PEOPLE OF ANIBAR: Festival Journalism Workshop

01.

For 10 years now Anibar provides the space for breakthrough experiences rooted in animation film art and intercultural encounters. We, the people of Anibar, come here to be stimulated by powerful animated images and fascinating ideas found in talks with diverse groups of filmmakers, experts, festival organizers and volunteers. In this issue we explore film works as we review feature-length animated film competition and artistic output of Croatian filmmaker, Daniel Šuljić. But we also present here our perception of the community surrounding the festival – volunteers and citizens of Peja. Have a sneak-peak into our vision of Anibar and find full articles in the News section on www.anibar.org.

 

02.

Encountering Animation

– Kristiana Petraj

What we want to say is important, but often the way we say it is more telling. Animation can be a way, for you, me, everybody. That is why many people coming from different spheres gathered in the town of Peja, attending the Anibar International Film Festival. Animation is approachable because of how involving it is, and how easy it is to get started. Characters are the people we see in ourselves, but does this make Animation such a powerful tool to tell a story, a mutual language and a common thing for all of us? I have been asking visual artists, volunteers and attendees of the festival to describe Animation and Anibar Festival in one word or one sentence – hoping that the answers will raise awareness and that people will start approaching the moving images differently.

 

03.

Away by Gints Zilbalodis delivers what personal computers promised

— Kleidi Eski

Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis challenges the limits of one-man Computer Graphics (CG) creation with his first feature film Away, after seven short films. Disappointingly though, it took decades before CG animation became an adequate tool for auteur creation. Some may argue that it is still not. (…) Through an extensive use of wide shots, and elaborate camera movements Zilbalodis makes us travel through the world he has created. A world ingeniously designed to overcome technical obstacles of CG production. Environments and characters are modeled in low-poly and shaded in flat-looking textures. The whole set of technical and artistic choices contribute to sleek minimalist aesthetics, enhanced by dreamy fogs and glows. 

04.

A Towering Debut

— Gojko Dimić

Mats Grorud’s stop motion animated feature film debut The Tower calls for attention to the lives of the refugees in a touching and reaffirming way. This year Anibar’s theme is “hopes and fears”, and through the art of animation we all get to share exactly that. The Tower is a picture that perfectly responds to this year festival’s manifesto. It is a story about fear of extinction and the painstaking fight of generations of people to keep the hope alive and stop the nightmare from happening.

 

 

05.

The Curious Case of Ruben Brandt, Collector

— Gojko Dimic

Milorad Krstić’s hallucinatory heist drama is a story full of enormous potential. A true feast for the eyes for anyone who is a fan of unique animation but if you are looking for something more story-driven you are going to be left starving. On paper Ruben Brandt sounds like a great idea involving action, the world of art, crime, psychology and subconscious terror but unfortunately it starts falling apart the more you think about it. 

 

 

06.

Daniel Šuljić: a non-obtrusive filmmaker 

– Era Qena

Daniel Šuljić is an animation film director and musician from Zagreb, Croatia. His films have a rough aesthetic and he seems to love switching up his styles. One of his most well-known film is The Cake (1997), a simple story of a group of people celebrating, until a cake is served and cut into unequal pieces. The path the story follows is extremely entertaining and unexpected, its visuals are memorable and overall, it’s a stimulating experience. Besides being a film director and musician, he is also the artistic director of Animafest World Festival of Animated Film (Zagreb) since 2011. Considering how all his films have different styles and approaches, it was exciting to talk to the man behind all this diversity. Although he seems like a person who doesn’t talk much, he was actually willing to talk about everything while giving his insight and opinions in a non-obtrusive way.

 

07.

Creating Locally: Hopes and Fears

– Enxhi Noni

Considering the possibility of exploring Rugova’s breathtaking mountains in the winter or visiting Anibar Animation Festival in the summer, the city of Peja does not seem to be more than just an unsuspecting location. What is truly striking about Peja is the chaotic rural setting located in the middle of one of the most scenic views of Kosovo. Considering the natural slow-paced routine of the citizens, you expect Anibar to engage all local attention and involvement in the course of one week. This way, it is only natural to consider Anibar as a tool for the cultural and social development of the city as the festival uses its international status as a meeting point between the local community and foreign audiences. However, the terms “creating” and “international” take different meanings in the heart of Peja. Being artistically productive under such circumstances puts into question one’s capacity to impact the surrounding environment, to overcome the limits within the country, and even to overpass one’s own identity.

 

08.

Magazine Team: Gojko Dimić, Kleidi Eski, Enxhi Noni, Kristiana Petraj, Era Qena, Aleksandra Sokolović and Olga Bobrowska

 

Special design by Ana Nedeljkovic and Daniel Šuljić

 

Thank you Vullnet Gusia, Arba Hatashi, Gjylymser Nallbani, Selma Leković and Anibar Team!