The film by the Slovak animator had its world premiere at this year’s Berlinale. From New York, it will travel to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France (June 21-27, 2026), where it will compete in the Young Audiences section, dedicated to the youngest viewers (from toddlers to pre-teens), alongside nine other titles. The film is also screening these days at the Sydney Film Festival as part of the SFFTV programme.
The short animated film Tourists by director Mária Kralovič, which had its world premiere at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, will be screened at the prestigious Animafest Zagreb (June 8–13, 2026). Together with Annecy, it ranks among the most important festivals dedicated to animated film. The relationship drama is included, alongside 36 other titles, in the Grand Competition – Short Film section, which received more than 1,000 submissions. The film is currently also being presented in Italy (Short Film Competition at the CinemAmbiente Environmental Film Festival) and will screen in August at the Odense IFF in Denmark.
Slovak audiences will have the opportunity to see both films in the Slovak Competition of Shorts at the domestic International Animation Festival Fest Anča (June 30 – July 5, 2026), as well as in cinema distribution as shorts shown together with feature-length films (distributed by ASFK).
Director: Andrea Szelesová
Production: Pure Shore (CZ)
Co-production: ansze (SK), Cinepoint (CZ)
Slovak co-producer: Andrea Szelesová
Sales: Myiu Distribution, Luce Grosjean
I. Tribeca Film Festival | Shorts: Whoopi's Wonderful World of Animation |
Screenings:
June 6 | 12.15 | Spring Studios
June 13| 11.30 | AMC 19th St. East 6
II. Annecy International Animation Film Festival | Young Audiences |
Screenings:
June 21 | 13.30 | Petite salle – Bonlieu
June 22 | 17.00 | Petite salle – Bonlieu
June 24 | 14.00 | Pathé 3 - Pathé Annecy
June 24 | 16.00 | L'Auditorium Seynod
June 26 | 16.00 | La Turbine
June 27 | 10.00 | Petite salle – Bonlieu
June 27 | 16.00 | Cinéma Le Mikado
CZ – SK | 2026 | 13 min. | animation
In the clouds high above Earth lies a mythical playground where children of Greek gods and monsters come to play. Among them is Yios, a little boy with a shining sun for a head and an explosive energy that keeps the other children at a distance. When Yios creates yet another disaster, the annoyed children devise a prank, causing Yios to fall down to Earth. However, in this strange and unfamiliar place, Yios meets a curious boy. This unexpected encounter will change everything… Inspired by ancient mythology and Minoan frescoes, the film explores themes of otherness, empathy, and the search for balance through the eyes of a child.
Interview with Andrea Szelesová
| Grand Competition – Short Film 5 |
Director: Mária Kralovič
Production: NOVINSKI (SK)
Co-production: Novanima productions (FR), Evolution films (CZ)
Slovak producer: Agata Novinski
Sales: Novanima
Screenings:
June 9 | 18.00 | Kinoteka
June 12 | 20.00 | Cinema SC
SK – FR – CZ | 2026 | 15 min. | animation
A routine work trip for married couple Hana and Kornel suddenly turns into an adventurous strugglefor survival. In a remote forest, far from civilization, they are forced to face not only the wilderness, but also the fragile terrain of their long-term, stagnant relationship.
Slovak illustrator Alexandra Just:
