This year, the public institution School of Animated Film is organizing the 15th International Children’s Workshop of Animated Film – Golden Snail 2024, which will be held from August 5 to 11 in Vranje. The “Golden Snail” festival is financed by the local self-government of the city of Vranje, and co-financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia. The official opening of the festival will be held on August 5, in the hall of the “Bora Stanković” Theater in Vranje, starting at 8:00 p.m.
Back in 1997, ŠAF organized the first International Children’s Animated Film Workshop, which is still held in Vranje every even-numbered year. The first competitive festival was held in 2009 and is held every odd year. Both manifestations are known in Vranje and in Serbia under the name “Golden Snail”. The goal of the project is to develop the creative work of children and young people in the field of animation and film art.
This year’s workshop will bring together animators, lecturers, guests, children and young people and their mentors from Egypt, Belgium, Switzerland and several cities in Serbia (Čačak, Pančevo, Sopot, Belgrade and Vranje). Children and young people will participate in the production of three animated films in three different techniques, but also in the documentary film group. The group leaders for the animated film are Elodie Verheyden (Belgium), Marwa Ali (Egypt), Katerina Apostolska di Siro (Switzerland), while Ivan Mandić (Serbia) will lead the group for the documentary film. As in every workshop so far, in the collision of different cultures and languages, the creative process takes place spontaneously while children and young people acquire new knowledge and skills. The artists will work in small groups with children and young people (about 10) and will guide the participants through the entire process of creating a film from the idea to the premiere. In those few days, the children will participate in the creation of scenarios and characters, filming, editing and soundtracking of films. The work will take place in the premises of the School of Animated Film.
We have also prepared a rich supporting program. The promotion of the book by professor Rastko Ćirić from Belgrade will be held on August 6 at 19:00 in the small hall of the Bora Stanković theater. This program will also be open to the general public who are interested in animated film. Also, Stevica Živkov, an artist from Belgrade, will hold a lecture for all workshop participants on the basics of animation with a special focus on speech and plasticine animation. Traditionally, a reception with the mayor is organized for guests and participants of the workshop in the large assembly hall of the city of Vranje. A tour of the city with a tourist guide will complete the guests’ general impression of the city of merak and sevdah, which traditionally ends with a tasting of Vranje cuisine. An excursion will be organized for all participants and guests to the Prohor Pčinjski monastery, which always attracts a lot of attention from our guests.
The press conference will be held on Monday, August 5 at 12:00 p.m. in the premises of JU ŠAF Vranje. We invite you to visit ŠAF, find out more about all the activities, follow the 15th International Children’s Animation Workshop. If you are interested in interviews with guests or “live” inclusions, visit us so we can organize everything.
