Meet the Jury of the Anibar International Animation Festival: 16th Edition
Skwigly
At the core of Anibar are the films and the people who carefully engage with them. This year, we’ve invited a group of thoughtful and sharp-eyed professionals to join us as juries for the competitive categories of the 16th edition. Their perspectives, experiences, and sensibilities will form how we recognize the many voices, styles, and stories in this year’s program.
Let’s get to know them:
International & Balkan Competition Jury
Helga Fodorean
A cultural manager and film producer with a scriptwriting background, Helga co-produced the award-winning short Amok and now serves as the president and financial director of Animest. She’s passionate about supporting women in animation; a mission at the heart of her work.
Laura Almantaitė
Festival director and producer, Laura has worked on numerous international co-productions with a focus on social topics. She’s the founder and director of BLON Animation and Games Festival and holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Economics from Sorbonne University.
Marko Tadić
An artist whose work spans drawing, installation, and animation, Marko has received numerous awards and represented Croatia at the 57th Venice Biennale. He currently teaches at the Academy of Arts in Zagreb.
Tal Kantor
An Oscar®-nominated director for Letter to a Pig, Tal is also a visual artist and lecturer at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. Her films explore documentary storytelling through animated form.
Tomek Popakul
Known for Ziegenort, Acid Rain, and Zima, Tomek brings a distinctive visual style. He’s currently drawing his own tarot deck and making experimental music under the alias ASTMA.
Human Rights & Animated Music Video Jury
Anna Vasova
Producer and screenwriter, Anna co-founded the animation studio 13ka. She’s worked as a program director at Czech TV and currently lectures at FAMU while collaborating on international animated projects.
Draško Ivezić
A director, screenwriter, producer, and voice actor, Draško co-founded Adriatic Animation. He’s produced over a dozen award-winning short films and his work has appeared in festivals such as Annecy, Sundance, and Berlinale.
Yves Nougarede
With decades of experience at Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Yves has viewed over 3,000 films annually and also programmed for the VR category. He stepped down in May after 28 years of dedication.
Student Competition & Pitch- It Jury
Bastien Dubois
Oscar-nominated for Madagascar, A Journey Diary, Bastien creates personal, globally-inspired animated stories. He also founded the NGO Art Brutal to support emerging animators and promote animation through workshops and grants.
Rianne Stremmelaar
An animation filmmaker and illustrator from the Netherlands, Rianne tells personal stories through human-animal dynamics. She teaches animation at Artez Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Zwolle.
Vasco Sá
Co-founder of BAP-Animation Studios, Vasco collaborates with David Doutel on films like Garrano and Augur. He’s deeply involved in both the artistic and production sides of filmmaking.
Young Audience Competition Jury
Mentor: Vessela Dantcheva
Animation director and producer, Vessela co-founded Compote Collective and has supported over 45 animated projects. She frequently teaches and participates as a jury member at international festivals.
Leka Gjonbalaj
A self-taught visual artist, Leka works in oil painting, mural art, and character design, bringing a vivid and personal visual perspective.
Gent Ademaj
A motion designer from Kosovo, Gent creates bold visual identities, 3D animations, and engaging digital content with a futuristic edge.
Rina Lasku
An artist and animator trained at the Anibar Animation Academy, Rina blends painting and storytelling in her 2D animated films.
Rrezarta Sadriu
Currently studying animation in Lucerne, Rrezarta brings a strong design foundation and a rich cultural background to her stylized, emotionally-driven animations.
The films they’re evaluating can be found in our Official Film Program, where you’ll have the chance to explore all categories and selections!
And if you want to know even more about the juries, feel free to click here.