Stephan Kozak is a visual artist, animator, AI pioneer, and inventor with over two decades of experience spanning most roles in the film and VFX pipeline. From animator and compositor to VFX supervisor and Pipeline Developer, Stephan has honed his craft across the spectrum of production, contributing to groundbreaking projects such as "Superman Returns", the first full stereoscopic IMAX film, and "Marija", the first virtual human ever granted real-world citizenship. Moving from production into research, Stephan sought to leverage his extensive industry knowledge to improve tools and influence the development of technologies that shape the future of the entertainment industry.

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As the CG, Animation, and VFX Lead at Sheridan College’s SIRT, based at Pinewood Studios Toronto, Stephan drives innovation by partnering with the industry to develop advanced workflows. His applied research focuses on enhancing animation through lifelike character interaction, audience engagement, and storytelling, including the creation of highly realistic digital doubles. Stephan's team specializes in Digital Humans, offering industry solutions in procedural pipelines, virtual production, real-time rendering, and the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning.  His efforts have helped secure millions of dollars in research funding and earned him over 20 screen awards, including 12 international film festival accolades.

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Stephan’s work extends beyond technological innovation to social impact. He has contributed to initiatives supporting the Deaf community, including real-time gesture translation technology, and collaborates with government bodies to address biases in AI, ensuring equitable representation. Committed to open-source development, Stephan builds industry-relevant workflows that can empower creatives worldwide, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in digital artistry while championing innovation and inclusivity.

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For more information select the resume below.