Anibar Pro – Genesis: Ten emerging animators selected to continue their creative journey
Anibar Pro – Genesis, with a closing event that celebrated progress!
The 16th edition of the Anibar International Animation Festival marked the conclusion of its newest professional initiative, Anibar Pro – Genesis, with a closing event that celebrated the progress and promise of emerging talent in the animation industry.
This French-Kosovar initiative, launched in partnership with the Institut français du Kosovo and supported by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the French Embassy in Kosovo, has become a cornerstone of the festival’s mission to nurture young creators and strengthen the creative industries in the region.
Over five days, 18 promising animators presented their film concepts to an international audience of producers, studios, and mentors during the Genesis Pitching Sessions during the festival in Peja. The sessions were part of a broader professional agenda that also included workshops, panels, and networking events focused on entrepreneurship, mentorship, and ethical storytelling.
The Executive Director of Anibar, Vullnet Sanaja, reflected on the impact of the Genesis program and shared his vision for the road ahead, emphasizing that the initiative has only just begun, and that the next phase will offer young creators even more opportunities for growth, mentorship, and international collaboration.
The event reached a moment of great anticipation when jury members Olivier Catherin, Corinne Destombes, and Manon Messiant, renowned figures in European animation, announced the selected projects.
The following ten projects were selected to move forward and will now benefit from additional mentorship, workshops, and masterclasses with professional producers and animation experts:
-Albana Hajdini – Stick With Me
-Alisa Fejza – Fading Echoes
-Bleona Brahimi – Inside the Box
-Diellza Franca – At Hana’s
-Erza Qorrolli – Engji
-Finesa Peja – Cice!
-Kaltrina Berisha – Imagine if You Can’t Imagine the Imaginable
-Leonita Thaqi – Liminal
-Rina Lasku – No More Dirt
-Yll Avdiu – As the Forest Whispers
These young filmmakers, selected for their originality, vision, and artistic potential, will now continue their creative journey through a structured mentorship program. Each will be paired with one of the producers they met during the Genesis program, allowing them to receive direct feedback and support in the further development of their projects.
With its first edition completed, Anibar Pro – Genesis has established itself as a vital new pillar of the Anibar Festival. More than just a platform for pitching projects, it is a sustainable creative incubator, building bridges between Kosovo’s emerging animation scene and the international market.
As the curtains close on this year’s program, one thing is clear: these talented young voices are only beginning to be heard. The next generation of animation storytellers has arrived, and their future looks bright.
