Valentas Aškinis is one of the most prominent Lithuanian animators, head of Vilanimos Film Studio UAB (Lith. UAB Vilanimos filmų studija.) The well-known animator in Lithuania works on film projects; furthermore, he has spent many years lecturing at the Vilnius College of Technologies and Design and is the head of the study programme Multimedia Design. In cooperation with partners, V. Aškinis has been organising the international animation film festival Tindirindis since 2003.

Mirtad Gazazian is an Armenian filmmaker with 40 years of experience in the cartoon industry. He has worked in many countries as an independent animation professional on long and short animated films and animated series. From the early 1980s onwards, Mirtad began drawing cartoons which were published in the press. Mirtad has participated in many international cartoon competitions.

“I am very lucky to have been invited to participate in this great European programme and to be a part of it. And I was especially lucky to meet Valentas Aškinis, it was a perfect match,” says Mirtad Gazazian, welcoming the results of the programme and thanking all the people he encountered, especially Valentas Aškinis, Ilja Bereznickas, and Deimantė Vilčinskaitė (the curator of the project, representative of Vilnius CCIC).

His one-month stay in Vilnius was very productive. The artists worked together to organise workshops and screenings for students of the Vilnius College of Technologies and Design, and discussed the history of Armenian animation. By the way, Mirtad Gazazian also took part in another EU4Business Connecting Companies project before deciding to participate in the Mobility Scheme. He participated in a 5-day study visit and B2B meetings between SMEs from the Eastern Partners and EU countries active in the film industry, organised at Meeting Point–Vilnius during the Vilnius International Film Festival Cinema Spring (Lith. Kino pavasaris).

The visit concluded with Mirtad’s exhibition Cartoons are Simple (Lith. Su karikatūromis viskas paprasta) at Vilnius College of Technologies and Design, the opening event of which was also attended by the Ambassador of Armenia to Lithuania, Mr Hovahnnes Igityan. The event also hosted a retrospective of Armenian cartoons. The exhibition is open until September, come check it out!

“Mirtad and I have a lot in common, we share many interests. We have also shared our teaching experiences and highlights of our creative paths. I am delighted that we will continue the cooperation that has been established during this programme. Mirtad and his studio Banzay Production and I are planning a Lithuanian-Armenian co-production on my latest animated film The Magical Journey to Tandarika,” says Valentas Aškinis.

We look forward to the premiere and wish them the best of luck!