How we view the world has mainly been shaped for centuries by men. Whether historically or in art, the male perspective was considered the norm. Although we would like to think that the situation is different today, we still struggle with prejudice. And the male narrative, which systematically silences other groups (including women), is still considered the right one.

Thanks to the relentless battle for the rights of oppressed and neglected groups, there is no longer just one ‘right’ narrative. Singularity has broken into pluralities, but the barrier of old traditions is not completely broken, and gender (in)equality remains a major social issue. 

Hence this year’s Fest Anča is focusing on Women in Animation – female authors and heroines, seeing the world from their perspective. Because art, especially cinematography, is mainly about perspective – the perspective of the filmmakers, characters, and audiences. And it is precisely how we look at things that directly affects how we perceive them. 

Through a selection of short animated films, we aim to disrupt the male gaze which portrays and views female characters through a male lens, seeing them mainly as sexual objects for the pleasure of the straight male viewer. At Fest Anča, we want to highlight the female gaze which represents women as complex characters with their own desires, fears, and opinions – without objectifying them.

In addition to the female/male gaze phenomenon, our film collection also explores gender and queer topics, motherhood, physicality, sex, as well as the representation of women in mythology and folklore. The film blocks are accompanied by discussions with personalities connected with this topic, such as ethnologist Katarína Nádaská, drag queen Cherry Tree Wood, and director/visual artist Gabriela Gažová. 

This year’s thematic focus provides perspectives that look at the world mainly through a female lens. Perspectives that disrupt the binary and lead to more fluidity. Perspectives that represent a longing for a world in which women, men, and everyone else live as equals.

– 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.