INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL BEGINS

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 23 /SRNA/ – The 18th International Animation Film Festival was officially opened in Banja Luka this evening, receiving over 690 entries from 61 countries worldwide for its competition.

The largest number of films came from France, the United States, Spain, Russia, Poland and Croatia, while a significant part of the selection consists of works featured at renowned animation festivals.

The selection committee chose a total of 115 films for this year's festival, across 11 different programs.

Three films were submitted from BiH. The official student competition program will feature "Exhaust Valve", a graduation film by Lana Čolić of the Academy of Arts at the University of Banja Luka, while the other two films are from Sarajevo.

The festival is being held at Cineplexx Palas, organized by the "Feniks Art" Association for Visual Arts. It will run until October 28.

Festival Director Goran Dujaković told reporters that the domestic and international films were of exceptional quality and urged audiences to watch them.

Renowned Dutch animator Michael Dudok de Wit said he was honored to receive the festival's lifetime achievement award, noting that the region has a significant tradition of animated filmmaking.

Anja Ilić, director of the Republika Srpska Audiovisual Center, said the festival had the longest-standing tradition of any animation film festival in the region.

"The festival consistently works to bring global animation trends closer to domestic audiences," Ilić said.

The festival is sponsored by the Republika Srpska Audiovisual Center, the City of Banja Luka and the Republika Srpska Ministry of Trade and Tourism.