Ingrid Veninger

Ingrid Veninger, born in Bratislava and raised in Canada, is a dynamic force in the film industry, having established pUNK Films in 2003 with an inspiring 'nothing is impossible' philosophy. Over the years, she has directed and written five feature films: *Only*, *Modra*, *i am a good person/i am a bad person*, *The Animal Project*, and *He Hated Pigeons*. Each of these works has made its mark on the international festival circuit, premiering at prestigious events such as the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Rotterdam, Slamdance, Whistler, Rome, OUTFest, FEMCine, and MoMA, where they received accolades and secured global distribution.

In 2014, Ingrid launched the pUNK Films FEMMES LAB, an initiative dedicated to supporting feature films created by Canadian women, with backing from Academy Award-winning actress Melissa Leo. Beyond her film endeavors, Ingrid is also an educator, serving as a part-time member of the Film Studies Faculty at York University, a Screenwriter-in-Residence at the University of Toronto, and a Film Mentor at the Canadian Film Centre.

Most recently, she wrapped up her sixth feature, *Porcupine Lake*, which was made possible through the support of Telefilm Canada and the Harold Greenberg Fund from Bell Media. The film is being distributed in Canada by FILMS WE LIKE and has international sales handled by OUTPLAY FILMS. Ingrid Veninger continues to be a pioneering advocate for innovative storytelling in cinema.