Films

by Martina Peštaj, Lucia Dubravay Trautenberger

Animation is often labelled “for children” without asking which children. This session introduces the Young Audience Rating System, a practical tool that connects the developmental characteristics of each age group, from toddlers to late adolescents, with the elements that shape an animated film: story, characters, emotions, visual language and humour. Media psychologist Martina Peštaj explains how attention, emotional understanding, moral reasoning and the sense of humour change with age, and what this means in practice. Aimed at creators, producers, distributors, broadcasters and festival programmers working with young viewers. The Young Audience Rating System was developed within the project Animation HUB. Speakers: Martina Peštaj (media psychologist), Lucia Dubravay Trautenberger (Animation HUB) Martina Peštaj (media psychologist) Martina Peštaj is a Slovenian media psychologist and film currator specialising in children’s and youth media. She works at RTV Slovenija, where she is an editor in the Children’s and Youth Programme and has extensive experience as a creator, scriptwriter, and editor of television content for young audiences. She also selects international animated and live-action series and oversees their adaptation for Slovenian audiences. Lucia Dubravay Trautenberger (Animation HUB) Project Manager of Animation HUB, a CEE Animation initiative dedicated to improving the visibility, accessibility, and circulation of European animated works and connecting audiences, filmmakers, festivals, educators, and industry professionals. In 2024, she co-founded Bear With Me Distribution, a company specialising in festival distribution, sales, and international promotion of animated films. Alongside her work with Animation HUB, she continues to work in international distribution and supports animated projects in reaching festivals, markets, professional networks, and audiences worldwide.

• Documentary
• Making of

by Kosuke Sugimoto

A surreal animated music video for the Slovak band Saténové ruky, following a wild night in a bar where a chance encounter unfolds into an increasingly strange and chaotic experience.

• Music video

by Alice Saey

First World War. 19 years-old Maï, sailor and deserter, crosses paths with Anna, 16 years old, young widow who just lost her husband to the trenches. Their horizon seems obstructed… but little by little, Maï and Anna revive eachother’s flame and desire from freedom.

• Drama
• Experimental

by Alice Saey

A constantly transforming hand-drawn world of seductive figures, heroic Amazons and surreal landscapes visualizes the singer's fascination with a mysterious young woman.

• Music video
• Experimental

by Helene Ducrocq

A mysterious sand-animated journey unfolds through shifting landscapes and human figures, evoking themes of love, loss and the passage of time.

• Music video

by Tomek Ducki

Music video by the young Hungarian artist Tomek Ducki. Once again, he works with vivid colours and elaborates the story of the original sin of Adam and Eve. In his version, the woman is a very important character and his method reminds of watercolour paintings.

• Music video

by Robert Jaszczurowski, Grzegorz Skorupski, Karolina Rudnicka

Join us for a webinar under the CEE Animation Experience, where four leading Polish animation studios will showcase the current animation scene. They will share insights into their recent successes and reveal their upcoming projects, offering a glimpse into the future of Polish animation. If you're interested in co-producing with Poland, this is a must-attend event to explore new opportunities and collaborations. The webinar is co-organized with Polish Animation and SPPA – Polish Animation Producers Association. Robert Jaszczurowski (GS Animation / SPPA) A director, producer, scriptwriter and co-founder of GS Animation. From 2009 acts as a creative producer and delegate producer ("Mami Fatale", "Basia"). A president of a Polish Animation Producers Association (SPPA) and a participant of the most important coproduction markets, festivals and animation related events in Europe (Cartoon Forum, Cartoon Movie, MiPJunior, Cinekid, Annecy). Currently working on "Lucy and the Silver Spies" as a producer and "Kayko and Kokosh" TV series as a director. Grzegorz Skorupski (Animoon) Production company Animoon, involved in projects like Zoyka and the Bird. (Person page: minimal bio) Karolina Rudnicka (Person page exists with limited content) More information and lectures at: https://www.ceeanimation.eu https://www.ceeanimation.eu/experience/cee-animation-experience/ https://www.facebook.com/ceeanimation/ CEE Animation Experience is a series of webinars organized in cooperation with selected partners in the CEE region. This activity targets animation industry professionals, who will gain new insights as shared by top regional and world experts and get a rewarding experience of film production directly.

• Documentary
• Making of

by Lenka Hámošová

Generative AI is no longer just a futuristic tool but a part of contemporary visual culture. However, how should animators use it without losing their authorship, style, and intent? Lenka Hámošová shares a roadmap for maintaining creative agency in an age of automated art – covering workflow thinking with ComfyUI, case studies in real-time collaboration, and the importance of identifying your "Unique Toolkit" to protect the human element. Lenka Hámošová Artist, designer, and educator working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, creativity, and human agency. With over 15 years of experience in visual communication, new media, and education, she founded the first creative AI studio in Prague. Known for her work with ComfyUI and real-time AI-driven performance. More information and lectures at: https://www.ceeanimation.eu https://www.ceeanimation.eu/experience/cee-animation-experience/ https://www.facebook.com/ceeanimation/ CEE Animation Experience is a series of webinars organized in cooperation with selected partners in the CEE region. This activity targets animation industry professionals, who will gain new insights as shared by top regional and world experts and get a rewarding experience of film production directly.

• Documentary
• Making of

by Kosuke Sugimoto

This visually inventive music video for a song by a popular Czech singer skilfully combines computer animation with real footage and plays with various scales and photographs. The music video was made in the Czech Republic, but its director belongs to a new wave of young Japanese authors specializing in synchronizing animation and music.

• Music video

by Barbora Halířová

Czech music video Cimpoiasca boasts superb animation and plays with folklore elements and many visual ideas. Made by a FAMU graduate, the music video plunges into a nightmare and tells the story of a female friendship that is pungently delicious, just like homemade plum brandy.

• Music video

by Aliona Baranová

The second music video for singer Pavel Čadek works with the motif of dance, which is very rewarding for animation. The video’s sketched heroes or their silhouettes dance in various surroundings or transform into abstract shapes.

• Music video

by Vojtěch Kočí, Mikuláš Suchý

Gorgeous Sleeper Cell is a fan music video for Seattle-based abstract rap duo Shabazz Palaces. It narrates an abstract story based on the duo’s poetic, almost symbolistic lyrics. We watch some sort of a genie who got into our reality from his animated world.

• Music video

by Michal Boček

After the guitars have fallen silent, a rocker’s return back home from a concert becomes a weird trip. The line between what was, what will be and what may have never happened is growing blurry. This grotesque journey through the hazy (non-)reality benefits from the skilfully built atmosphere of shady gas stations and bars, connected by a somewhat sinister deer.

• Experimental

by Isabel Stub

A shadow knight explores an interdimensional palace while being chased by the roots of an ever-growing rose. The video, which may have been inspired by the fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty, combines two layers when a colourful fairy tale turns into a dark abstract story that evokes the tentacles of fear.

• Music video

by Lucija Mrzljak

The Closing Door is a visually attractive music video for the song of a popular Irish singer that takes you on a mysterious journey with the simple movements of a brush and black ink. Its Estonian author uses a black and white style and frames the music video with abstract sequences.

• Music video

by Michal Křeček

The keynote presents the complete process of creating visual effects that include animated CG elements, from pre-production to finalizing the shot. Covers roles of VFX supervisor and producer, working on breakdown, storyboard, previs, postvis, integration of animation into visual effects, project management, approval processes, and current possibilities and limitations of AI in VFX. Michal Křeček (Magic Lab) Experienced VFX supervisor, producer, and founder of the post-production studio Magic Lab, which he established in 2009. With over two decades in the film industry, he has worked on numerous Czech and international productions. More information and lectures at: https://www.ceeanimation.eu https://www.ceeanimation.eu/experience/cee-animation-experience/ https://www.facebook.com/ceeanimation/ CEE Animation Experience is a series of webinars organized in cooperation with selected partners in the CEE region. This activity targets animation industry professionals, who will gain new insights as shared by top regional and world experts and get a rewarding experience of film production directly.

• Documentary
• Making of

by Petra Gajžler, Ligia Soare, Matea Milić

How can animation reach broader, more diverse audiences across Central and Eastern Europe – and beyond? In this CEE Animation Experience webinar, discover how the Animation Festival Network (AFN) is bridging the gap in short film distribution through curated programs for children and adults. With a focus on accessibility, inclusion, and educational value, AFN presents a collaborative model that includes female-directed short film showcases and thematic programs for young audiences. Petra Gajžler Film pedagogue, curator and distribution manager working at the intersection of animated film and film education. Coordinates school screenings and develops educational materials for animated films. Ligia Soare (Animest) Cultural manager working in the world of film festivals for over two decades. Part of founding team of Animest International Animation Film Festival (Bucharest, Romania). Involved in accessibility and inclusion initiatives. Matea Milić (Animafest Zagreb) Worked for production company Hulahop since 2012 in production and distribution of documentaries and feature projects. Since 2015 serves as festival producer of World Festival of Animated Film – Animafest Zagreb, responsible for fundraising, team management and collaboration with partners. Coordinates AFN – Animation Festival Network of animation festivals from the CEE region. More information and lectures at: https://www.ceeanimation.eu https://www.ceeanimation.eu/experience/cee-animation-experience/ https://www.facebook.com/ceeanimation/ CEE Animation Experience is a series of webinars organized in cooperation with selected partners in the CEE region. This activity targets animation industry professionals, who will gain new insights as shared by top regional and world experts and get a rewarding experience of film production directly.

• Documentary
• Making of

by Ligia Soare, Paula Benu

This webinar explores what actually happens to a film when it is prepared for blind and Deaf audiences, how elements such as audio description, sign language interpretation and descriptive subtitles can reshape image, sound, rhythm and design, and why filmmakers should be part of these creative decisions. Designed for filmmakers, distributors and festival programmers, this session reframes accessibility not as compliance, but as authorship, collaboration and audience expansion. Ligia Soare (Animest) Cultural manager working in film festivals for over two decades. Part of founding team of Animest International Animation Film Festival. Paula Benu Romania. Accessibility specialist focused on making films accessible for blind and Deaf audiences through audio description, sign language and subtitling. More information and lectures at: https://www.ceeanimation.eu https://www.ceeanimation.eu/experience/cee-animation-experience/ https://www.facebook.com/ceeanimation/ CEE Animation Experience is a series of webinars organized in cooperation with selected partners in the CEE region. This activity targets animation industry professionals, who will gain new insights as shared by top regional and world experts and get a rewarding experience of film production directly.

• Documentary
• Making of

by Konrad Ożgo

A short and captivating non-narrative animation be Polish filmmaker Konrad Ożgo.

• Experimental

by Marián Vredík

This black-and-white music video visualises a stream of consciousness in which the director transforms structures from broken asphalt, lichen and glass fibre concrete. He combines these materials with illustrations from his old textbooks and encyclopaedias which are similar to shamanic drawings. From this dark and surreal tangle, a head emerges – a photograph of Edgar Allan Poe.

• Music video
• Experimental