SYAA 2026 Participants

Following a highly competitive selection process, with 70 applications submitted, the SYAA selection committee has chosen 11 participants and their projects to take part in Sisterhood of Young Animation Auteurs 2026, which will take place in Bucharest between March 8-14, 2026.

This edition is a real milestone for the program, as for the first time the selected participants come from all the countries part of the SYAA network: Romania, the Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Ukraine. This achievement highlights SYAA’s growing regional relevance and its active role in building international connections within the animation industry. By bringing together talents from across Central and Eastern Europe, SYAA creates a space where we meet, exchange ideas, learn from each other, and gradually build connections that continue well beyond the program.

SYAA 2026 Selected Participants and Projects:

• Dana Tileva - Om (Bulgaria)

• Laura Martinović - Starving Pig (Croatia)

• Julie Cerna - Redefining Island (the Czech Republic)

• Petra Mikolasova - Spoiled and Sovereign (the Czech Republic)

• Alicja Liss - Soft Spot (the Czech Republic)

• Buzu Lenuța - Ego on Stage (Republic of Moldova)

• Iris Arsu - SKIP (Romania)

• Martina Malovanikova - The Bond (Slovakia)

• Bibi Erjavec - Truth Be Told It’s Mostly Empty Space (Slovenia)

• Alla Dmitrievna Prokopyshyna - Hradivnytsa (Ukraine)

• Alina Kostikova - Summer Project (Ukraine)

At its core, SYAA remains committed to supporting women in the animation industry, offering a structured framework for professional growth through mentorship, peer exchange, and hands-on development. Step by step, the program encourages participants to strengthen their creative voices and advance their projects in a supportive and international environment.

The workshops and presentations will be led by an exceptional lineup of industry professionals, including Katarzyna Gromadzka (producer, Poland/Spain), Raluca Mănescu (screenwriter, Romania),  Mélody Boulissière (animator, director, France), Theo Pârvu (legal consultant, Romania), Damian Groves (director, producer, UK/Romania) and Karin Fisslathaler (artist, Austria).

We congratulate all selected participants and look forward to following the development of their projects during SYAA 2026 in Bucharest!

For more details about the Sisterhood of Young Animation Auteurs, follow our website and social media platforms.