Our theme this year – Women in Animation – would only be complete by focusing on Slovak female animators as well. Since 1989, they have formed three generations of creators with distinctive styles and worldviews. Our selection will offer an overview of all three generations, presenting films by Slovak female animation directors and a diverse representation of female themes.

The first post-1989 generation of creators has a strong representation of female animators, directors, and subsequently producers who brought previously unrepresented and untold themes and perspectives to the post-socialist reality. And these female directors continue to shape the Slovak animation industry: Ivana Laučíková, Katarína Kerekesová, and Vanda Raýmanová, as well as Ivana Šebestová and Joanna Kożuch. Their films talk about experiencing love, relationships, and sexuality. They focus more on the psychological aspects of characters, interpersonal relationships, intimate themes, and partner relationships. 

The second generation of female creators also has strong female voices, such as Alica Kucharovič, Veronika Obertová, and Michaela Čopíková (currently collaborating as the author duo Ové Pictures), as well as Veronika Kocourková, Mária Kralovič, and Daniela Krajčová. They devised new techniques, digital animation, and playful, fresh, and colourful form and content. We see female animators and female protagonists. Their animated films go inward, deeper into the female experience. Beyond realistic depiction, the animators strive to further subjectivize the perception of reality through animated film.

The third generation, which is still forming, is united by their dissatisfaction with the state of the world. Whether student films by Martin Mikušová or contemplative movies by Marta Prokopová, the directors create new worlds with their own rules. For instance, Kriss Sagan detaches from traumas in hers, while Michaela Mihályi uses humour to reverse established stereotypes. In recent years, directors Kamila Kučíková, Zuzana Žiaková, Eva Sekerešová, and Nora Štrbová have also made interesting films. 

Contemporary Slovak animation is noticeably heading towards a more sensitive representation of gender, with stories steering towards a vision of the world where women play an equally important role as men – both as creators and protagonists.

– Jakub Spevák, Focus Curator

Fest Anča International Animation Festival 2022 is financially supported by the Slovak Audiovisual Fund and LITA Fund. The event was supported from public funds by the Slovak Arts Council. Women in Animation, Fest Anča’s 2022 thematic focus, is an implementation of the Student Forum Fest Anča. 

The Student Forum Fest Anča benefits from a EUR 120,609 grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through EEA Grants. The project has received co-financing from the State Budget of the Slovak Republic of EUR 18,091. The aim of the project is to work with attendees, promote international mobility and cooperation between European schools, share knowledge and skills, and compare animation teaching methods across Europe.