These creative compositors and supervisors represent a wide range of talent and experience that has helped Canaries expand from a production service to a powerhouse in VFX.
VFX is a team game, often involving many generalists and specialists, and some of our top talent now call this island home. This opportunity and lifestyle is attracting professionals from far-flung fields and convincing others who once had to leave to stay and build long-term careers here.
We take a closer look at several players at various stages of their VFX careers.
Austeya Gaptite
Originally from Lithuania, Austėja Gaputytė started her career in manufacturing. After running the Post Office Madstone in Vilnius, she moved into the international VFX pipeline before joining Flaming Frames in Tenerife as Head of Production. “When I joined Ignacio in early 2023, we were six people working in a small office and were wary of tackling complex shoots,” she recalls. “A year later, when that project came in (Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue), we were a completely different company, with a bigger team, our own office, and strong results on screen.” Gaputytė’s philosophy: “Productions are usually VFX It’s the quiet part of it, and it should be. If everything is going so smoothly that it doesn’t seem like the production team is needed, that usually means they’re doing their job very well.”
Daniel Herrera
Originally from San Cristóbal de la Laguna, Tenerife, Daniel Herrera entered the world of VFX with training in graphic design. He began experimenting with Cinema 4D after discovering digital artists whose work pushed the boundaries of visual storytelling. “I was posting videos on Instagram,” he told Variety. “One day I commented on a company post and the CEO contacted me after checking out my work. That’s how it all started.” Herrera, now a 3D generalist in 22Dogs’ Tenerife office, worked on “Outer Banks Season 4” and contributed to the technically demanding ship sequences. “Being a generalist means dealing with constant change,” he said. “We need to adapt quickly and not let uncertainty or fear of failure affect our creativity.”
leonardo paolini
Originally from the small town of Jesi in central Italy, Leonardo Paolini is self-taught and transitioned from computer science to VFX with early stints at Rainbow on Winx Club, then WWFX Bulgaria, MPC, and Framestore. His credits include “Doctor Strange,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Paddington 2” and “Isle of Dogs.” Currently, as a VFX and 2D Supervisor at Flaming Frames, I oversee compositing and mentor new artists. “You have to think like a scientist and feel like an artist, often under tight deadlines,” he told Variety. “The human side, teamwork, mentorship, empathy. VFX is not just about technology. It’s about people sharing a vision and building the invisible together.”
alessandro saris
From Rome to London to Tenerife, Alessandro Sarris’ trajectory reflects the blend of artistry and leadership that forms Europe’s emerging VFX hub. After studying at the European University of Design in Rome, he specialized in compositing at Escape Studios and began freelance commercial work before joining Prime Focus, where he officially entered film and episodic VFX. “As an artist, it’s definitely ‘Harry Potter,'” he said. “I grew up reading books, so being a part of the last two films and contributing to the world I’ve loved since I was a kid was truly a dream come true.” Now head of VFX and VFX supervisor at 22Dogs, he says, “One of the aspects that rarely gets mentioned is… One is how much of my work is about people, not pixels or technology. Technology advances, but the essence of great work always comes from human intuition, sense, and emotion.”
Po Viradot
Barcelona-born Pau Viradotto started in design, honing his craft in music videos and advertising before moving into CG and compositing, before directing 12+1: A Metaphysic Comedy, which was shot in Fuerteventura. After many years at Weta FX, where he contributed to “Avatar” and “Planet of the Apes,” he is now a 2D director at Carousel Studios. “Directing means translating an abstract artistic vision into a quantifiable process, while respecting both the director’s intentions and the artist’s individuality,” he said. “Building good relationships with colleagues is the secret to quality. It’s teamwork, and camaraderie is the most powerful tool.”His caustic view of reality: “I often joke that reality is a badly made movie. We do a better job.”
Marcos Ernesto García Muñoz
Born in Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, local Marcos Ernesto García Muñoz studied classical art at the Fernando Estevez School of Art and the University of La Laguna, before turning to audiovisual studies at the Universidad Miguel Hernández Elche and earning a master’s degree in digital post-production in Valencia. Currently a 3D artist at Volinga AI, he tests and refines the studio’s latest tools for creating hyper-realistic environments. “Once you find a workflow that works for you, it becomes a way to capture and learn about worlds, stories, and characters locked in your imagination,” he said. García Muñoz, who is passionate about adaptation and lifelong learning, added: “Technology is advancing in a very steep upward curve. You have to be open to acceptance and always learning. Never surrender, never give up.”
Dani Pinedo
Originally from Gran Canaria, Pinedo spent 15 years in Madrid before returning to his homeland to find an island with creative movement. “At first I came with a bit of trepidation, but I was really surprised. There is so much going on in Gran Canaria,” he says. After providing audiovisual content for the 2018 Las Palmas Carnival, a project that raised local profile, he founded DerroteroVFX, which now spans film, television, and immersive live events. “Right now, we only have a few people and pretty much everyone knows each other,” he said. “That way, everything runs smoothly.” New infrastructure, such as Gran Canaria’s LED stage, increases the possibilities for virtual production, and Pinedo is steering Derrotero towards technical and experiential projects. “We are researching new tools and moving towards the world of technology and audiovisual experiences,” he said.