“Golden Snail” Brings Together Children and Young People from Several Countries Once Again
The opening of the 16th International Children’s Animated Film Workshop “Golden Snail” was once again marked by numerous guests, a busy schedule, and a cheerful atmosphere. Participants arrived in Vranje by plane, bus, and car from China, Belgium, North Macedonia, and various parts of Serbia. Welcoming the guests took as long as 29 hours—the first participants arrived the day before the opening, while the last ones arrived after the opening ceremony.
The official opening ceremony was held in the main hall of the “Bora Stanković” Theatre, while a reception was organized in the small stone hall. The event was officially opened by Milan Ilić, Deputy Mayor of Vranje. Despite the high temperatures, a large number of guests attended the ceremony and continued socializing with the children and participants afterwards.
On the second day of “Golden Snail,” the participants visited Vranje City Hall, where they were once again welcomed by Deputy Mayor Milan Ilić. They then toured the city and enjoyed traditional Vranje specialties.
Work soon began at the ŠAF premises. Three groups were formed, and with the help of mentors and lecturers, the children began creating their animated films. This year’s “Golden Snail” was particularly marked by the interaction among participants from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. In addition to Serbian and English, a great deal of Chinese could be heard, as the workshop welcomed ten guests from China. Their joint work demonstrated that linguistic and cultural differences are not obstacles to forming new friendships and fostering creativity.
As part of the programme, on August 12, a comics masterclass titled “The Ninth Art for Beginners: The Basics of Comic Storytelling” was also held. The workshop was led by Marko Stojanović, head of the “Nikola Mitrović Kokan” School of Comics from Leskovac. Children and young people had the opportunity to learn about the fundamentals of comic creation, while the workshop was also attended by interested residents of Vranje.
A great deal of organizational work stood behind the entire event—from welcoming guests and preparing equipment and promotional materials to working on stage, in the hall, and behind the bar. Nevertheless, as every year, the effort paid off. The children worked, socialized, met new friends and, most importantly, created films.
Once again, “Golden Snail” has shown that animation can bring together different generations, languages, and cultures.
Until the next meeting—in another city and at another festival.
