This program offers a focused exploration of the challenges and opportunities facing animated projects from Kosovo and the Balkans as they move beyond local borders and onto the international stage. Ask the Pro provides filmmakers with tailored guidance on how to position their work within the wider animation industry, from development to post-production.

Through a combination of professional insight and practical knowledge, the program examines European co-production models, effective pitching strategies for international funding bodies, and approaches to building lasting relationships with festivals. It also offers a space to demystify the structures and expectations of the industry, sharing tools, tips, and insider perspectives to help shape a sustainable and strategic path for animated projects in a global context.

Moderator: Aneta Ozorek

Aneta Ozorek (PL | NL) is an Artistic Director of Kaboom Animation Festival, bold and innovative animation and IX festival taking place each year in Utrecht and Amsterdam (NL). She has extensive industry experience as the curator and organizer of film events, educational workshops, exhibitions and festivals in the European market.

She is a Head of Short section of CEE Animation Pitching Forum (Czech Republic) that brings together regional activities for promotion and development of animation and its talents in 17 countries of Central and Eastern Europe. She is also a member of the board of REX Animation Festival (Sweden), Animela (India) and Emile European Animation Awards (Greece). She is a tutor and consultant of film projects in development.

Panelist: Corinne Destombes

Corinne Destombes is Head of development at Folimage, France. After working ten years in the Cinema industry, Corinne Destombes began Animation at renowned French studio Folimage in 2005, on series and short films. In 2011 she produced short formats and supervised the Artist-in-Residence program, while developing TV series projects. Always looking for talented writers and unreleased films, she defends especially quality projects for young audiences. Today she is the Head of Development of Folimage and collaborates regularly in juries, debates and workshops in France and abroad.

Panelist: Britt Raes

Britt is a Belgian director, illustrator and scriptwriter, making independent and commissioned work. She creates cute characters and quirky stories, for kids and adults.
Her short films CATHERINE (2016) and LUCE AND THE ROCK (2022) travelled to over 200 festivals each, collected over 80 prizes, are included in educational folders and shown on international television and theatres. In 2026 LUCE AND THE ROCK will be adapted into a series, once finished it will appear on Ketnet and France Television (and more places). Britt likes (dark) chocolate, hugs, painting eyes on stones, and NVC. If she’s reincarnated, she hopes to come back as a cat named Fluffy.

Panelist: Olivier Catherin

Olivier Catherin is an ethnologist by training. He was a board member and employee of the French Animation Film Association (AFCA), where he was responsible for the Resource Centre and created the International Animation Film Day Celebration. In 2008 he created the production company “Les Trois Ours”. He produced, among more than 40 projects, including Kiki of Montparnasse which won a César for best short animation film. From 2015 to 2018 he was in charge of the animation sector for the Hauts-de-France region (Nord) at Pictanovo. He is one of the co-founders and administrators of the European Animation Awards (Emile Awards). Today he is a freelance producer on international co-production projects, producing for instance Steakhouse (Jury Prize at Annecy), Granny’s Sexual Life (Best short European Films Awards, César for best short animation film) or Electra (best short film at Toronto International Film Festival), consultant for various entities as CITIA, and CEE Animation.

Panelist: Aaron Wood

Aaron is the co-founder and producer of the London animation company “Slurpy Studios,” established in 2008. Since 2012, he has been a writer and partner at “Skwigly Animation Magazine.” In addition, he manages “animation-festivals.com,” a unique website launched in 2009 that lists global animation film festivals.

Panelist: Lucia Dubravay Trautenberger

Lucia has a rich background in cultural management and a diverse professional history as a journalist, interpreter, and translator. She served as the executive director of the Biennial of Animation Bratislava, an international animation festival, until March 2024. That same year, she co-founded Bear With Me Distribution with producers Juraj Krasnohorsky and Martin Vandas. Lucia now leads the company’s festival distribution and sales, while also serving as its managing director.