The Student Forum of the Fest Anča International Animation Festival returns for a fifth time from 30 June to 2 July 2026. Established in 2022 with the support of EEA Grants, this unique platform brings together students, educators, and animation professionals from across Europe. It creates a space for schools to connect, exchange educational approaches, artistic traditions, and practical industry experience.
This year, we’re welcoming participants from 17 animation schools from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, the Netherlands, Estonia, Norway, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. Alongside long-term partner institutions, the forum will also welcome two new members – the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków and KASK & Conservatorium in Ghent – further expanding its international network.
The programme combines discussions, presentations, case studies, and networking activities that bridge animation education with contemporary professional practice. A key theme is mental health and sustainability in creative work: in collaboration with Louise Johansen (Sane Cinema), the forum opens up conversations about mental health, working conditions, and the pressures faced by students and professionals in the film industry.
Invited guests include internationally acclaimed director Daria Kashcheeva, animator Marek Jasaň, Robert Sowa from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, as well as representatives of MOMAKIN and Animarkt Stop Motion Forum – Paulina Zacharek and Agnieszka Szkudlarek – who will give insights into production work, stop-motion animation, international collaboration, and career opportunities within the industry.
Our brand new 3,2,1 Spotlight on…! session gives schools from previous editions the opportunity to present their teaching methods and student projects through short, dynamic presentations to highlight the diversity of regional animation education.
The Student Forum also continues to strengthen local and international partnerships. This year’s edition is being developed in closer collaboration with the University of Žilina to deepen the forum’s connection with the city’s students, educators, and local community.
Student Forum Fest Anča 2026 is organised as part of AFN Edu activities within the Animation Festival Network. The project is co-financed by the governments of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia through grants from the International Visegrad Fund, and supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe MEDIA programme.
Tickets
Find the infortmation about tickets here: https://www.festanca.sk/en/tickets/
Purchase tickets here: https://festanca.cinepass.sk/en/price-list/
Partners And Support
The 19th edition of the Fest Anča International Animation Festival 2026 is financially supported by the Audiovisual Fund, the LITA Fund, and the SPP Foundation.
Organiser
ANČA Civic Society
Co-organisers
- Žilina Town
- Stanica Žilina-Záriečie Cultural Centre
- New Synagogue Žilina
- Žilina Town Theatre
- University of Žilina
Patronage
The event is held under the patronage of the Mayor of Žilina, Peter Fiabáne, and the President of the Žilina Self-Governing Region, Erika Jurinová.
Main Partners
- Festival is financially supported by The Audiovisual Fund
- Animation Festival Network
- Creative Europe MEDIA
Main In-Kind Partners
- Mediatech
- AfB-Group Slovakia
Partners
- International Visegrad Fund
- UMPRUM
- LITA civil association of authors
- SPP Foundation
- Orange Foundation
- ZSE Foundation / E.sk Foundation
- SK-NIC Fund
- Embassy of Belgium – The Diplomatic Representations of Flanders
- Embassy of the Netherlands in Slovakia
- Polish Institute in Bratislava
- French Institute in Bratislava
- Petramed
- IMPA Žilina
- Urpiner
- Tuli
- BikeKIA
- RADOMA Ryba Žilina
- Lunter
- Rosenfeld Palace
- Artforum Žilina
- Sterio Kino Žilina
- City Culture Žilina
- Slovak Film Institute
- CEE Animation
- Animation HUB
- Kvant
- MyCinepass
- Transport enterprise of the city of Zilina, Ltd.
- Film and Television Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava
- ART VR
- Festiwal Animacji O!PLA
- DELL
- Viewsonic
- Hotel Dubná skala
- Hotel Grand
- Hotel Boss
- Dudok House
- Beervana
- VegGo
- Ázijské občerstvenie
- Chilteco
- Sushi Bonsai
- Smash Burger
- Absynt
- Hoaxy a podvody
Main Media Partners
- Pravda
- Aktuality.sk
Media Partners
- STVR
- Rádio FM
- Startitup
- TASR
- SITA
- Denník N
- Týždeň.sk
- Filmsk.sk
- Filmpress.sk
- Pontón
- DA Films
- Swine Daily
- Citylife.sk
- MY Žilina / Žilinské ECHO
- SP 21 (Žilina)
- FRONTINUS rádio
- Žilinský večerník, a.s.
- Regional Cultural Centre
- Mediak
- Lemur (Eastmag.sk)
- Bratislavský večerník
- Babymagazin.sk
- Kam s deťmi
- Časopis Hmota
- Radničné noviny
- f-a-t.cz
- Rádio Wave
Other Partners
- IPčko
- O.Z. Myslím
- inTYMYta
- Cinema Without Barriers
