Waltraud Grausgruber
Waltraud Grausgruber is festival directress and co-founder of the “Tricky Women/Tricky Realities Festival” in Vienna, Austria. Tricky Women/Tricky Realities focuses on animated works made by women and/or genderqueer artists and therefore fills a unique position within the international festival landscape. It takes place since 2001.Grausgruber studied theater, film and media studies at the University of Vienna and tourism at the University of Economics of Vienna. She wrote her Master‘s Thesis about African Cinema, was visiting researcher in France, Senegal and Burkina Faso, conceptualized film festivals, curates inter/national (animation) film programs, was jury member at several festivals. The festival directress published books like „ Tricky Women_Animations Film Kunst von Frauen / Women in Animation“, Schüren Verlag
In 2010 she got the Outstanding Artists Award for Women’s Culture of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture.
Jalal Maghout
Jalal is an animation filmmaker from Syria. He started his film career in 2010 with his bachelor’s graduation film "Creatures of Inexistence". In 2013, his film "Canvas on Mixed Media" was presented in Annecy and screened on ARTE. Soon after, he left Syria for Berlin, where he started working on his animadoc "Suleima", which premiered at the DOK Leipzig 2014. Jalal premiered his film "Up Here, with the White Gods" at ITFS 2020. In the same year, he completed a master’s degree at the Film University Babelsberg. His graduation film, "Have a Nice Dog!", premiered at Filmfest Dresden and has since screened at numerous festivals, winning multiple awards. Most notably, the film qualified for the Animation Short Film Oscar 2020 by winning the Grand Prix in Uppsala. In addition, Jalal also served as a jury member at the ITFS, Annecy, and other festivals.
Sander Joon
Sander Joon, an Estonian film director, is known for award-winning animations Velodrool, Moulinet, Sounds Good, and the Oscars-shortlisted Sierra (2022). He also taught animation at the Estonian Academy of Arts. In 2023, he was honored with the Young Cultural Figure award by the Estonian president for his contributions to Estonian culture. Currently, Sander is working on his first animated feature Seagulls of Eden which is being developed as part of the CEE Animation Workshop and was pitched at the Riga International Film Festival.
Luca Tóth
Luca Tóth is an award winning animation director and illustrator, born in 1989. She studied animation at Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Budapest. After receiving her BA diploma she went on studying in London at Royal College of Art for her Masters degree. Her graduation film ‘The Age of Curious’ won the Jury Distinction Prize at Annecy International Animated Film Festival. After studying and working in the UK, Luca moved back to Budapest where she made her first independent short animation `Superbia` which premiered at Critics’ Week in Cannes in 2016, and got selected into more that 80 international festivals. Her latest independent short film ‘Mr. Mare’ debuted at Berlinale in 2019
Yiorgos Tsangaris
Graphic artist, experimental animation filmmaker, a member of the European Film Academy and the founder and artistic director of Countryside Animafest Cyprus, the first International Animation Film Festival in the country. Founded in 2002, the festival contributed significantly to the appreciation of the idea of decentralizing the arts and has revitalized small rural communities, creating an interest in independent animation cinema in Cyprus among a very wide audience spectrum.He is the Director of the Hambis Municipal Printmaking Museum in Nicosia, curator and organizer of many educational programs, workshops, and exhibitions for the development of artistic animation and Graphic Arts in Cyprus. He has served as guest curator and member of the jury of many international Animation festivals. His work have been presented and received awards in several international exhibitions and film festivals.
Nadja Andrasev
Nadja Andrasev is an animation filmmaker with an MFA from MOME Budapest. She is an alumna of Animation Sans Frontiéres and the Open Workshop residency. Her films, The Noise of Licking and Symbiosis were screened at numerous festivals and received over fourty awards, including the Joint Third Prize at the Cinéfondation Selection in Cannes, and the Jury Award for Best Animated Short at SXSW. After years of experience in the live action film industry, she is currently a freelance production manager, line producer and director of animated films.
Gerben Schermer
As curator of animation and contemporary art Gerben Schermer (Netherlands, 1959) is known for his choice for quality and innovation. Schermer’s track record in the presentation of the art of animation shows ambitious programming, yet intimate and accessible, including committed and experimental programmes, animation installations and artists in residency. From 1985 until 2018 he created, directed and developed the international Holland Animation Film Festival. Currently Gerben Schermer is active as visiting professor at the China Academy of Arts (Hangzhou, China) and as curator of contemporary art and animation for among others animation festivals in China, Cyprus and Japan.
Jane Lyngbye Hvid Jensen
Jane Lyngbye Hvid Jensen is the director of Viborg Animation Festival (VAF) – the biggest animation event in Denmark. Viborg Animation Festival works to promote the visual and creative strengths of Viborg to both the public and professionals in Denmark and internationally, to facilitate networking and knowledge sharing within the industry and most importantly to invite the audience for a full week of indulging in All Things Animated!. The festival benefits from an organizational set up allowing for close collaboration with Viborg Kommune and Creative Viborg to secure mutual strategic development and focus.VAF is anchored at the Center for Animation, Visualization and Digital Storytelling at The Animation Workshop/VIA University College in Viborg, Denmark. The Animation Workshop is ranked as the 3rd best animation education in the world by Animation Career Review and the institution is home to three bachelor educations, an artist residency program, various professional training courses, and an engaged and active research and development department.
Jane holds degree in architecture from the Aarhus School of Architecture and has worked previously at a national innovation network project, in PR & communication and as project portfolio manager at The Animation Workshop.
Jane is also a board member of the multi-user colocation VR exhibition platform Phenomenal Viborg and a member of the board of representatives at the Union of Architects and Designers in Denmark.
Amanda Bonaiuto
Amanda Bonaiuto is an animation director, artist, and educator. She maintains an active career in commissioned animation and personal short films exploring autofiction, tilted realities, and dark humor. Her films have screened at film festivals and prestigious institutions globally, including Slamdance Film Festival, Annecy International Animation Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival, Ann Arbor Film Festival, among others. Her work has been recognized by press outlets such as It’s Nice That, The New Yorker, Vimeo, and NPR. Most recently she has worked with clients including FX, Hulu, The Atlantic, GIPHY, and Vice. She holds an MFA in Experimental Animation from the California Institute of the Arts, and a BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She is an assistant professor of Illustration at Parsons School of Design.
Altin Ibrahimi
Altin Ibrahimi, një artist i talentuar me prejardhje nga Kosova, është i shtyrë nga pasioni i tij i thellë për art. I lindur në vitin 2000 në Prishtinë, fokusi artistik i Altinit nuk qëndron vetëm në krijimin e një arti specifik, perveq portreteve ai është i përfshirë edhe në botën e animacionit dhe ilustrimeve digjitale.Gjithashtu, Altini pasuroi ekspertizën e tij artistike duke përfunduar një program certifikimi në
Akademinë e Animacionit (Anibar) në Prishtinë.Veçanërisht, rrugëtimi artistik i Altin Ibrahimit përfshin një përvojë pasuruese në galerinë Ansel Adams në Parkun Kombëtar Yosemite, Kaliforni.
Puna artistike e Altinit ka marrë njohje përmes ekspozitave të shumta personale dhe kolektive. Ndër to dallohen pjesëmarrja e tij në “Bienalen Ndërkombëtare të Vizatimit 2022” dhe ekspozita personale e mbajtur në “Raiffeisen Gallery”. Gjithashtu, Altin ka kontribuar në ekspozitën kolektive “UNIFIKIMI”, të organizuar në Shtëpinë e Evropës, si dhe në ekspozitën virtuale kolektive “The Story of Us” në Nju Jork në Galerin Visionary Projects, duke përfshirë edhe "Emergence" një ekspozitë të organizuar nga Visionary Collective, Nju Jork, së fundi ishte pjesmarrës në ekspoziten kolektive "I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC, THE ARMIES OF THOSE I LOVE” organizuar nga Barbar_centre e mbajtur në Grand Hotel in Prishtina.
Fatma Paja
Fatma, born in the town of Belshi, a place surrounded by lakes and hilly landscapes, which in some way have shaped her creativity since childhood. Growing up in this idyllic setting, she developed a deep love for nature and art, which accompanies her to this day.Her journey in visual arts has gone down different paths, starting with painting since childhood, moving to photography, then to film or animation, where she had the opportunity to tell more complex stories.
Often, she thinks about her role as a visual artist. In fact, it is not difficult to understand; it is enough to connect it with life. For Fatma, art connects with everyday life experiences, turning every project into a meaningful story and an effective solution to express what she feels and thinks.
Eliza Shala
Eliza Shala is a young artist and teacher from Mitrovica and is currently teaching sculpture at the Faculty of Arts at the University of Pristina. She was part of the second generation of the Academy of Animation within the Anibar festival, thus expanding her artistic horizon in the field of animation..Eliza has created several important works placed in public spaces, among which the sculpture "Këmbëkryq" (eng: “Cross-legged”) in the square of Pristina stands out. Her works stand out for the combination of traditional and contemporary elements, always in interaction with the public, bringing a new spirit to the artistic scene of Kosovo.
In addition to sculptures, Eliza has also contributed to various cartoon and illustrated books projects. She is the creator of the graphic novel character, archaeologist Edi, a beloved figure for children readers. Also, she has worked on professional archaeological projects as an illustrator, helping to document and visualize archaeological finds. Her engagement in art and culture is diverse, showing a great commitment to the development of art in Kosovo.
Leonita Thaqi
Leonita is an animator and visual effects artist from Kosovo, currently living and working in Prishtina. Her first engagement in animation as a medium was in Anibar Animation Academy, as part of the first generation of the program, completing it at the age of 17. Ever since, she has continued her work in the field as a pre and post-production artist in major studios in Kosovo like Permanent, A-TV, and Tellall.Currently she works as an animator, visual effects and compositing artist in Flammorum Animation Studio, and has started the development of her first short animated film - an experimental film that blurs the line between narrative and non-narrative storytelling.
Luri Morina
Luri is a creator with great passion for art and STEM. He has been exploring the world of art through the medium of computer graphics since the age of 13, while trying to make assets for his little video game projects. During his gap year after high school, Luri co-founded Kubist, a community of 3D artists. Under the hood of which, he organized the first 3D animation competition held in Kosovo. Technology is just another tool to make art and Luri has found his purpose in this bond. He also has been involved in other projects and various companies, both as a developer and artist.
Joni Männistö
Joni Männistö is a filmmaker and animator born in 1981 in Finland. After graduating from Turku Arts Academy in 2011 he became an active member of several Finnish animation collectives that work on both commercial and artistic projects. The collective work includes animated films as well as art installations for exhibitions. Männistö has directed films such as The Trap (2008), Swarming (2011) and Electric Soul (2013), which have all been screened at numerous international festivals. His filmography includes collective productions Re-Cycling (2014) and Wormhole (2016), in which he worked as one of the animation artists. In addition to filmmaking Männistö has worked as a visiting teacher at the Turku Arts Academy and he is a co-founder and artistic director of Turku Animated Film Festival. He currently lives and works in Tallinn as a freelance artist.
Otto Alder
Otto Alder is working as a program curator and is serving at juries and selection committees forfestivals. Starting off in animation organizing Stuttgart Int. Animation Festival (1987 till 1992) he later rendered his services as the director of the animation programme at the Leipzig Festival (1992 – 2005). Alder is co-founder and was co-director of Fantoche International Animation Festival (1994 – 2004). In addition he directed the animation programme at Black Night Film Festival in Tallinn (1999-2002) as well as the Animation Festival Tough Eye in Turku (2001-2003). In 2009 he was selected Honorary President of the Ottawa International Animation Festival. in 2021 he received the ASIFA Award and the Monstra Festival Award.
Besides creating his own films, photographs and installations, from 2002 till 2019 he was teaching history of moving images and animation history as professor at the animation department of Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and was the department's co-director from 2004 till 2010.
He is a member of ASIFA (director of board 1993 –1998). Furthermore Alder was founder and artistic director of Lucerne International Animation Academy 2009. In 2011 he became a member of the Swiss Film Academy and APSA (Asia Pacific Screen Academy, Brisbane).
Lucija Mrzljak
Lucija Mrzljak is a Croatian animation film director and illustration artist based in Tallinn Estonia. She studied at fine arts academies in Zagreb, Krakow, Prague and Tallinn. Lucija completed her MA studies in Animation at the Estonian Academy of Fine Arts as a student of Priit and Olga Pärn. Since 2016 she co-directed several award-winning animated short films with Morten Tšinakov in Eesti Joonisfilm studio in Tallinn and Adriatic Animation studio in Zagreb: Demonstration Of Brilliance In Four Acts (2017), The Stork (2020) and Eva (2022). Eva has been premiered at Berlinale 2023, screened and awarded at numerous film festivals around the world and short-listed for Oscars 2024. In 2019 she collaborated with Oscar winning musician Glen Hansard, directing a music video “The Closing door”. Also Lucija is a lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Fine Arts and Aalto University in Finland.
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