Fest Anča 2024: Jury With Representatives from Six Countries Announced for Prestigious Slovak Animation Festival
The 17th edition of the Fest Anča International Animation Festival in Slovakia promises to be a remarkable event with 206 selected films from nearly 1340 submissions. This prestigious festival will see films judged by a distinguished panel of experts in the field of animation, hailing from Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
The main jury tasked with deciding the Anča Award for Best Animated Short and Best Student Animated Short includes Gabriel Gabriel Garble, Sébastien Sperer, and Waltraud Grausgruber. Garble, known for his films "Lunar Love & Ever" and "Well Wishes My Love, Your Love," has earned acclaim at top festivals like Sundance and Annecy. Sperer, a dynamic member of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival network, brings his extensive experience as a programmer and presenter. Grausgruber, co-founder of the Tricky Women/Tricky Realities Festival in Vienna, has a notable history of curating and conceptualizing film festivals.
The Slovak jury consists of Benoit Berthe Siward, Élodie Dermange, and Nikita Diakur. Siward, a film strategist and founder of The Animation Showcase, has led award campaigns for films towards Oscars® nominations. Dermange, who transitioned from nature and gardening to animation, has seen her films screened at over 200 festivals. Diakur, renowned for his unconventional computer simulation methods, has won numerous awards and will also conduct a masterclass at this year’s festival.
The Music Video Jury features David Štumpf, Helena Hájková, and Helga Fodorean. Štumpf, an Emmy-winning director and animator, has collaborated with major studios such as Netflix Animation. Hájková, part of the music duo Zaffer 9, is also known for her solo career as DJ Vermilion and her academic pursuits in philosophy. Fodorean, a cultural manager and film producer, co-produced the multi-awarded short animation "Amok" and initiated SYAA, a mentorship program for women in animation.
This year's Fest Anča will not only showcase a diverse range of animated films but also benefit from the expertise of these accomplished jury members, who will decide on the awards for Best Animated Short, Best Student Animated Short, Best Animated Music Video, and Best Slovak Animated Short.