Anibar lit Peja up this Monday
The first full day of the 17th edition of Anibar brought the festival to life with workshops, film screenings, exhibitions, and countless opportunities for filmmakers and audiences to connect.
From discussions to virtual reality experiences, the day reflected the festival’s commitment to creativity, collaboration, and meaningful storytelling.
The morning began with Meet the Filmmakers, where directors and creators of the selected films gathered over coffee at Jusuf Gërvalla Cinema. The informal session created a welcoming space for conversations about animation, filmmaking, creative processes, and the stories behind this year’s selections. It was a chance for artists from different backgrounds to exchange ideas, build connections, and celebrate the community that animation continues to create.
One of the day’s highlights was the opening of the Film Criticism Workshop, mentored by Amanda Barbour. Through film screenings, group discussions, and practical exercises, participants explored what makes a thoughtful and engaging film critique. The workshop focused on developing critical thinking, finding a personal voice in writing, and navigating contemporary challenges, including the growing influence of AI in criticism. Throughout the festival, participants will write reviews of films from the official selection, with the texts to be published in the Anibar festival zine.
For those looking for a different cinematic experience, the VR Program welcomed visitors at the Gallery of Arts with five immersive animated works. Offering audiences the opportunity to step inside stories rather than simply watch them, the program presents animation through virtual reality and will remain open every day throughout the festival from 11:00 to 16:00.
Young audiences also took center stage with the first screening of the Young Audience Competition at the Dukagjini Creative Center. The selection offered an engaging and accessible program that was warmly received by the jury, marking a joyful beginning to this year’s competition.
At the same time, audiences at Jusuf Gërvalla Cinema explored the Swiss Focus program, a curated selection of six contemporary Swiss animated short films. The program introduced diverse storytelling styles, artistic techniques, and unique perspectives, offering a glimpse into the richness of Switzerland’s animation scene.
Later in the day, Petrit Gora presented the Commissioned Work program, a non-competitive selection showcasing films created through commissioned projects. Adding an interactive twist to the screening, audiences were invited to scan a QR code at the end of the program and vote for their two favorite films, making viewers an active part of the experience.
The festival also featured AniDox, Anibar’s non-competitive documentary animation program, which presented five powerful animated documentaries exploring deeply personal and socially relevant stories. Addressing topics such as environmental challenges, child marriage, motherhood, the films combined intimate storytelling with remarkable artistic expression. While the program is not part of the official competition, audiences still have the opportunity to support their favorite film for the Audience Award.
Beyond the screening, “Posters for Palestine” exhibition welcomed the audience for a different humane experience. Mats Grorud had the honor of opening the exhibition and the audience had the chance to make their own posters in solidarity with Palestine. Merch and posters were sold, and all the profit will go to Palestinian artists that work in extreme conditions.
The evening continued at Lake Cinema with the first International Competition, where four exceptional films were showcased. La vie avec un idiot followed Vladimir, a man punished by the authorities by being forced to live with an asylum patient who can utter only a single sound. Klonter took audiences on a surreal journey as Frankie, believing he is about to die, unexpectedly transforms into a planet where new life begins to flourish. This Is Your Captain Speaking imagined a world where neighbors could fly for a day, revealing how the same dream carries a different meaning for every individual. Completing the program, Once in a Body explored the complex relationship between two sisters as one struggles with a mysterious force inhabiting her body, uncovering painful truths about their shared past.
Meanwhile, Kino Bazaar welcomed audiences to the festival’s feature film program with Savages, Claude Barras’ acclaimed stop-motion feature. Through the eyes of a young girl in Borneo, the film explores urgent environmental issues, the destruction of tropical rainforests, and the lasting impact of colonialism in a story that is both visually breathtaking and deeply moving.
The day came to a heartfelt close at Cube Cinema, where the Student Competition brought together intimate, personal, and emotionally resonant stories from emerging filmmakers. With several directors from Poland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the Netherlands present for the screening, audiences had the opportunity to stay for conversations, ask questions, and discover the inspirations behind the films, ending the evening with meaningful exchanges between artists and viewers.
With conversations flowing, workshops underway, films filling every screening room, and exhibitions opening their doors, the first day of Anibar 17 set the tone for a week dedicated to animation, creativity, and the power of stories to bring people together.
