At the heart of Anibar: ideas, people and imagination

As the festival approaches its final days, Meet the Filmmakers hosted another engaging session of film sharing, exchange of experiences, and networking among this edition’s participants

This time, the session was joined by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Saranda Bogujevci, who met with filmmakers and spoke about her personal passion for animation and the arts.

“Pitch It” also took place at Jusuf Gërvalla Cinema. Designed for emerging animators and filmmakers, Anibar’s pitching competition provides participants with the opportunity to present their projects to an international panel of industry professionals, receive valuable feedback, and build connections that can shape the next stage of their creative journey.

“I was amazed by the quality of the virtual world I was placed in. At first, it didn’t feel like much, but the moment I lifted my hands and began interacting with the animation, it felt incredibly real. Insider Outsider presented a variety of animated wonders and brought to life characters I hadn’t even imagined before, all while placing me at the center of the story. I’ll definitely return tomorrow to experience it again,” said one participant after exploring the VR program, which will officially close tomorrow at 16:00.

The Balkan Competition was also screened at Jusuf Gërvalla Cinema, featuring seven films in competition: Strive, Vanja & Vanja, The Synthetic Age, Floating, The Shadow, Paradaiz, and Balconada.

Michael Frei introduced audiences to his short games, tracing his creative journey from earlier works to recent projects. From Plug & Play to Kids Swan, he demonstrated the simplicity behind their design while revealing the thought process behind their creation. Initially focused on animation, Frei expanded his practice to actively engage audiences, allowing players to make choices while remaining part of a cohesive narrative.

At the Gallery of Arts, the public participated in the Botanical Jewelry Lab Workshop led by Marija Dimitrojevic Jovic. Using resin combined with materials such as pencil shavings, coffee, and dried flowers, participants created their own customized jewelry pieces.

Animation Hub was introduced by Lucia Dubravay Trautenberger as a platform where short animated films find a streaming home after their festival run. By centralizing these works, Animation Hub offers access to viewers, educators, and professionals alike. Trautenberger also spoke about the platform’s growth, its network of connections, and its long-term sustainability.

And no night ends without our cinemas, Animated Music Video Competition 1 & 2 took over the big screens and lit up the scene for the last time in this edition. The seats were full and the energy bloomed all around.

Darin K and Nart K set the tone for the evening, warming up the audience with their tracks. Drinks, dancing, and good company kept the energy alive as we eagerly awaited P.I.N.T and their timeless hits.