Member Spotlight: Katarzyna Sobkowiak
Animation can inspire more than just creativity, for Kat it inspired her to explore a whole new world. What started as a career in advertising took a turn into the magical realm of animation. Take a sneak peak into the fascinating world of a production coordinator who goes beyond the hard work of bringing creative visions to life but also makes time to run an entire film festival dedicated to celebrate her homeland. As Kat puts it “Animation is magic” and we think she’s weaving some magic of her own.
When Kat moved from Poland to Australia six years ago it was for a working holiday. A bit of fun in the sun then back to business in advertising. But a few major events turned things around. The pandemic hit, love struck, and she found her calling in Melbourne.
Today, she’s a Production Coordinator in animation and the founder of the inaugural Polish Film Festival in Melbourne, driven by a deep passion for culture, community, and storytelling.
Born in Gliwice, Poland, Katarzyna Sobkowiak started her career in advertising in the Czech Republic, but always held a dream of working in film production. After attending a Media Mentors conference for emerging creatives, she learned how to network in the Australian industry and tailor her CV. It worked! She landed a runner job on a BBC documentary and eventually joined Flying Bark Productions, where she’s spent the last three years working on major animation titles, including Marvel’s What If...?
“Animation is magic and I absolutely love it,” Kat says. “Even though I can’t draw, my Pictionary attempts are hilarious." She finds the technical process of 3D animation, the collaboration, and creating something that lasts fuels her passion for the job.
Outside of work, Kat is the force behind Melbourne’s Polish Film Festival, launching 17 October. Running for two weeks and hosted at Cinema Nova the festival will feature eight contemporary films that explore identity, resilience, and joy. From visually stunning road trip comedies like Off We Go to nuanced explorations of female identity and beauty in Beautiful!
The idea began as a casual conversation amongst her Polish friends in Melbourne. “We were talking about the films we loved, and I thought why not do a screening? And then, why not a whole festival?” Katarzyna says.
With over 52,000 people in Melbourne reporting Polish ancestry in the 2021 census, Katarzyna saw a clear opportunity to bring these stories to life for both the Polish community and broader audiences. “There’s a strong curiosity about Polish culture here and film is one of the best ways to explore it,” she says.
Festival highlights include The Peasants, an oil-painted animation adapted from a classic Polish novel, by the same studio behind Loving Vincent, and a playful heist film to close out the program. “We wanted to showcase films that are meaningful and memorable. Stories that show the best of Poland.”
Kat is also a vocal advocate for gender equity in the animation and VFX industries. While the community in Australia is known for being welcoming and collaborative, she notes a troubling disconnect between education and employment.
Many animation courses in Australia have high enrolments of female identifying students but the industry doesn’t reflect that. There’s a significant drop-off between graduation and professional roles, which suggests it’s not about a lack of skilled women.
Kat says more research is needed to understand how to close the gender gap and increase diversity. In the meantime, she’s been helping to build community through panels like Women in Animation, Masters of Motion, social groups, and ongoing industry events. “There are so many talented people out there. We just need to connect them, support them, and keep the door open.”
Her advice for others entering the industry is “Network. Ask questions. Go to the events. Learn from everyone you can. And don’t give up,” she says. “There’s a project out there for someone, somewhere.” Her motto “Hold the vision. Trust the process.”
Whether she’s coordinating teams on major animated series, curating films for a festival, or helping create space for women and gender diverse people in animation and VFX, Kat is reshaping the creative landscape with heart, humour, and a whole lot of grit.
Kat as kindly offered members a chance to win a double pass to see Beautiful! at the Polish Film Festival this October. To go into the draw, get in touch here.
