Born in 1983 in Lille (France), Bastien Dubois earned his CGI diploma from Supinfocom with his graduation short AH in 2006. Bastien is a keen traveler, and it was after he hitchhiked from the north of France to Istanbul that he had the idea of making an animated travel log. His first independent film Madagascar, a Journey Diary was based on a one year trip to the big red island. This film was very well received and screened at more than 200 international film festivals including Sundance. The film ultimately garnered an Oscar nomination in 2011. In 2012 he directed a TV program based on the short Madagascar called Faces From Places a series of 20 animated 3 minute travelogue films featuring various stories from countries around the world. In 2013 Bastien released Cargo Cult, an animated short film set in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War. Since 2013 he is running the NGO Art Brutal which is doing workshops, exhibitions and offers every year a grant for one young animator. Bastien is also a multidisciplinary artist, practicing music, sculpture, tattoo, linocut and silkscreen. His latest film Souvenir Souvenir reunites Bastien’s multiple and unsuccessful attempts to initiate a dialogue with his grandfather using an excellent combination of art styles to lay out a story of war trauma, family conflict, creative process and ultimately filial love. The film was shortlisted for the Oscars and received, among other awards, an Annie award and the Best Animated ShortFilm award at Sundance in 2021.

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Lucija Bužančić is a Croatian animator and illustrator with a master’s degree in Art History and Animation and New Media from the University of Zagreb. Her animated and interdisciplinary work explores storytelling through animated film, illustration, and performance.

She gained recognition with her graduation film Process (2017), selected for CEE Animation Talents in 2018. Her debut animated film Iris was produced by Zagreb Film, followed by short film Saturation (2022) and several collaborative interdisciplinary projects, including The Line (2021) and Outline (2023), blending contemporary circus and animation. Lucija has exhibited her work on several occasions, including solo shows Blue Frames (2020) and Timelines (2024), and has illustrated children’s books in collaboration with rapper Vojko V. She is currently developing the animated TV series Brother Deer and participating in the year- long CEE Animation Workshop.

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Mina Cvetinović Pavkov, associate professor, is an author in the field of animation and visual effects. She is the founder of the Department for Visual Effects, Animation and Game Art at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. With 20 years of experience in computer generated imagery, she took part in more than 50 promotional films and projects containing CGI (for clients such as Dolce&Gabbana, Google etc.). As a part the CGI team she took part in 15 feature films, live action, documantary and animation. She has also helped direct theatre plays, took part in group exhibitions and collaborated with many cultural institutions.

She directed 3 animated short films that were awarded at various festivals. As a jury member, she also took part in many of them. She also held workshops of animated film aimed at youth, during one of which, Izbanimaonica (2014), together with the participants, she cretaed the film Klackalica. This film was awarded Best Animated Short Film prize at See a Paris Festival in 2015 in Paris, France.

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Mato Uljarević is an interdisciplinary artist from Podgorica, Montenegro, active in the fields of visual arts, cinema and literature. He graduated from the Fine Arts Academy in Cetinje with a specialisation in Sculpting. Already a member of the Association of Fine Artists of Montenegro, he is also the manager of the city of Nikšić’s official application for the European Capital of Culture 2030. He is the founder of REANIMACIJA Festival of Animated Film and Illustration. He has also taken part in the Rise and Shine Workshop organised by CEE Animation. His animated film Uroš, done with charcoal on paper, was awarded the Zlatko Grgić award at Animafest Zagreb in 2025.

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Born in 1991 in Čapljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Holds a Master’s degree in Animation obtained the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade, in the class of professor Rastko Ćirić. Director of 5 short animated films: The Hound (H.P. Lovecraft), currently in production, Death of Mother Jugović (2019), ISKON Anima Aeternam(2015), Vis Dubium (2014) and Sisyphus carrying Sisyphus (2013) that were screened and awarded at numerous festivals. Among others, the awards include: Grand Prix and Golden Plate at the 63rd Belgarde Documentary and Short Film Festival in 2016, Award for the Best Animated Film at Student Cuts Festival (Maribor, Slovenia), Raiffesien CLUB Award for the Best Young Artist and the Award for Best Work in Printmaking of the Beta and Rista Vukanović fund, given by the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade. Active in animated music video production, he collaborated with various local artists such as Realm, Stain, Sicksoul, Poez11a. He is composing music for his own films and designing in 3D software. Currently living and working in Bor as a professor in the field of digital imagery.