18/09/2025 - Ten participants will be selected for workshops of film journalism and criticism, including a video component, at four member festivals of the Animation Festival Network

GoCritic!, the training programme for emerging film journalists and critics, is continuing with the second year of its current collaboration with AFN - Animation Festival Network, in partnership with Cineuropa and Zippy Frames, and co-financed by the Creative Europe - MEDIA programme of the European Union.

Similarly to last year, a total of ten participants will attend multiple workshops within the Animation Festival Network. Between December 2025 and July 2026, each GoCritic! participant will have the opportunity to professionally develop at two of the following festivals: Animateka International Animated Film Festival (Ljubljana, Slovenia), Anifilm International Festival of Animated Films (Liberec, Czech Republic), World Festival of Animated Film - Animafest Zagreb (Croatia) and Fest Anča International Animation Festival (Žilina, Slovakia). The participants' articles will be published on Cineuropa and Zippy Frames.

The curriculum applies a cumulative approach, meaning that each participant's progress will be closely evaluated in order to best address their professional needs, skills and interests, with attention paid to both their strengths and weak points. The goal is to systematically cover all aspects of film journalism and criticism so that participants emerge from the workshops with wide-ranging knowledge, improved skills and increased professional opportunities. In addition, this round of workshops will include the element of video journalism and criticism, set to take place at Animafest Zagreb alongside the regular writing workshop.

The workshops will led by seasoned and acclaimed film journalists and critics, such as past tutors Neil Young, Jessica Kiang, Dana Linssen, Carmen Gray, video journalism tutor Ana Stanić (Head of Video Department at Cineuropa) and GoCritic! Head of Studies Vladan Petković. The workshop sessions will be conducted in English.

The call is now open and the application form along with detailed information is here. The application deadline is set for 17 October 2025. Selected participants will be provided with accommodation, up to 150 euros for travel expenses for each workshop, meals and drinks, press accreditations, access to all screenings, social and industry events, press conferences and parties. 

In order to ensure attendance, participants will be required to pay a 75 euro refundable deposit one month before the start of each workshop.

For any questions, please write to gocritic@cineuropa.org.

GoCritic! aims to train a new generation of writers and creators producing content about cinema on an international level. The main objective is to improve their skills through practical work, honing their ability to interpret and critique films, work hands-on with an experienced editor, follow an industry-standard publishing process and grow their network.