Fokion Xenos
Foks · Co-founder, OUT.THERE Collective · Athens, Greece
Fokion Xenos, also known as Foks, is an Athens-based animation director and designer and co-founder of OUT.THERE Collective. He holds an MA in Directing Animation from the National Film and Television School (NFTS, UK). His work moves between stop-motion, 2D animation, live action and compositing. He directed the award-winning NFTS short Heatwave, co-directed the ERT children’s series Gegone, and teaches VFX in the MA Animation programme at the University of West Attica.
Approach
Playful, bold stories
Fokion is drawn to stories built around visual wit and emotional honesty.
Practical meets digital
His work combines practical and digital techniques, with a particular attention to colour and form.
Across animation and film
His roles include directing, 2D and stop-motion animation, editing, VFX, motion graphics and storyboarding.
Find me elsewhere
Work with me
For animation direction, design, VFX and compositing projects, contact Fokion.
Meet the rest of OUT.THERE
What I do
Fokion Xenos (Foks) is an Athens-based animation director and designer working across stop-motion, 2D animation, live action, VFX and compositing. As co-founder of OUT.THERE Collective, he moves between directing, animation, production and teaching.
Directing — He directed the award-winning NFTS short Heatwave and co-directed ERT’s children’s series Gegone. Recent work includes the official spots for #TIFF66 and the visual identity of the 4th Evia Film Project.
Animation & VFX — Stop-motion, 2D, live action, compositing and visual effects for films, series, cultural projects and brands.
Producing — Production work includes Mr Paper Season 2 (Ketnet/ERT) and Travel Bugs.
Teaching & community — He teaches VFX in the MA Animation programme at the University of West Attica, leads workshops and served as secretary of ASIFA Hellas (2023–2026).
Awards & Recognition
2019 — Cinekid Lion Jury Award, Best International Short Animated Film — Heatwave.
2019 — McLaren Award for Best New British Animation, Edinburgh International Film Festival — Heatwave.
2020 — Best Postgraduate Animation, Royal Television Society Student Television Awards — Heatwave.
2020 — Iris Award, Best Animated Short Film, Hellenic Film Academy — Heatwave.
2020 — Anča Kids’ Award, Fest Anča — Heat Wave.
2020 — Silver Screen, Animation, Europe, Young Director Award — Heatwave.
2020 — Best Animated Music Video, ANIMAFILM — The Lazy Dragon (with Joan Zhonga).
2021 — 1st Place, College Animation, MY HERO International Film Festival — Heat Wave.
2019 — 2nd Animation Marathon Award — Heat Wave.
2020 — Special Mention, Animasyros Agora Pitching Forum — Travel Bugs (project in development).
Shortlists & selections
2019 — Shortlisted for Best Student Short Animation, BAFTA LA Student Film Awards — Heatwave.
2019 — Official selection, Annecy International Animation Film Festival — Heatwave (also featured in Best of Annecy Kids).
2026–27 — Selected for Cinekid Script LAB with Embroideries (for the end of the world?!) (writers Fokion Xenos and Georgia Zachari; nominated by ATHICFF).
Experience
2025 — Official spots for #TIFF66; visual identity for the 4th Evia Film Project; producer, Mr Paper Season 2 (Ketnet/ERT).
2024 — TACK.
2023 — Pytheas Travels.
2022 — Co-director, Gegone: Inside the Museum; producer, Travel Bugs.
2019 — Writer, director and lead animator, Heatwave (NFTS graduation film).
Additional selected work — BO – Whereswilder (Norway), Halley’s Comet.
Teaching & service — VFX teaching in the MA Animation programme at the University of West Attica; workshops; Secretary of ASIFA Hellas (2023–2026).
Education
MA Directing Animation — National Film and Television School (NFTS), UK (2017–2019).
BA Graphic Design — TEI of Athens (2008–2012).
Informanimation, Erasmus Intensive Programme (2012).