Jonathan Riles (b.1997 in Columbus, Ohio) is an award-winning animation filmmaker, editor, and sound designer whose work surveys the abstractions of retro semiotics. They hybridize stop-motion animation and digital graphics to create surrealist portraits of nostalgic memories.
Riles grew up in the Hocking Hills of Appalachia, where they discovered their passion for theatre. After performing in various plays and musicals in high school, Riles decided to take a more "behind the scenes'' approach to storytelling and earned a Film Production BFA at Syracuse University in 2016, where their thesis project earned a Bryan Buckley Production Grant. They studied abroad in Bologna, Italy, and Prague, Czech Republic, where they graduated with a 35mm Film Production Certificate from FAMU International.
Riles's videos have been screened at film festivals spanning 6 continents, including the Mr. Vorky Film Festival in Ruma, Serbia, the American Documentary And Animation Film Festival and Film Fund in Palm Springs, California, and the Nightmares Film Festival in Columbus, Ohio. Their installation works have been featured in venues such as The Beeler Gallery in Columbus, Ohio, the Palettes of Keuka Art Tour in Hammondsport, New York, and the MACA Contemporary Art Museum in Alicante, Spain. They also exhibit as a projection video artist for the Mural ReMix Collective in Columbus, Ohio, and the Short North Arts District.
Riles is the founder of the media production house Shelluster Studios, where they commission logos, design graphic animations, produce promotional videos, and supply end-credit title sequences for various entities. In 2023 they earned their MFA in Visual Arts at the Columbus College of Art & Design, where they researched the intersections between Appalachian nature conservancy and educational practices.
  • Director (9 Credits)
    CH@T & MOUSE
    Animation, Experimental
    extrApolachian2023
    Documentary, Short
    Pride~In~Our~Steps2023
    Animation, Experimental, Short
    Ask The Super 8 Magic Ball2022
    Animation, Short
    Met(EYE)morphosis2022
    Animation, Experimental, Short
    P[]P C()RN2022
    Experimental, Short
    Unrep0ached2022
    Experimental, Short
    The Amber Thief2021
    Animation, Short
    Tinkeyr2020
    Animation, Short
  • Editor (8 Credits)
    CH@T & MOUSE
    Animation, Experimental
    extrApolachian2023
    Documentary, Short
    Ask The Super 8 Magic Ball2022
    Animation, Short
    Met(EYE)morphosis2022
    Animation, Experimental, Short
    P[]P C()RN2022
    Experimental, Short
    Unrep0ached2022
    Experimental, Short
    The Amber Thief2021
    Animation, Short
    Tinkeyr2020
    Animation, Short
  • Producer (8 Credits)
    CH@T & MOUSE
    Animation, Experimental
    extrApolachian2023
    Documentary, Short
    Pride~In~Our~Steps2023
    Animation, Experimental, Short
    Ask The Super 8 Magic Ball2022
    Animation, Short
    Met(EYE)morphosis2022
    Animation, Experimental, Short
    P[]P C()RN2022
    Experimental, Short
    The Amber Thief2021
    Animation, Short
    Tinkeyr2020
    Animation, Short
  • Cinematographer (7 Credits)
    extrApolachian2023
    Documentary, Short
    Ask The Super 8 Magic Ball2022
    Animation, Short
    Met(EYE)morphosis2022
    Animation, Experimental, Short
    P[]P C()RN2022
    Experimental, Short
    Unrep0ached2022
    Experimental, Short
    The Amber Thief2021
    Animation, Short
    Tinkeyr2020
    Animation, Short
  • Animator (6 Credits)
    extrApolachian2023
    Documentary, Short
    Ask The Super 8 Magic Ball2022
    Animation, Short
    Met(EYE)morphosis2022
    Animation, Experimental, Short
    P[]P C()RN2022
    Experimental, Short
    The Amber Thief2021
    Animation, Short
    Tinkeyr2020
    Animation, Short
  • Sound Design (5 Credits)
    CH@T & MOUSE
    Animation, Experimental
    Ask The Super 8 Magic Ball2022
    Animation, Short
    Met(EYE)morphosis2022
    Animation, Experimental, Short
    P[]P C()RN2022
    Experimental, Short
    Unrep0ached2022
    Experimental, Short
  • Writer (4 Credits)
    CH@T & MOUSE
    Animation, Experimental
    extrApolachian2023
    Documentary, Short
    Pride~In~Our~Steps2023
    Animation, Experimental, Short
    Met(EYE)morphosis2022
    Animation, Experimental, Short
  • Acting (3 Credits)
    extrApolachian2023
    Documentary, Short
    Pride~In~Our~Steps2023
    Animation, Experimental, Short
    The Amber Thief2021
    Animation, Short
  • Screenplay (1 Credit)
    The Amber Thief2021
    Animation, Short
Best Vertical Video
extrApolachian
2023 F3: Frankly Film Festival
Cincinnati, Ohio
2023
Finalist
P[]P C()RN
Kansas City Underground Film Festival
Kansas City, Missouri
2023
Nomination - Best Animated/Experimental (Short Film)
P[]P C()RN
GenreBlast Film Festival
Winchester, Virginia
2023
Honorable Mention
P[]P C()RN
The Fear Faire Film Festival
San Bernardino, California
2023
Nomination - Best Animated/Experimental (Short Film)
Met(EYE)morphosis
GenreBlast Film Festival
Winchester, Virginia
2023
4th place micro experimental film
Met(EYE)morphosis
The International Horror Hotel Film Festival and Convention
Strongsville, Ohio
2023
Winner - ANIMATION/STOP MOTION | Professional
Met(EYE)morphosis
DigiFest Temecula 2023
Temecula, California
2023
Early Invitation/Official Selection
Met(EYE)morphosis
American Documentary And Animation Film Festival and Film Fund
Palm Springs, California
2023
Best Stories Movie
Ask The Super 8 Magic Ball
Mobile MovieeFans Festival
Mima, Tokushima
2023
Nominee - Best iPhone Short
Ask The Super 8 Magic Ball
LA Under the Stars Film Festival
Los Angeles, California
2023
Winner - KinoExceptional Award: Alternative Techniques Media
Unrep0ached
KinoDrome: International Motion Picture & Screenplay Festival
Cleveland, Ohio
2022
Best film (under 10 minutes)
Unrep0ached
Absurd Art House Film Festival 2022
Blue Town, Kent
2022
Special mention for one-minute film
Ask The Super 8 Magic Ball
MISTER VORKY
Ruma, Vojvodina
2022
Best Animation - Ultra Short Category
Ask The Super 8 Magic Ball
AltFF Alternative Film Festival
Toronto, Ontario
2022
Best Experimental Film
The Amber Thief
Short Invictus Film Festival
Porto
2022
Honorable Mention
The Amber Thief
Origins Film Festival
Columbus, Ohio
2022
Nominee - Ohio Film Award
The Amber Thief
Nightmares Film Festival
Columbus, Ohio
2022
Finalist
The Amber Thief
The Fear Faire Film Festival
Las Vegas, Nevada
2022
2nd Best Film (Animation)
The Amber Thief
Pambujan International Film Festival 2021
Pambujan, Northern Samar
2022
Best Animation
The Amber Thief
Fantastic Barcelona
Barcelona
2021
Winner: KinoExceptional Award - Alternative Techniques / State of Ohio; Official Selection
The Amber Thief
KinoDrome: International Motion Picture & Screenplay Festival
Cleveland, Ohio
2021
Best Animation (July 2021)
The Amber Thief
Hollywood International Golden Age Festival
New York, New York
2021
Winner of Entertwine's Super Short Film Festival
The Amber Thief
entertwine's super short film festival
2021
Special Festival Mention
The Amber Thief
12th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival-22
Greater Noida, (Delhi NCR) UP
2021
Best Animated Short; Best Sound
The Amber Thief
Lion Film Festival
Kenilworth, England
2021
Best Soundtrack of Animation Film; Best Sound Design of Animation Film
The Amber Thief
Garoa Awards 2021
Honorable Jury Mention
The Amber Thief
11th Kolkata Shorts International Film Festival-22
Greater Noida, Delhi NCR
College
Columbus College of Art & Design
MFA in Visual Arts
20212023
College
Syracuse Univeristy
BFA in Film Production/Minor in Theatre
20162020
College
FAMU International Prague
35mm Film Production Certificate
2019
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