The 18th International Animated Film Festival “Banja Luka 2026” will take place from October 23 to 28, bringing internationally acclaimed filmmakers, award-winning productions, premieres and a diverse program of events to the city.
Organized by the Phoenix Art Association for Visual Arts, the festival will offer free admission to all screenings and accompanying events.
Oscar-winning animator to open the festival
This year’s special guest is acclaimed Dutch animator and Academy Award winner Michael Dudok de Wit, who will officially open the festival and receive its Lifetime Achievement Award in Banja Luka.
“The opening day of the 18th International Animated Film Festival ‘Banja Luka 2026’ will feature two major events marking the official start of this year’s edition,” the organizers announced.
At 5:00 p.m., the Milanović House will host the opening of the exhibition Veterans of Serb Animation, dedicated to the history and creative achievements of Serb animators.
The official opening ceremony will take place at 7:00 p.m. at Cineplexx Palas.
The ceremony will feature a screening of Michael Dudok de Wit’s Academy Award-winning short film Father and Daughter, followed by screenings from the first section of the Main Competition Program.
More than 690 films submitted from 61 countries
The festival has attracted more than 690 film submissions from 61 countries across all continents.
The largest number of entries came from France, the United States, Spain, Russia, Poland and Croatia.
A significant portion of the selection includes films previously presented at prestigious international animation festivals, including Annecy, Ottawa, Hiroshima and Varna.
Festival director Goran Dujaković emphasized that the main objective is to restore the festival’s international standing and connect local audiences with outstanding examples of independent and artistic animation.
Competition program features 115 films across 11 sections
The festival’s selection committee has chosen 115 films for this year’s edition, distributed across 11 programs, including eight competitive sections and three panorama programs.
According to the organizers, the Main Competition Program features 41 films representing high-quality professional animation.
The Student Competition Program includes 24 films from leading international animation centers, including Poland, France, Canada and Croatia.
The Children’s Competition Program features 13 films divided into two age categories.
Meanwhile, the Panorama selections comprise 37 films, including 26 in the Main Panorama and 11 in the Student Panorama.
Together, these programs will showcase a broad range of animation techniques, artistic approaches and storytelling traditions from around the world.
Local filmmakers represented in official selection
Organizers highlighted encouraging developments in domestic animation, noting increased attention to locally produced films.
Three films from BiH were submitted to this year’s festival.
Among them is Exhaust Valve, a graduation film by Lana Čolić from the Academy of Arts at the University of Banja Luka.
Produced by the Academy of Arts and ART SCENE, the film will be screened in the official Student Competition Program.
The other two submitted films come from Sarajevo.
International jury and festival supporters
The festival awards will be decided by a professional jury consisting of Andrijana Ružić, Margit Antauer, Nemanja Vučenović, Dajla Alibegović, Tijana Šipka and Anja Milenković.
The 18th International Animated Film Festival is supported by the Audiovisual Center of Republika Srpska, the City of Banja Luka and the Republika Srpska Ministry of Trade and Tourism.
With an extensive international selection, an Oscar-winning guest of honor and a strong focus on emerging filmmakers, the festival aims to strengthen Banja Luka’s position on the international animation scene while making world-class animated cinema accessible to local audiences.
Source: RTRS
