EDMUNDS JANSONS
Edmunds is an animation film director, graphic designer, and children book illustrator. He is founder of the animation film studio Atom Art in 2001. In 2012 Edmunds graduated in animation directing at the Estonian Academy of Art, masterclass of Priit Parn. He is the author of award-winning animation shorts "International Father's Day" (2012), "Choir Tour" (2012) and "Isle of Seals" (2014), director of pre-school series "Shammies" (2015), Christmas special "Pigtail and Mr. Sleeplessness" (2017) and feature film "Jacob, Mimmi and the Talking Dogs" (2019).

Director's statement
"The film is about a very specific place, but when they go to Maskachka they also travel back in time a bit. I am so happy that in Riga, after watching the film, kids and their parents actually talk about their respective childhoods and what was different about it. Nowadays, kids are being controlled all the time. There is school, sports, after-school activities – it’s all very strict. I, on the other hand, remember a lot of time spent outside. On the streets, in the yards. You could almost say that’s where my education really came from. Of course, it’s not like we are trying to convince anyone to have their children run around without supervision. But, as a kid, it would be nice to have a chance to get out of the apartment every once in a while and not just sit in front of the screen. Do something that hasn’t been scheduled weeks before and just talk to people. I think it’s very important. Which is why in the film, we wanted to create a universe where you could feel safe and warm. And a bit nostalgic perhaps".