Astrid Goldsmith (@mockduckstudios) is an award-winning stop-motion animator and writer-director who lives in Folkestone, England. Her graphic short story, 'A Funeral in Freiburg' was selected as the winner of the 2021 Observer/Jonathan Cape prize by a panel of judges including Alison Bechdel. Her upcoming debut full-length graphic novel, The Crystal Vase, is based off this short story. She is a regular Visiting Lecturer at various universities, and was a faculty member at Bob and Roberta Smith’s Art School project.