The workshop partners include:
LINOLEUM Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival (Ukraine),
ANIMEST International Animation Film Festival and SYAA Workshop (Bucharest, Romania),
ANIM.IST – Istanbul Animation Platform and Festival (Türkiye),
Bulgarian National Film Center,
GNFC Georgian National Film Center,
NEF Animation and Saint-Quirin Residencies (France),
CEE Animation Forum.
The workshop brought together animators from Black Sea countries (excluding Russia): Ukraine, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, and Türkiye. Moldavia participated as a guest country.
93 short animated film project applications were submitted from five countries. Following an international selection process, 12 projects were selected to participate in the workshop, which took place in Sofia from 24 to 29 November 2025. French mentors Corinne Destombes and Olivier Catherin led the sessions, focusing on the development and effective pitching of animated projects. Participation in the workshop was free of charge, and the working language was English.
On 29 November, the participating projects were presented. Video recordings of the pitches were submitted to an international jury composed of representatives of the partner organizations. The jury announced the awarded projects on 30 January.
Following the evaluation by MIFA experts, five projects were selected among the workshop participants to take part in the Black Sea Partner Pitch event within the framework of MIFA 2026. The Annecy Festival will provide accreditation for the selected project representatives.
Bulgaria
• PUER AETHERNUS — Asi Petrov
Georgia
• THE BOY AND THE PERSIMMON TREE — Lina Aqulashvili
Ukraine
• CHERRY PIEROGI — Olha Havrylova & Mykyta Moiseiev
Romania
• GUILTY SILENCE — Alina Gheorghe
Türkiye
• THE FLY ON THE WALL — Şule Barman
The project DOLPHIN KICKS by Iva Tokmakchieva was awarded a one-month animation residency by NEF Animation at the Fontevraud Royal Abbey in April 2025.
The project I GAVE BIRTH TO MYSELF by Salome Kalandarishvili received a residency award at Saint-Quirin, granted by the international jury.
Another outstanding project, FAR AWAY by Pavel Koulev, was awarded participation in the CEE Animation Forum 2026.
The project HRADIVNYTSA by Alla Prokopyshyna was selected to participate in the SYAA Workshop in Bucharest, Romania
The third Black Sea Animated Workshop will take place in November 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye, bringing together animators from five Black Sea countries.
Contact:
Mariam Kandelaki
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www.saqanima.com
