PROGRAM
Hiroshima Animation Academy ＆ Meeting
SCHEDULE
Aug 20th (Thu) 13:00～ @To be disclosed to participants only
Program Overview
**Date & Time:** Thursday, August 20, 2026, 13:00–17:00
Following the success of the "EU-Japan Animation Business Workshop," held as an official initiative of the European Union at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, the official follow-up event, "EU-JAPAN Animation Business Workshop 2026," will be held. This workshop is co-organized by Hiroshima Animation Season 2026, the Delegation of the European Union to Japan, and New Way, New World: Program for Connecting Japanese Animators to the World, within the framework of the Hiroshima Animation Academy & Meeting (HAM)—a major networking event concurrently held during Hiroshima Animation Season 2026.
The objective of this workshop is to further strengthen the creative and economic ties between the European and Japanese animation industries. In last year's workshop, experts and industry professionals from Japan and the EU engaged in discussions across three categories: "International Co-production," "Distribution," and "IP." This upcoming workshop will focus on the potential for collaboration between the two regions in "small-scale features" and "short films," which possess both artistic expression and the potential as embryos for innovative business and IP. By discussing each region's funding schemes and approaches to business expansion, the event aims to build a shared understanding and lay the foundation for future collaborations.
From the EU side, the participants will include Draško Ivezić, who is visiting as an advisor for New Way, New World (NeW NeW) and a jury member for the HAM competition, along with two producers from the Central and Eastern European region (Karolina Davidová and Miha Černec), selected with the cooperation of "CEE Animation," an organization of animation professionals from Central and Eastern Europe.
On the Japanese side, Noriko Matsumoto (Nori) and Nobuaki Doi (New Deer / Hiroshima Animation Season Producer), who both participated in the "International Co-production" category during the previous workshop, joined as facilitators. They were joined by Fumie Takeuchi from Asmik Ace, which has actively engaged in international co-productions in recent years, and Tomonobu Ibe from Questry, who works with content funds. A public call for applications will be held for the remaining participants. In addition, Shogo Yasukawa (Kinematowars) and Xun Cai (Koganecho Area Management Center) will join as participants following a public call for applications.
Additionally, producers from various countries visiting the festival are scheduled to attend as observers.
Co-organized by: Hiroshima Animation Season, Delegation of the European Union to Japan, New Way, New World: Connecting Japanese Animators to the World (organized by :Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan / Japan Arts Council / Computer Graphic Arts Society)
In Cooperation with: CEE Animation
Guest
Participants: Draško Ivezić (Croatia / Adriatic Animation), Karolina Davidová (Czech Republic / 13-ka), Miha Černec (Slovenia, Italy / Staragara), Noriko Matsumoto (Japan / Nori), Fumie Takeuchi (Japan / Asmik Ace), Tomonobu Ibe (Questry), Shogo Yasukawa (Japan/Kinematowords), Cai Xun (Japan/Koganecho Area Management Center), Nobuaki Doi (Japan / New Deer)
Draško Ivezić (b. 1975 in Pula, Croatia) is an animated film director, screenwriter, producer, and voice actor based in Angoulême, France. He co-founded Adriatic Animation in Croatia and has collaborated with talent from across Eastern and Central Europe as a creative producer. Ivezić also helped establish Central Eastern European Animation, which supports industry networking and professional training for animation producers. Over 12 years, he has produced 14 short animated films, alongside various television and feature projects. His work has earned accolades at major festivals, including Animafest Zagreb, OIAF, and Annecy, while also being selected for Sundance, TIFF, and the Berlinale. In 2024, one of his productions was shortlisted for the Academy Awards. By nurturing emerging talents and driving forward new artistic visions, Ivezić continues to shape the global animation scene. His dedication to storytelling and collaborative projects has established him as a respected figure in international animation, with a focus on both creative innovation and professional development.
Karolina Davidova is an independent producer and co-founder of Prague-based production company 13ka, dedicated to auteur-driven animation and hybrid films with international ambitions. Her work focuses on original stories that combine artistic vision with emotional resonance, exploring themes of identity, cross cultural encounters, self-discovery and empowerment. She is particularly interested in projects that connect contemporary visual art with animation and foster meaningful international co-productions. Karolina is currently producing Inbetween Worlds, a European feature film developed in collaboration with Vietnamese and Singaporean partners, while also developing several animated features and series with European collaborators. She has participated in international industry programmes including EAVE Ties That Bind and Focus Asia, where she began building long-term relationships with Asian producers. She is now looking to expand these collaborations with Japanese partners and develop new opportunities for artistic co-production between Europe and Japan. At the EU–Japan Animation Business Workshop, she hopes to develop new partnerships for animated projects and explore long-term creative collaboration between Central Europe and Japan.
Miha Černec was born in 1975 in Ljubljana. He studied Slavic languages and literature at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. He stared working in film industry since year 2005. He is producing fiction, documentary, and Tv series. In 2014 he graduated at EAVE in 2014 and Ex- Oriente in 2015. In 2015 he was selected as Producer on the Move. He is EFA and EDN member and president of Asociation of Slovenian producers.
Producer / Screenwriter
Biography
For about 20 years, he has worked as a screenwriter for TV anime series, with notable titles including JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma.
In 2020, he established Kinematowars Co., Ltd. to focus on live-action film production.
In 2025, he served as Executive Producer for LOST LAND (directed by Akio Fujimoto), an international co-production between France, Germany, Japan, and Malaysia. The film won three awards, including the Special Jury Prize in the Orizzonti section at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. It has been screened at 48 film festivals across 24 countries worldwide, winning a total of 18 awards.
His other notable credits include Forgotten (2023 / directed by Yuichiro Taniguchi / Executive Producer & Screenplay Assistant) and The Unborn (2025 / directed by Shunsuke Nakajima / Production Co-organizer).
Xun Cai was born in Hangzhou, China. He earned his Master's degree in Media Cultures from the City University of Hong Kong. After working at art galleries and other cultural institutions in Hong Kong for eight years, he relocated to Yokohama in 2022. Since 2023, he has served as a curator at the Koganecho Area Management Center, planning and managing exhibitions, international exchange programs, and community-engaged art projects. He is also a co-founder of the collectives "Moromoro-za" and "bubba bubble," exploring possibilities for practice unconstrained by existing institutions and frameworks through film screenings, dialogues, and exhibitions set in traditional public bathhouses (sento).