Every summer, the festival transforms the city of Peja into a hub for animation and cultural exchange through film screenings, workshops, discussions, and concerts.
Alongside the festival week, Anibar pursues its broader mission of capacity-building by organizing training seminars, debates, and other activities that provide visibility and support for emerging artists.[2]
History
Anibar
Anibar organization was founded in 2010 by a group of young art activists. What began with a budget of 500 euros and 80 films has since grown into one of the largest cultural events in Kosova, attracting around 15,000 visitors annually and participants from more than 50 countries.
The festival has played a significant role in revitalizing cultural life in Peja. In 2014, Anibar organization began discussions with the Municipality of Peja regarding the revitalization of the city’s only functional cinema "Jusuf Gërvalla. Although Anibar had been using the space for festival screenings since 2010, the cinema itself had largely remained non-functional for many years.[3]
In 2016, the municipal assembly granted Anibar a 15-year mandate to administer the cinema. Under this agreement, Anibar presented a broad program that extended far beyond the festival week, including the development of the Animation Academy.
The revitalization transformed "Jusuf Gërvalla" cinema into a cultural center,with activities happening throughout the year, strengthening Peja’s cultural life.
Today, Anibar is known not only as an animation festival but also as a tool for cultural revival, education, dialogue, exchange, and art. The festival has had the power to transform Peja into a center of animation and continues to stand as a symbol of creativity, resilience, and freedom of expression.
In 2011, the Anibar Festival was officially represented at the annual Dok Leipzig festival in Germany.[4], marking its first steps onto the international scene as well.
Over time, the festival also introduced initiatives such as the Anibar Film Book, published in collaboration with Mad Artists Publishing in Canada, which used the QR codes that link to the films.[5] The festival accepted approximately 150 films for official competition.
Program
Films are divided into competitive and non-competitive categories.
The competitive program includes the following categories:
International
Balkan
Student
“Pitch It!”
Human Rights
Animated Music Video
Young Audience
Meanwhile, non-competitive categories are:
Virtual Reality
Experimental Animation
Animated Documentary
Commissioned Works
Venues
Cinema-City "Jusuf Gërvalla" has a capacity of 300 seats, and features special programs, including those for children.
Competitive films are screened daily during the festival at the following spaces:
Cinema "Cubes"
Istref Begolli theatre
Cinema “lake” is an outdoor cinema by the lake, with 100 seats and inflatable boats.[1]
Beyond film screenings, the festival hosts presentations, masterclasses, industry sessions such as Producers Meet Creators and Meet the Filmmakers, as well as panels, debates, and concerts. Open-air screenings and youth programs are part of its community outreach, alongside the Animation Academy training program.
Awards
Anibar gives awards in different categories, such as:[6]
International Competition
Student Competition
Balkan Competition
“Pitch It!”
Human Rights
Animated Music Video
Young Audience
Editions
2010
2011
The second edition of the Anibar International Animation Festival held in 2011 continued to establish the festival as a platform for young artists and filmmakers in Kosova and the region.
Category
Winner
Country
Director(s)
International Competition
The External World
Ireland
David O’Rally
International Competition (Special Mention)
Tussilago
Sweden
Jonas Odell
Balkan Competition
Guernika
Albania
Shaqir Veseli
Balkan Competition (Special Mention)
Dove Sei, Amor Mio
Croatia
Veljko Popović
2012
Category
Winner
Country
Director(s)
International Competition
The Backwater Gospel
Denmark
Bo Mathorne
International Competition (Special Mention)
Oh Willy
Belgium
Emma de Swaet, Marc Roels
International Competition (Special Mention)
Borby Deline
Switzerland
Dustin Rees
International Competition (Special Mention)
In the Beginning of Time
Croatia
Bozidar Trkulja
Student Competition
The Father
—
Bogdanovit
Student Competition (Special Mention)
Perfect Life
Turkey
Ozgul Gurbuz
Student Competition (Special Mention)
Michael Pollan’s Food Rules
—
Marija Jacimovic, Benoît Detalle
Student Competition (Special Mention)
The Promise of Constantine
—
Marvina Cela
2013
The 4th edition of the Anibar International Animation Festival was held under the theme No Humans Allowed. The theme reflected on the relationship between humans, nature, and technology, encouraging audiences to imagine worlds beyond human-centered perspectives.
Category
Winner
Country
Director(s)
International Competition
Darling / Liebling
Poland
Izabela Plucinska
Student Competition
The Rabbit and the Deer
Hungary
Péter Vácz
Balkan Competition
Ifran University
—
Riduam
2014
Category
Winner
Country
Director(s)
International Competition
Baths
Hungary
Tomek Ducki
International Competition (Special Mention)
Papa
Germany
Kun Jia
International Competition (Special Mention)
Marilyn Myller
United Kingdom
Mikey Please
Student Competition
The Bigger Picture
United States
Daisy Jacobs
Student Competition (Special Mention)
Holding Brother’s Hand and How the Jelly Explodes
Germany
Kiana Naghshineh
Student Competition (Special Mention)
But Milk is Important
Sweden
Anna Mantzaris, Eirik Grønmo Bjørnsen
Balkan Competition
Rabbitland
Serbia
Ana Nedeljkovic, Nikola Majdak
Balkan Competition (Special Mention)
Hunger
Croatia
Petra Zlonoga
Balkan Competition (Special Mention)
Simulacra
Croatia
Ivana Bošnjak, Thomas Johnson
Audience Award
Don’t Fear Death
Canada
Louis Hudson
2015
The 6th edition of the Anibar International Animation Festival theme was Migration. The program included 200 animated films. This edition emphasized tolerance and the role of animated films in encouraging young people to understand social issues through creativity. A special highlight was the participation of Mike Reiss, a producer of The Simpsons, who shared insights into the making of the iconic series, including stories about guest stars and production challenges. The festival also welcomed back Italian collaborators from the Ottoman Laboratori to run workshops teaching children how to create short-length animated films.
Category
Winner
Country
Director(s)
International Competition
We Can’t Live Without Cosmos
Russia
Konstantin Bronzit
2016
The 7th edition took place from 15 to 21 August and was focused on the environment climate change.
Category
Winner
Country
Director(s)
International Competition
A Coat Made Dark
Ireland
Jack O’Shea
International Competition (Student Special Mention)
Shell All
France
Zaver Najjar
Student Competition
Sea Child
United Kingdom
Minha Kim
Student Competition (Special Mention)
Velodrool
Estonia
Sander Joon
Student Competition (Special Mention)
The More I Know
Czech Republic
Marek Naprstek
Student Competition (Special Mention)
RRRING RRRING
Germany
Thomas Kneffel
Student Competition (Special Mention)
D 729
Belgium
Levi Stoops
Student Competition (Special Mention)
Ivan’s Need
Switzerland
Veronika L. Montano, Manuela Leuenberger, Lukas Suter
Balkan Competition
Of Slaves and Robots
Serbia
Miloc Tomic
Animated Music Video Competition
Quack Fat – Opiuo
Australia
Jonathan Chong
Environmental Competition
October 2050
Czech Republic
Alzbeta Gobelova
Audience Award
He Who Has Two Souls
France
Fabrice Luang-Vija
2017
Reclaim the City, was the official theme of this edition. Reclaim the City focused on the struggle for democratic values in public space. The festival attracted many people, with different activities that represented a depoliticized culture as well as a more open mindset toward new media.[7]
During this edition, several panels were held, aiming to promote awareness whereas 220 animated films were screened. The idea was to inspire both women and men to address gender inequalities.
Category
Winner
Country
Director(s)
International Competition
Carlotta’s Face
Germany
Frédéric Schuld
International Competition (Special Mention)
Intimity
Spain
Amarna Miller
Student Competition
Flower Found!
Netherlands
Jorn Leeuwerink
Student Competition (Special Mention)
Auegenblick – A Blink of an Eye
Germany
Kiana Naghshineh
Student Competition (Special Mention)
Enough
Sweden
Anna Mantzaris
Balkan Competition
Untravel
Serbia
Nikola Majdak Jr., Ana Nedeljkovic
Balkan Competition (Special Mention)
The Monk
Thailand
Juck Somsaman
Animated Music Video Competition
Happy
—
—
Animated Music Video Competition (Special Mention)
FINKEL: w/o
France
Sanni Lahtinen
Animated Music Video Competition (Special Mention)
Engine of Progress
—
—
Feature Film Competition
Chris the Swiss
Switzerland
Anja Kofmel
Public Award
iRony
United Kingdom
Amy Nicholson
2019
The theme of this year's festival was Hopes and Fears.
Category
Winner
Country
Director(s)
International Competition
And Then the Bear
France
Agnes Patron
International Competition (Special Mention)
I’m Going Out for Cigarettes
France
Osman Cerfon
International Competition (Special Mention)
Egg
United States
Martina Scarpelli
Student Competition
Applesauce
Austria
Alexander Gratzer
Student Competition (Special Mention)
Hide N Seek
Czech Republic
Barbora Halířová
Balkan Competition
Imbued Life
Croatia
Thomas Johnson, Ivana Bosnjak
Balkan Competition (Special Mention)
N’korniz
Kosova
Gëzim Ramizi
Feature Film Competition
The Tower
Norway
Mats Grorud
Animated Music Video Competition
SIAMÉS – MR. FEAR
Argentina
Pablo Rafael Roldán, Ezequiel Torres
Audience Award
Toomas Beneath the Valley of the Wild Wolves
Croatia
Chintis Lundgren
2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Anibar was organised in the virtual format for the first time. This year's theme was "Humans", and through films, presentations, and panels throughout the weeks of the festival, the main focus was on the collective humanitarian effort, which was highlighted even more because of the situation caused by COVID-19.[8]
2021
After COVID, the festival's theme was "Isolation". It reflected challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting solitude and claustrophobia. It included hybrid, online, and in-person events during July 23–30.[9]
Animated Music Video Competition (Special Mention)
Kona
Kosova
Shpat Morina
Feature Film Competition
Kill It and Leave This Town
Poland
Mariusz Wilczyński
Human Rights Competition
Where Were You?
Spain
María Trénor Colomer
Human Rights Competition (Special Mention)
We Have One Heart
Poland
Katarzyna Warzecha
2022
The theme of this year's festival was Superstitions.
2023
The 14th edition of Anibar International Animation Festival took place from 17 to 23 July 2023 under the theme “Love - Dashni”.
Amid a world of division and chaos, the festival reminded everyone that love has no boundaries, is abundant, and exists in many dimensions. It highlighted love as a transformative social and cultural force, emphasizing human connections and inclusivity.
The program explored the multifaceted nature of love, addressing its complexities and diverse manifestations through animated films, discussions, and other cultural activities.
Category
Winner
Country
Director(s)
International Competition
Eeva
Estonia/Croatia
Lucija Mezljak, Morten Tsinakov
Feature Film Competition
Silver Bird and Rainbow Fish
US
Lei Lei
Student Competition
Above the Clouds
Hungary
Vivien Harshegyi
Balkan Competition
Money and Happiness
Serbia
Ana Nedeljkovic, Nikola Majdak Jr.
Human Rights Competition
Dear Mahsa
Austria
Martin Pflanzer
Animated Music Video Competition
Ninulla F
Kosova
Flaka Kokolli
Young Audience Competition
Beanboy
Denmark
Emily Hanning
2024
The 15th edition of Anibar was held in 2024 under the theme “Smash the Patriarchy”, focusing on systemic inequality and gender discrimination. The program included film screenings, panel discussions, educational activities, and music events, with an emphasis on equity, inclusion, diversity, and a healed society.
Category
Winner
Director(s)
International Competition
Zima
Tomek Popakul, Kasumi Ozeki
Balkan Competition
The Family Portrait
Lea Vidakovic
Student Competition
Bunnyhood
Mansi Maheshwari
Student Competition (Special Mention)
Adiós
José Prats
Human Rights Competition
Chicken
Anna Benner
Human Rights Competition (Special Mention)
Kissing Day
Director
Animated Music Video Competition
Illusion
Jin Woo
Animated Music Video Competition (Special Mention)
Stop the Music
Weronika Anna Marianna
Young Audience Competition
Out There
Evgeniy Golovin, Alexander Afonasyev
Young Audience Competition (Special Mention)
Hoofs on Skates
Ignas Meilūnas
Pitch Competition – 1st Place
Stick With Me
Albana Hajdini
Pitch Competition – 2nd Place
Imagine if You Can’t Imagine the Imaginable
Kaltrina Berisha
Pitch Competition – 3rd Place
Inside a Box
Bleona Ibrahimi
Audience Award
Our Uniform
Yegane Moghaddam
Socio-Economic Impact
Since its establishment, Anibar has grown beyond being just an organziation. It has become an important driver of socio-economic development in Peja and Kosova at large.
Every year, the festival attracts thousands of visitors from Kosova, the region, and abroad. This influx of people contributes directly to the local economy through increased demand for accommodation, food services, transportation, and other local businesses.
Moreover, the festival strengthens Kosova’s international image as both a cultural and economic destination. By positioning Peja on the map of global animation festivals, Anibar showcases the city’s creativity, resilience, and openness to cultural exchange.
Most recent study conducted by Idra Research and Consulting Firm confirmed that visitor spending during the festival, covering accommodation, food, and other services has a positive impact on the local economy.
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