Lea Esmaili

Lea Esmaili is a French director, photographer and artist whose work lives somewhere between reality and a slightly stranger version of it. Moving freely between live action, photography, animation, stop motion and mixed media, she creates bold visual worlds filled with surrealism, humour and unexpected contrasts.

Self-taught and driven by experimentation, Lea developed a distinctive language where handcrafted techniques collide with polished imagery, and where the absurd often sits right next to the beautiful. Her work is playful and highly visual, but often carries a sharp perspective on femininity, pop culture and the strange rules of contemporary life.

She has collaborated with artists, athletes and brands including Olivia Rodrigo, Kylian Mbappé and FC Barcelona, bringing the same instinct for image-making across music, fashion, sport and advertising.

Whether she’s building miniature worlds, transforming photographs through collage or mixing live action with animation, Lea approaches each project as an opportunity to make something that feels tactile, surprising and unmistakably alive.

2026 Speakers