Anibar is an annual festival devoted to animated movies, held in Peja, Kosovo. Its intent is to familiarize people from Kosovo with the latest global trends in animation. Its purpose is to help and encourage Kosovo youngsters to express themselves and their ideas through animation by discussing topics that they are passionate about. This way, they tend to bring out more topics and break civic apathy through cultural activism.[1]
Anibar organization was founded in 2010 by a group of young art activists.
Anibar is working towards its overall goal with capacity-building activities, such as training seminars and workshops, film screenings, debates and other activities that provide more visibility for emerging artists.[2]
A large group of youngsters is heavily involved in the planning, preparations, and operations of the festival.
Anibar has a camping area for its guests next to Rugova Gorge, while Peja Lumbardhi river passes to the right of the site. Besides the tents that are offered, other supplies are available at the site such as showers, sanitation, places to relax, food, drinks, and a swimming pool.
Thanks to Anibar festival many more animations are produced in Kosovo.
This festival occupies an irreplaceable niche in the Kosovo cultural scene.
The Anibar Festival started in August 2010 on a budget of 500 euros and 80 films obtained from friends and acquaintances. In 2011, the Anibar Festival was officially represented at the annual Dok Leipzig festival in Germany.[3]
The city cinema "Jusuf Gërvalla" was brought back into life in February 2011 and two years later the new mayor gave it to Anibar to administer.
In 2012, Anibar created its first Quick Response book to promote animators worldwide. The Anibar Film Book is an innovative, one-of-a-kind book created in a collaboration between the festival and Mad Artists Publishing in Canada. Along with information about the festival and past films, the book is encoded with QR codes that immediately link to the films.[4] The festival accepted approximately 150 films for official competition.
In 2013, approximately 140 films were accepted.
Nn the 5th edition held in 2014, the festival took over the city's old cinema. Peja has not had a working movie theatre since the equipment broke in the 1960s. The nearest cinema is in Pristina. an hour's drive away.
In 2018, 220 animated films were screened.
Films are divided into three categories: competitive program, special program and 'Kids for Kids Animations'. Admission to the competitions is open every year from January 30 to April 30.
Anibar gives awards in different categories, such as:[5]
| Best International | The external world | David O'Rally | Sweden | |
| Honorable mention | Tussilago | Jonas Odell | Sweden | |
| Best Balkan | Guernika | Shaqir Veseli | Albania | |
| Honorable mention | Dove Sei, Amor Mio | Veljko Popovic | Croatia |
| International | The Backwater Gospel | Bo Mathorne | |
| Oh Willy | Emma de Swaet, Marc Roels | ||
| Borby Deline | Dustin Rees | ||
| In The Beginning of Time | Bozidar Trkulja | ||
| Balkan | The Father | Bogdanovit | |
| Perfect Life | Ozgul Gurbuz | ||
| Michael Pollan's Food Rules | Marija Jacimoviq, Benoit Detalle | ||
| The Promise of Constantine | Marvina Cela |
| Best International | Darling/Liebling | Izabela Plucinska | ||
| Best Balkan | Ifran in University | Riduam | ||
| Best Student | The Rabbit and the Deer | Péter Vácz |
The event's 7th year took place from 15 to 21 August 2016 and was focused on the environment climate change.
This year Reclaim the City, was an official theme. Reclaim the City fought for democratic values in public space. Reclamation of public spaces will bring back the vibrancy of places filled with people and activities that represent a depoliticized culture and openness to new media.[8]
The theme of 9th festival edition was Gender Equality and Women Empowerment.
During the festival, panel discussions addressed and promoted awareness. Anibar wanted to make a difference by inspiring women and men in animation to address gender inequality.
The theme of this year's festival was Hopes and Fears.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Anibar was organised in the virtual format for the first time this year. This year's theme was Humans, through films, presentations, and panels that were broadcast throughout the weeks of the festival, the main focus was on the collective humanitarian effort, which has been highlighted even more because of the situation caused by COVID-19.[9]
After COVID, the Festival's theme was "Isolation". The theme reflected challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting solitude and claustrophobia. It included hybrid online and runs in-person events during July 23–30.[10]
The theme of this year's festival was Superstitions.