Joanna Empain studied Visual Art in Spain were she received a diploma from the Escola Massana de Barcelone in 1995. She also received a B.F.A. in 1999 from the Université du Québec à Montréal. $$ The same year, she won the award for best experiemental work at the 10e Événement interuniversitaire de création vidéo de Montréal. She is an active member of Perte de Sigal. She directed Mar... and Évasion in 1998. In 1999, she participated in the Vidéographe's project Un Abécédaire with her video Gente, Gens, People.