Astrid Goldsmith

Astrid Goldsmith (she/her) is an animation writer-director who specialises in puppet stop-motion. In 2012 she set up Mock Duck Studios in her garage in Folkestone, and has since made a string of award-winning short films.

Her work has competed at festivals around the world, and in 2018 Astrid was selected for the BFI / BBC4 Animation talent scheme. Quarantine, her film about Morris-dancing badgers, was broadcast on BBC4, won the Best Animated Film Award at LSFF, and was the third most-watched free film on BFI Player in 2020. Her latest film, Red Rover, won Best Animated Film at Sitges 2020, and was Oscar long-listed. Mock Duck’s commercial work includes the Duracell Bunny, a belligerent troll for Nike, a cyclops elephant for Ford Fiesta, a sexy worm for Trolli, and many music videos.

Astrid is part of the writing team for a Netflix animated series, and is currently working on an AR live action/animation hybrid project.

Keep up to date with her work on Instagram @mockduckstudios.

She is mentor to Maddie Lock in making their film Welcome to the Puppet Show: A Day at the Circus.