ESC: Volunteer in Kosovo and organize a filmfestival in the Balkan!

Anibar has been a registered NGO in Kosovo since 2010. It is an organization of passionate activists that encourages young people to express their ideas and worldview through animation and to discuss important social subjects pertinent to the youth of Kosovo. Anibar’s mission is to commit itself to breaking civic apathy through cultural activism. Through its recent updated strategy, Anibar has adapted three areas/programs of activities which include civic education, culture development, and film production, with sub-program of development and management of passive public spaces to create institutional knowledge and good practices of governance. The balance between the activities of each program allows Anibar to be active throughout the year, continuously delivering the mission of the organization. Anibar is an association with membership, with the Member Assembly being the decision-making body. The members of Anibar are various activists from Peja and other cities. The organization also has an Advisory Board which advises management on everyday operations, but has no decision-making entitlement. The Anibar team are professionals with diverse backgrounds that include project management, artistic skillset, media and PR expertise, and creative logistics/administrative solutions. Anibar has established a reputation as a responsible, innovative and inclusive organization locally, nationally and internationally. Since 2010, Anibar has completed 50+ projects and have successfully worked together with local and International partners. Anibar is particularly proud of the successful completion of 9 editions of the Anibar International Animation Festival, the only festival of its kind in Kosovo. It is one of the biggest cultural events in the country and continuous to grows in the number of visitors, activities, and films from year to year. Other Anibar projects include the Anibar Animation Academy, “Animation of Activism” workshops, Film Club, the Junior Oscar program, Anibar on Tour, Art n’rrugë, Cine Bike, Barcamp Peja and the development of a youth volunteer program. Furthermore, Anibar is currently managing the cinema Jusuf Gervalla, according to the 15-year lease with the Municipality of Peja to revitalize the city cinema. The main annual project of the organization is the Anibar International Animation Festival that takes place each summer in Peja since 2010. Activities that take place during the festival week are; film screenings in five competition categories, presentations, masterclasses, animation workshops, panels related to the theme of the festival, concerts, artistic performances, networking activities, etc. During the previous editions of the festival, different themes have been treated, such as gender equality, utilization of public spaces, migration and global warming. More than 50 international guests are invited each edition and up to 70 volunteers are engaged on event management, media promotion, guest service and logistics. Regular activities throughout the year in cinema include choral concerts, screenings of documentary, educational, artistic films and panel discussions. Occasionally, the screenings are followed by open discussions and panels with speakers from respective fields. Anibar is running two Animation Academies, in Peja and Prishtina that lasts three months each cohort. Since Anibar is the only organization working with/for animation in Kosovo and there is no animation school in Kosovo, the purpose of both academies is to educate and empower new generations of animators. Target group and beneficiaries of the organization are the local and international art and culture followers, social activists (and/or ARTivists), national cultural institutions, young filmmakers/animators, high school students, media, and local and national educational institutions.