. 2013 One Day In May Director 20 min. live musical performance, in collaboration with composer and violinist Alexander Bălănescu 2010 All Done and Dusted Director, writer, animator 3 min. 2010 Fly In The Sky Director, writer, animator 20 min. 2004 Woolly Town - Woolly Head Director, writer, animator 5 min. 2002 Hooked Director, writer, animator 10 min. Channel Four & Arts Council of England 2002 Wolly Wolf Director, writer, animator 4.15 min. Sianel Pedwar Cymru Winner BAFTA Cymru Best Animation & Winner BAFTA Cymru Best Short Film 1999 La Luna Director, writer, animator 26 min. Channel Four & British Film Institute 1999 I Dance Director, animator 2 min. 1997 The Dragon and The Fly Director, animator 1 min. LUX (British film company) London Film-Makers' Co-op 1996 Wheel of Life Director, writer, animator 16 min. Arts Council of Wales & Sianel Pedwar Cymru Awarded at Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film. 1995 The Lady of The Lake Director, writer, animator 20 min. Winner Ankara International Film Festival winner Best Experimental Film Mediawave, Audience Award Filmfest Dresden. 1993 Live TV Director, writer 1 min. The Arts Council of Great Britain and the BBC 1990 Don't Be Afraid Director, writer 27 min. Channel Four Youth Jury Award at International Short Film Festival Oberhausen & Winner Melbourne International Film Festival 1988 Passing On Director, writer 30 min. Channel Four 1987 The Mummy's Curse Director, animator 25 min. Arts Council of Great Britain 1986 Mid Air Director, writer, animator 16 min. Channel Four Winner Melbourne International Film Festival 1984 The World of Children Director, writer, animator 15 min. Channel Four 1981 The Decision Director, writer, animator 33 min. British Film Institute 1978 Animation for Live Action Director, writer, animator 25 min. British Film Institute 1976 Fate Director, writer, animator 1 min. 1972/73 Vision On Director, Animator Television series for BBC Bristol 1973/75 Pip and Bessie Creator, director, writer, animator Television series for Bayerischer Rundfunk 1972 Animation - Allegation Director, animator 25 min. 1972 Genetics Director, writer, animator 1 min. Royal College of Art 1971 Cannon Fodder Director, writer, animator 1 min. Royal College of Art