For many people, Fest Anča is inseparable from Ivana Sujová, who guided the festival through one of the most challenging periods in its history. Under her leadership, the festival not only maintained its reputation throughout the pandemic but emerged even stronger. Ivana launched several initiatives that have since become integral to the festival, including the Student Forum. During this time, Fest Anča also became Slovakia’s only Oscar® Qualifying festival. Through her leadership, Ivana showed that running a festival is, above all, about trust, compassion, and standing by your team. Her attention to detail, straightforwardness, and kindness will remain part of Fest Anča long after her departure.

“Thank you for all the Ančas we shared together, and never stop watching animation,” she says in this interview, reflecting on a decade of life with the festival, which she bid farewell to during its 19th edition.

What was your first Fest Anča like?

That was a long time ago – I was still in high school. A friend of mine came across a poster for an animation festival looking for volunteers, and we thought we’d give it a try. It didn’t take long for me to realize that this was a place I wanted to return to every year – ideally forever. I’d already been to a number of festivals, but Fest Anča was exactly what I’d always been looking for. It was a place where exciting things were happening, where I could discover new worlds and meet new people, all in an atmosphere of friendship, togetherness, and sharing.

Compare the festival now and then!

In some ways, I think Fest Anča has stayed the same, and in others, it’s changed. I believe I instinctively led the festival in a way that always preserved what mattered most to me. Even though Fest Anča has grown significantly, the ingredient that makes Fest Anča Fest Anča has always remained. For me, that’s the community, the vibe, the openness, the sense of belonging, and above all, imagination – the ability to become more sensitive to one another and to step into worlds beyond our own.

What will you miss the most?

I’ll still be coming to Fest Anča, so I’ll finally get to experience it as a regular visitor. I’ve had the chance to meet so many incredible people – not just our guests, but also the organising team, our partners, the Stanica crew, and many others. That’s what I’ll miss the most: being surrounded by such wonderful people.

How has Fest Anča changed you?

I worked at Fest Anča for ten years, eight of them as festival director. In many ways, the festival shaped me. It helped me discover what I’m capable of, as well as my limits and boundaries. Thanks to Fest Anča, I grew as a person. It’s funny because, to me, the festival has always had a very youthful spirit, yet it helped me grow up. Maybe that’s exactly why it’s time for me to move on.

How are you experiencing your last Fest Anča as festival director? 

In some ways, it’s wonderful; in others, it’s heartbreaking. It makes you realise how replaceable you are. But that’s actually a very positive thing because I don’t think festivals – or organisations in general – should depend on a single person. I’m incredibly happy that everything didn’t rest on my shoulders, and that we managed to build the festival both organisationally and, just as importantly, on a human level. That’s one of the things I’m proud of having achieved.

Is there anything you always dreamed of doing at Fest Anča but never got to?

Quite the opposite. Fest Anča has fulfilled every dream I had.

What’s your most bizarre Fest Anča memory?

Let’s just say it involves Britney Spears, a legend of Slovak animation, and dancing on a table.

What do you think of Žilina?

Žilina has everything a city needs. It has thriving cultural venues and a strong awareness of the importance of culture. I have a very warm relationship with the city.

Why are animated short films for everyone?

Animation has a reputation for being something primarily for children because that’s what most of us grow up watching. But we watch animated films because they come from imagination and creativity. That’s exactly why I love it. I believe that, of all audiovisual art forms, it’s the one that most powerfully sparks our visual imagination. I’m constantly amazed by the worlds we’re capable of creating. As children, animation helps us in one way; as adults, it helps us in another. I think it’s important that we never lose our creativity or our ability to explore new worlds, become more open and empathetic, and keep discovering animation.

Why do you think Slovak animation has earned international recognition? 

I’m not particularly fond of that kind of question because it implies that something has to be “world-class” in order to be considered good. Slovak animation is good simply because it’s good.

We have a remarkable animation tradition. We still work with classic techniques like puppet animation, we have an incredible legacy of children’s television animation, and a rich body of work that filmmakers can draw inspiration from and learn from. Slovak animation – whether for children or adults – is truly outstanding. It’s recognised around the world, and it’s beautiful.

What do you wish for Fest Anča in the future?

I wish Fest Anča lots and lots of love – from the people who make it happen, from its visitors, and from its guests. Most of all, I hope people will continue to love it.

What are your plans for the future?

I’ll be focusing on screenwriting. I mainly write TV series. My latest project, Monyová, has just premiered on Oneplay/Voyo, and I’m currently finishing a mystery-horror series for Czech Television. I’d also love to work on an animated project for a change, so hopefully that opportunity comes along.

What would you like to say to the Fest Anča audience?

Thank you for all the Ančas we’ve shared together, and never stop watching animation. Animated films offer us extraordinary worlds, experiences, and emotions that we simply can’t access in any other way. We need to nurture our imagination and our empathy now more than ever.