Director Biography - Amit Naftali, Smitha Hamsala

Amit Naftali Biography: Growing up all over the world, I was all about expression. I always knew that making people smile, laugh and feel was what I was meant to do, and so I did- whether it’s through acting, writing, costume designing, painting, you name it- I was always this odd combination of the class clown and the observant kid that draws in his notebook in the corner of the room. I knew the power that entertainment had in bridging cultural gaps, and being raised on animation, I felt the power of animated storytelling as an ideal marriage of everything that I love, and I’ve been enamored ever since. Coming from a family of 4 children with a triple citizenship, I completed an IB diploma in New Delhi, and immediately after I enrolled in a mandatory military service in an art and chemistry program in the intelligence corps of Israel.

Upon completion of my service in 2021, I began searching for a higher education. I knew I wanted to come to study here in America, and after seeing the edge-cutting technology and quality of Ringling College’s computer animation program, I knew right away that this was my tomorrow. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and, quite literally, leave everything and everyone continents behind me. I took a leap of faith, and prayed it would pay off.

Since coming to Ringling, I became the trustee scholar of the computer animation major, interned at MAKE visual studio in 2025, and was lucky to have my work included in Best of Ringling numerous times, as well as in the Spring Show of 2025 at the MadeBy Gallery. I also became a prominent figure in Ringling’s ‘Street Team’- Ringling College’s social media team, where I was responsible for creating content surrounding student work, highlighting the computer animation department’s curriculum. Additionally, I was lucky to be invited to exhibit in The Bancroft brothers' Animation Y'all Expo in Nashville, TN.

With a job lined up in the Walt Disney Company after graduation, I see myself continuing to expand my horizons beyond my comfort zone and gain more experience and knowledge about entertainment.

Smitha Hamsala Biography: Growing up, my world was defined by a whole lot of messy doodles in math notebooks and countless hours of movie-watching—3D animated and live-action alike. I always knew I didn’t just want to watch the magic, but I also wanted to make it myself. For me, art has always been about the thrill of storytelling. I found that animation was the perfect harmony of my love for film and my drive to create, capturing a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between imagination and reality.
In pursuit of this passion, I made the move to Sarasota, Florida, to attend Ringling College of Art and Design. Stepping into the Computer Animation program, I embraced the challenge of mastering the entire pipeline, whilst also learning my desire to dive deeper into layout, animation, and production roles. My time at Ringling has been defined by a commitment to both craft and community, leading me to pursue a minor in Business to better understand the industry that drives the art I love.
Since arriving at Ringling, I have immersed myself in the professional landscape of CG and VFX. My dedication to the craft has been recognized through my work being shown in Best of Ringling, but beyond art—Ringling offered opportunities to connect and find community. I am a huge social butterfly, and find my inspiration for my art in life and the people around me, leading me to take on roles such as Event Manager for Student Activities, New Student Orientation Coordinator, and President of the Women in Animation club.
As I prepare to graduate and enter the industry, I see myself continuing to push the boundaries of visual storytelling. With a foundation built on technical rigor and a lifelong love for the audience, I am eager to contribute to the next generation of filmmaking and beyond.

Director Biography - Amit Naftali, Smitha Hamsala

Amit Naftali Biography: Growing up all over the world, I was all about expression. I always knew that making people smile, laugh and feel was what I was meant to do, and so I did- whether it’s through acting, writing, costume designing, painting, you name it- I was always this odd combination of the class clown and the observant kid that draws in his notebook in the corner of the room. I knew the power that entertainment had in bridging cultural gaps, and being raised on animation, I felt the power of animated storytelling as an ideal marriage of everything that I love, and I’ve been enamored ever since. Coming from a family of 4 children with a triple citizenship, I completed an IB diploma in New Delhi, and immediately after I enrolled in a mandatory military service in an art and chemistry program in the intelligence corps of Israel.

Upon completion of my service in 2021, I began searching for a higher education. I knew I wanted to come to study here in America, and after seeing the edge-cutting technology and quality of Ringling College’s computer animation program, I knew right away that this was my tomorrow. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and, quite literally, leave everything and everyone continents behind me. I took a leap of faith, and prayed it would pay off.

Since coming to Ringling, I became the trustee scholar of the computer animation major, interned at MAKE visual studio in 2025, and was lucky to have my work included in Best of Ringling numerous times, as well as in the Spring Show of 2025 at the MadeBy Gallery. I also became a prominent figure in Ringling’s ‘Street Team’- Ringling College’s social media team, where I was responsible for creating content surrounding student work, highlighting the computer animation department’s curriculum. Additionally, I was lucky to be invited to exhibit in The Bancroft brothers' Animation Y'all Expo in Nashville, TN.

With a job lined up in the Walt Disney Company after graduation, I see myself continuing to expand my horizons beyond my comfort zone and gain more experience and knowledge about entertainment.

Smitha Hamsala Biography: Growing up, my world was defined by a whole lot of messy doodles in math notebooks and countless hours of movie-watching—3D animated and live-action alike. I always knew I didn’t just want to watch the magic, but I also wanted to make it myself. For me, art has always been about the thrill of storytelling. I found that animation was the perfect harmony of my love for film and my drive to create, capturing a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between imagination and reality.
In pursuit of this passion, I made the move to Sarasota, Florida, to attend Ringling College of Art and Design. Stepping into the Computer Animation program, I embraced the challenge of mastering the entire pipeline, whilst also learning my desire to dive deeper into layout, animation, and production roles. My time at Ringling has been defined by a commitment to both craft and community, leading me to pursue a minor in Business to better understand the industry that drives the art I love.
Since arriving at Ringling, I have immersed myself in the professional landscape of CG and VFX. My dedication to the craft has been recognized through my work being shown in Best of Ringling, but beyond art—Ringling offered opportunities to connect and find community. I am a huge social butterfly, and find my inspiration for my art in life and the people around me, leading me to take on roles such as Event Manager for Student Activities, New Student Orientation Coordinator, and President of the Women in Animation club.
As I prepare to graduate and enter the industry, I see myself continuing to push the boundaries of visual storytelling. With a foundation built on technical rigor and a lifelong love for the audience, I am eager to contribute to the next generation of filmmaking and beyond.

Director Biography - Amit Naftali, Smitha Hamsala

Amit Naftali Biography: Growing up all over the world, I was all about expression. I always knew that making people smile, laugh and feel was what I was meant to do, and so I did- whether it’s through acting, writing, costume designing, painting, you name it- I was always this odd combination of the class clown and the observant kid that draws in his notebook in the corner of the room. I knew the power that entertainment had in bridging cultural gaps, and being raised on animation, I felt the power of animated storytelling as an ideal marriage of everything that I love, and I’ve been enamored ever since. Coming from a family of 4 children with a triple citizenship, I completed an IB diploma in New Delhi, and immediately after I enrolled in a mandatory military service in an art and chemistry program in the intelligence corps of Israel.

Upon completion of my service in 2021, I began searching for a higher education. I knew I wanted to come to study here in America, and after seeing the edge-cutting technology and quality of Ringling College’s computer animation program, I knew right away that this was my tomorrow. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and, quite literally, leave everything and everyone continents behind me. I took a leap of faith, and prayed it would pay off.

Since coming to Ringling, I became the trustee scholar of the computer animation major, interned at MAKE visual studio in 2025, and was lucky to have my work included in Best of Ringling numerous times, as well as in the Spring Show of 2025 at the MadeBy Gallery. I also became a prominent figure in Ringling’s ‘Street Team’- Ringling College’s social media team, where I was responsible for creating content surrounding student work, highlighting the computer animation department’s curriculum. Additionally, I was lucky to be invited to exhibit in The Bancroft brothers' Animation Y'all Expo in Nashville, TN.

With a job lined up in the Walt Disney Company after graduation, I see myself continuing to expand my horizons beyond my comfort zone and gain more experience and knowledge about entertainment.

Smitha Hamsala Biography: Growing up, my world was defined by a whole lot of messy doodles in math notebooks and countless hours of movie-watching—3D animated and live-action alike. I always knew I didn’t just want to watch the magic, but I also wanted to make it myself. For me, art has always been about the thrill of storytelling. I found that animation was the perfect harmony of my love for film and my drive to create, capturing a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between imagination and reality.
In pursuit of this passion, I made the move to Sarasota, Florida, to attend Ringling College of Art and Design. Stepping into the Computer Animation program, I embraced the challenge of mastering the entire pipeline, whilst also learning my desire to dive deeper into layout, animation, and production roles. My time at Ringling has been defined by a commitment to both craft and community, leading me to pursue a minor in Business to better understand the industry that drives the art I love.
Since arriving at Ringling, I have immersed myself in the professional landscape of CG and VFX. My dedication to the craft has been recognized through my work being shown in Best of Ringling, but beyond art—Ringling offered opportunities to connect and find community. I am a huge social butterfly, and find my inspiration for my art in life and the people around me, leading me to take on roles such as Event Manager for Student Activities, New Student Orientation Coordinator, and President of the Women in Animation club.
As I prepare to graduate and enter the industry, I see myself continuing to push the boundaries of visual storytelling. With a foundation built on technical rigor and a lifelong love for the audience, I am eager to contribute to the next generation of filmmaking and beyond.