As part of the 17th Fest Anča International Animation Festival, the Student Forum was successfully held for the third time. Additionally, on Friday, animation film professionals had the opportunity to participate in the Industry Day programme.

More than sixty students and their teachers from eleven European schools attended the third edition of the Student Forum, which took place during the festival from 25 to 27 June. Prague’s Umprum, Lisbon’s Lusófona University and Romania’s UNATC, together with representatives from schools that have participated in previous editions of the Student Forum, took part in the rich programme at the New Synagogue, including lectures, screenings, presentations by schools and production companies, along with speed-dating: short talks of students with professionals from the field.

The Student Forum creates a dynamic environment for dialogue between students and teachers from European animation schools. It is part of AFN Edu‘s Animation Festival Network activities. This platform aims to share and compare educational practices in animation teaching while creating opportunities for networking and collaboration. Key topics discussed include preparing film presentations for potential partners, transitioning into professional practice after graduation, internships, and more. Participants attended a lecture by film strategist Benoit Berthe Siward, who has contributed to 20 Academy Award® nominations, including the Oscar®-winning film The Windshield Wiper. Additionally, students benefited from insights on life after school through a lecture by Olivier Hegyi, a successful graduate of Hungary’s prestigious MOME University. Hegyi’s graduate film Take Me Please premiered at Annecy, and his latest film, The Garden Of Heart, a Slovak co-production, premiered at Animafest in Zagreb.

The students had a chance to present their films and the Labour of Love format also allowed them to showcase their creative projects that go beyond traditional animation and work with other forms of artistic expression such as zines, computer games and non-narrative films.

SYAA & CEE Animation’s presentation was also very stimulating. Film producer and cultural manager Helga Fodorean talked about SYAA’s initiative to create a community of female filmmakers to act as a support system against discrimination in the film industry. It supports and promotes talents and also offers an intensive study programme that connects new names in animation with professionals. Juraj Krásnohorský presented CEE Animation, which brings together regional activities to promote and develop animation and its talents in 17 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. It strives to enhance professional experience, showcase the skills of filmmakers and producers and improve the quality of content and visuals of projects.

The speed-dating event for students with distributors and producers of animated films was also a great success. Students had the opportunity to engage in brief, focused conversations with notable industry professionals, including independent director Bella Szederkényi, film strategist Benoit Berthe Siward, Tricky Women/Tricky Realities Festival director Waltraud Grausgruber, and this year’s festival’s main guest, animator Nikita Diakur.

The Industry Day programme, specifically designed for film professionals, took place at the Rosenfeld Palace on Friday, 28 June. The 17th edition of Fest Anča’s theme, Nightmare, was also the focus of this event. Esteemed guests Katarína Kerekešová, Juraj Krasnohorský, Joanna Kozuch, and Zlata Golecová, along with Veronika Trokšiarová from NOACHO production, discussed the theme: Self-producing an animated film – a dream or a nightmare? The discussion highlighted the concerns of young creators, particularly their perception of a shortage of animation producers and their lack of knowledge about film production outside of the academic environment. Additionally, the panel explored relationships and collaborations between producers, production teams, and authors, as well as the feasibility of achieving independence as a producer.

Tibor Meliš and Jiří Mika from Studio PFX, along with Tomáš Danay from Blue Faces and Andrej Kolenčík, a lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava’s Department of Visual Communication, Multimedia Studio – MediaLab, discussed the technological landscape of animation in Slovakia. They explored modern approaches and the integration of VFX into animation. Additionally, Tomáš Danay showcased SOKO, a production software developed and programmed by the Blue Faces studio.

The Industry Day programme featured presentations of current Slovak projects at various production stages and introduced new production and distribution companies entering the market. Juraj Krasnohorský and Lucia Dubravay Trauntenberger discussed their BEAR WITH ME DISTRIBUTION, while director Mária Pinčíková and animator Valentina Hučková provided insights into their company, 0000 s.r.o., which presented animated projects in development for the first time. Participants also had the opportunity to explore student work, with presentations from the Škola umeleckého priemyslu Trenčín (School of Art Industry Trenčín) and the Private Secondary Art School of Animation showcasing their students’ projects. Overall, the Industry Day programme offered a comprehensive overview of contemporary animation, highlighting the current state and emerging trends in Slovak animation.