Meet the Jury of the Anibar International Animation Festival: 16th Edition

At the core of Anibar are the films and the people who carefully engage with them. This year, we’ve invited a group of thoughtful and sharp-eyed professionals to join us as juries for the competitive categories of the 16th edition. Their perspectives, experiences, and sensibilities will form how we recognize the many voices, styles, and stories in this year’s program. Let’s get to know them:

International & Balkan Competition Jury

Helga Fodorean

A cultural manager and film producer with a scriptwriting background, Helga
co-produced the award-winning short Amok and now serves as the president and
financial director of Animest. She’s passionate about supporting women in
animation; a mission at the heart of her work.

Laura Almantaitė

Festival director and producer, Laura has worked on numerous international
co-productions with a focus on social topics. She’s the founder and director of BLON
Animation and Games Festival and holds a Master’s degree in Cultural Economics
from Sorbonne University.

Marko Tadić

An artist whose work spans drawing, installation, and animation, Marko has received
numerous awards and represented Croatia at the 57th Venice Biennale. He currently
teaches at the Academy of Arts in Zagreb.

Tal Kantor

An Oscar®-nominated director for Letter to a Pig, Tal is also a visual artist and
lecturer at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. Her films explore documentary
storytelling through animated form.

Tomek Popakul

Known for Ziegenort, Acid Rain, and Zima, Tomek brings a distinctive visual style.
He’s currently drawing his own tarot deck and making experimental music under the
alias ASTMA.

 

Human Rights & Animated Music Video Jury

Anna Vasova

Producer and screenwriter, Anna co-founded the animation studio 13ka. She’s
worked as a program director at Czech TV and currently lectures at FAMU while
collaborating on international animated projects.

Draško Ivezić

A director, screenwriter, producer, and voice actor, Draško co-founded Adriatic
Animation. He’s produced over a dozen award-winning short films and his work has
appeared in festivals such as Annecy, Sundance, and Berlinale.

Yves Nougarede

With decades of experience at Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Yves
has viewed over 3,000 films annually and also programmed for the VR category. He
stepped down in May after 28 years of dedication.

Student Competition & Pitch- It Jury

Bastien Dubois

Oscar-nominated for Madagascar, A Journey Diary, Bastien creates personal,
globally-inspired animated stories. He also founded the NGO Art Brutal to support
emerging animators and promote animation through workshops and grants.

Rianne Stremmelaar

An animation filmmaker and illustrator from the Netherlands, Rianne tells personal
stories through human-animal dynamics. She teaches animation at Artez
Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Zwolle.

Vasco Sá

Co-founder of BAP-Animation Studios, Vasco collaborates with David Doutel on films
like Garrano and Augur. He’s deeply involved in both the artistic and production
sides of filmmaking.

 

Young Audience Competition Jury

Mentor: Vessela Dantcheva

Animation director and producer, Vessela co-founded Compote Collective and has
supported over 45 animated projects. She frequently teaches and participates as a
jury member at international festivals.

Leka Gjonbalaj

A self-taught visual artist, Leka works in oil painting, mural art, and character design,
bringing a vivid and personal visual perspective.

Gent Ademaj

A motion designer from Kosovo, Gent creates bold visual identities, 3D animations,
and engaging digital content with a futuristic edge.

Rina Lasku

An artist and animator trained at the Anibar Animation Academy, Rina blends
painting and storytelling in her 2D animated films.

Rrezarta Sadriu

Currently studying animation in Lucerne, Rrezarta brings a strong design foundation
and a rich cultural background to her stylized, emotionally-driven animations.

The films they’re evaluating can be found in our Official Film Program, where you’ll
have the chance to explore all categories and selections!
And if you want to know even more about the juries, feel free to click here.