After the Covid-induced break, GoCritic!, the training programme for emerging European film journalists and critics, returns with a two-year partnership with the Animation Festival Network (AFN). AFN comprises Animest International Animation Film Festival (Bucharest, Romania), 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 first workshop will take place at Animest from 9 to 17 October, with six Romanian participants who have already been selected and whose articles will be published on Cineuropa and Zippy Frames, as well as on the festival's website. This workshop will be tutored by GoCritic! Head of Studies, Vladan Petković.

The call for international participants for the second workshop at Animateka Ljubljana (28 November - 4 December) is now open at this link. Up to six promising film journalist and critics will be chosen and their tutoring and accommodation expenses will be covered by the programme. Scotland-based film critic, writer and curator Michael Pattison (Sight & Sound, KINO!, Ekran, Film Comment, Reverse Shot, MUBI) will be the tutor. The deadline for applications is 24 October.

Animateka Ljubljana is an international festival that focuses on high quality auteur animated film and every December presents the peak production of short animated films from Central and Eastern Europe in its main competition programme. Sidebars include the most original European student films, carefully selected international films for children and teenagers as well as various special programmes.

In addition to the rich film programme, audiences get to enjoy an abundance of events such as talks with authors, masterclasses, round tables, a regional pitching session (all within the industry-oriented platform AnimatekaPRO), workshops, exhibitions, concerts and informal gatherings. Animateka's goal is to be a focal point where professionals from both the region and the world can meet, create collaborations and co-productions, and at the same time spark interest in the local public and get them to fall in love with animated film.

The call for participants is here and the deadline is set for 24 October. For more information and any questions, please contact gocritic@cineuropa.org.

GoCritic!@AFN is a training programme for emerging European film journalists and critics, organised by AFN - Animation Festival Network in partnership with Cineuropa and Zippy Frames and co-financed by the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme of the European Union.