Francois Chardavoine

As Chief Technology Officer, Francois is responsible for all aspects of global studio and on-set technology for Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic.

With a background in computer science engineering, Francois was initially involved in industry-driven research to enable real-time collaboration through immersive displays and virtual reality. After co-founding a company whose goal was to provide R&D consulting services to smaller visual effects studios, he later worked for Sony Pictures Imageworks, where he helped drive production technology for more than a decade before joining Lucasfilm in 2016.

Starting in his teenage years with a passion for practical and in-camera special effects, and now with over 20 years experience in the VFX and Animation industry, Francois describes joining the Lucasfilm and ILM family as a childhood dream come true. Francois is a member of the VFX Branch of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences and the Visual Effects Society Technology Committee.