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21st edition
October 2-11, 2026

Pitch, Please! - 8th edition

Animation film directors and producers from Romania and the Republic of Moldova were invited to turn their unrealized ideas into tangible projects by applying to the eighth edition of Pitch, Please!, the project development program organized as part of the Animest festival.

Designed for short film projects in the pre-production stage, the workshop aimed to support and promote animation creators by giving them the opportunity to develop and refine their projects with the guidance of industry professionals. The program will conclude with a pitching session, during which participants will present their projects to a jury and an audience of industry professionals.

 

Selected projects

  • Volcano,  Adina Oana Enache
  • Master of the two worlds, Adèle Coulloudon
  • Trecere, Lavinia Petrache
  • Kupi's Workout Routine, Teodora Crismariuc
  • ȘTIMA, Alex Halka
  • Balabanovka Resort, Lenuța

 

The workshop will focus on script development, character design, and pitching techniques under the guidance of the following mentors:

  • Dan Panaitescu – 2D animator and animation director, known for his long-standing collaboration with Anca Damian on animated feature films since 2010.
  • Cristian Pascariu – Director and screenwriter, internationally recognized for his short films and for the documentary NASTY, which he co-directed in 2024 and which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

 

The three animation professionals serving on the Pitch, Please! jury are:

  • Anastasia Dimitra, director and producer of audiovisual works, she holds a PhD in the Art of Animation, awarded by Middlesex University in London. In 2025, she was elected president of ASIFA International (International Animated Film Association).
  • Dora Bencerić, coordinator of the "Rise&Shine pitching lab for young talents" project, which takes place at two prestigious animation festivals: the World Festival of Animated Film – Animafest Zagreb and Animateka - International Animated Film Festival. 
  • Vessela Dantcheva, producer at Compote Collective and professor at the New Bulgarian University. 

 

The winners of this edition will be guaranteed participation in the Rise & Shine and Black Sea Workshop programs.

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