In the Beginning of June, Greg and Max from the Trash team had the chance to represent our movie at the prestigious Animafest Zagreb.
Animafest Zagreb is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious festivals dedicated entirely to auteur animation. Founded in 1972 in Croatia, it showcases a carefully curated selection of short and feature films from around the globe. Known for its bold programming, warm atmosphere, and strong cultural identity, Animafest has become a key meeting point for animation lovers, professionals, and emerging talents alike.
In that state of mind, we were very honored to travel all the way to Zagreb to attend the event. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the organizers and truly appreciated the care and attention given to all the filmmakers.
A beautiful selection
We were deeply impressed by the quality and diversity of this year’s selection, powerful, daring, and inspiring films from around the world.
Here is a few of personal favorites from the student selection (we would love to be able to cite them all here but this article would be way too long):
Crow, Starfish and Unicorn from Xioaxuan Han, a poetic short about a unicorn losing its horn and turning into a crow, Qui part à la chasse from Léa Favre, a sweet stop-motion movie that takes a dark turn when the Hunter starts getting hunted and Take me drunk I’m home from Nolan Downs. I’d like a special shoutout to the really sweet Jeanne et Jean Jean from Thanys Martin, in which love confronts the consumer society with musical inspiration and a lot of humor.
With all those movies in mind, it was even more of an honor to be part of the 2025 edition, surrounded by passionate creators and an engaged audience.
One of the best parts of our time at Animafest was the people we met. The vibe was refreshingly unfiltered, relaxed, spontaneous, and almost punk in spirit. Between screenings and late-night hangs, we connected with filmmakers, students, and animation lovers from all over the world. Conversations flowed effortlessly, whether at the official events or sprawled out on the grass at the festival’s iconic picnic. There was a real sense of community. It felt good to be surrounded by people who are just as obsessed with weird stories, bold styles, and making things that matter.
And we had a blast at the closing party’s karaoke in which we both lost our voices wailing to Rage Against the Machine.
Discovering Zagreb
Beyond the festival itself, Zagreb left a strong impression on us. The city feels like a beautiful collision of contrasts, with historic architecture sitting side by side with raw, expressive street art. In search of a place to cool down, we discovered the impressive 350m of tunnel carved into the hillside, which were used in the 1991-1995 war to protect the population from bombings. It's a city full of charm and character, and we loved getting lost in its streets despite the killing heat.
Besides a few quacks as we left the country (someone crashed their private jet, letting us enjoy the Zagreb airport for almost 14 hours), we left Zagreb with full hearts, inspired minds, and a deep appreciation for everything Animafest gave us. From the films and the people to the city itself. Being part of such a thoughtfully curated and artistically rich event was an honor, and we’re truly grateful for the warm welcome and support we received.
Thank you to the entire Animafest Zagreb team for creating a space where animation, community, and creative freedom can thrive. We hope to return soon!
Max
Team Trash
