REX Animation Film Festival

“Why should I work for someone else’s film when I can do my own film?” 💥 From being the kid in class who was good at drawing to becoming an internationally recognized, award-winning stop-motion director, Anna Mantzaris’ career path wasn’t planned from the start, but it was built step by step. During the last edition of REX Animation Festival, we had the pleasure of interviewing Anna and hearing about her incredible journey through art school in Norway, mastering her talent at the Royal College of Art in London, and bringing masterpieces that have traveled through animation festivals worldwide. Enjoy the full interview with Anna Mantzaris. Lin link in bio #Womeninanimation, #SwedishAnimation , #Stopmotion, #PuppetAnimation, #NorthernAnimationArtist

“The best feedback I ever got was women saying they could see themselves in my work.” ❤️ Jenni uses her art to tackle tough topics like mental health. Her moving paintings help express those feelings that are usually hard to put into words. In our latest interview, Jenni talks about her creative evolution, her time at RCA, and the transition from making films about her own experiences to her latest project, “Dollhouse Elephant.” Link in bio #Womeninanimation #FinnishAnimation #Stopmotion #2DAnimation #HandDrawnAnimation NorthernAnimationArtist

Joni Männistö told us about his journey from a kid surrounded by VHS tapes to an award-winning animator. He shared what it was like studying in Turku under the legendary Priit Pärn, where he learned to ditch dialogue and let the movement do the talking. Joni gets real about the lack of funding in the indie scene and the struggle to get projects off the ground. In this interview, he talks about his school years and his creative process from the very first spark of an idea to the freedom of knowing that in animation, nothing can hold your imagination back. Watch the full interview 👉 https://youtu.be/Bc8X7fVUKW4?si=nR6iL-hW0m_YHOVh - Northern Animation Network (NAN) is a collaborative project uniting animation festivals across the region: BLON Animacijos ir video žaidimų festivalis Viborg Animation Festival Fredrikstad Animation Festival and REX Animation Festival. It is dedicated to celebrate, connect , and inspire animation creators from the region. The project is proudly funded by Creative Europe MEDIA. See less #FinnishAnimation #Stopmotion #PuppetAnimation #2DAnimation #HandDrawnAnimation #NorthernAnimationArtist

Joni Männistö told us about his journey from a kid surrounded by VHS tapes to an award-winning animator. He shared what it was like studying in Turku under the legendary Priit Pärn, where he learned to ditch dialogue and let the movement do the talking. Joni gets real about the lack of funding in the indie scene and the struggle to get projects off the ground. In this interview, he talks about his school years and his creative process from the very first spark of an idea to the freedom of knowing that in animation, nothing can hold your imagination back. 🔗 Link in bio! #FinnishAnimation #Stopmotion #PuppetAnimation #2DAnimation #HandDrawnAnimation

From curiosity to craft. From doubt to mastery. 🎭Endre Skandfer opens up about a lifetime devoted to animation, from the Norwegian classics that sparked his obsession, to the grueling realities of feature film production, and why animation remains one of the best magic tricks ever. Watch Endre's full story on Northern Animation Network YouTube channel 🎬✨ Clip from Dunder (2016)

⚡We’re launching FRAME — a new international research project on the animation industry⚡ We’re excited to begin work on FRAME (Focused Research on Animation: Mapping & Evaluation) — a joint initiative by @linoleumfestival (Ukraine 🇺🇦), @rexanimation (Sweden 🇸🇪), and @blonfest (Lithuania 🇱🇹). The project aims to build a shared understanding of how the animation sector functions across our countries — from education and production to financing models, market access, and international collaboration. Through research, interviews, and data collection, we will map the current landscape and identify key challenges and opportunities for growth. Alongside the research, we will also develop a series of case studies based on real animation projects. These will help trace their development paths — from early stages to international circulation — highlighting growth trajectories, obstacles, decision-making processes, and the practical challenges creators face along the way. FRAME is designed not only as a study, but as a practical tool — to support industry professionals, strengthen cross-border collaboration, and contribute to informed cultural policy. This project is funded by the Swedish Institute The results of the research will be presented publicly later this year. Stay tuned — and if you’re part of the animation sector, we’ll soon invite you to contribute. #FundedbySI #SvenskaInstitutet #SharingSweden

“Animation is where nothing is impossible.” ✨ In our latest video interview, Karla Nor Holmbäck (@karlaholmback ) reflects on her journey from childhood sketches to building entire worlds through film. She shares what draws her to storytelling for children, the joy of working in creative communities, and the challenges of shaping ideas over time. From quiet inspiration in nature to the realities of funding and collaboration, Karla offers a thoughtful and personal glimpse into the life of an animation director. Discover a story about curiosity, connection, and creating something meaningful for others. 🎬 Watch the full interview on Northern Animation Youtube channel – link in bio. #Womeninanimation #DanishAnimation #NorthernAnimationArtist

“It’s like stepping into someone’s brain.” 🧠 We sat down with the visionary Niki Lindroth von Bahr to talk about the strange, miniature worlds she builds. From the struggle of paying rent as an indie artist to the magic of the international festival circuit, Niki gets real about what it takes to make “genius films” in a chaotic industry. Explore the dark, beautiful, and deeply human side of animation. 🎬 Watch the full interview at the link in our bio. #NikiLindrothVonBahr #StopMotion #AnimationLife #IndieFilm #ArtistTalk Womeninanimation SwedishAnimation Stopmotion PuppetAnimation NorthernAnimationArtist

Can you stumble into a career? “Yes, you can,” says Ignas Meilūnas (@ignas.meilunas ), a Lithuanian animation director, in a new interview on the Northern Animation Youtube channel. Ignas has spent nearly two decades bringing inanimate objects to life through stop-motion. In this conversation, he reflects on a childhood spent dismantling toys and building strange constructions by hand—an instinct that eventually led him to animation. He talks about discovering animation almost by accident through 3D modeling, and the moment static objects suddenly began to move and feel alive. Ignas also reflects on the patience and endurance behind a craft where twelve hours of work might result in only a few seconds of movement, and on choosing curiosity and passion over a carefully planned career. Watch the full interview now 👉 link to Northern Animation Youtube channel in bio #LithuanianAnimation #Stopmotion #PuppetAnimation #NorthernAnimationArtist

“Animation isn’t just about movement – it’s about giving a character a universe, emotions, and a mythology,” says illustrator, animation director and concept artist @nathanjurevicius   A new video interview with Nathan is now available on the Northern Animation Youtube channel 🎬   In this wide-ranging conversation, he traces his path from illustration and early digital animation to large-scale storytelling across film, games and design. He discusses animation as a medium where characters, emotions and worlds can fully unfold, shaped by influences including early morning cartoons, Japanese animation and the surreal logic of H.R. Pufnstuf.   Nathan also reflects on how his Lithuanian and Latvian heritage has shaped his visual language, and his drive to continue mythology by creating new stories rooted in cultural memory.   👉 Watch the full interview now! #IndieAnimation #3Danimation #BalticMythology #ArtistInterview #NorthernAnimationArtist

Meet Anu-Laura Tuttelberg, an Estonian stop motion filmmaker. In the latest Northern Animation Network Artists Series interview, Anu-Laura reflects on her journey from photography and cinematography to puppet animation, her preference for working alone, and her commitment to slow, physically demanding processes. This deeply reflective conversation explores filming in natural environments, working with materials such as wood and porcelain, and the belief that the act of making a film must be as meaningful as the finished work itself. 💡 Northern Animation Network is a collaborative project uniting animation festivals across the region: Viborg Animation Festival (Denmark), Fredrikstad Animation Festival (Norway), REX Animation Festival (Sweden), and BLON Animation and Games Festival (Lithuania). It is dedicated to celebrate, connect, and inspire animation creators from the region. The project is proudly funded by Creative Europe MEDIA. Watch now on YouTube 👉 @Northern Animation

Submissions are open! 🎉 The Northern Animation Network has opened submissions for @blonfest , @animfest , @rexanimation and @viborganimationfestival . You can submit your film to FOUR animation film festivals at one time. Find us at Northern Animation Network on @filmfreeway With support for Creative Media Europe, joint submissions make it easier for your film to be submitted to multiple festivals in the region.