"I Am Akiko" Animated Film Features Music by Ljubičice, Premieres at Lisbon and Stuttgart Festivals
The animated film I Am Akiko is set to make its debut on major festival screens in Lisbon and Stuttgart!
The film follows an unusual school day for Akiko, a young girl who sees the world through a different lens. During an art class, instead of the traditional winter scene, she presents her unique experience of snow, which leads her into trouble. However, her extraordinary imagination sparks creativity throughout the entire classroom, even inspiring the strict teacher.
Based on the acclaimed novel by Stefan Tićmić, I Am Akiko won the prestigious Politikin Zabavnik literary award in 2018. The book quickly became a hit with young readers and was later included in the prestigious list of the 200 best children's books in the world by the International Youth Library in Munich in 2019. Akiko's character has also inspired many artists, with a 400-square-meter mural of her image adorning the walls of Belgrade.
The film was created by a talented team led by To Blink Animation, a production company from Serbia, with producers Andrijana Sofranić Šućur and Vojin Vasović at the helm. The film’s worldwide distribution is handled by Bear With Me Distribution from Slovakia.
Directed and edited by Damir Romanov, who co-wrote the screenplay with Stefan Tićmić, the film features an original score by Ljubičice. The main animators include Ana Jelić, Sandra Marić, Tamara Maksimović, and Fedor Marić. The voice cast stars Maša Dakić as Akiko and Mirjana Trebinjac as the teacher. The sound design was crafted by Petar Stevanović and Vuk Stevanović, while Nikola Stepković worked on the special effects.
The film’s visual identity was shaped by art directors Sonja Varga and Nikola Stepković, and the coproducers were Mladen Đukić and Bojana Pavić from AEON Production (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The project received support from the Film Center Serbia and the Audiovisual Center of the Republic of Srpska.
I Am Akiko is already achieving success—unanimously chosen as the Best Children’s Film at the European Animation Film Festival Balkanim. The film will have its international premiere at the prestigious MONSTRA Animation Film Festival in Lisbon, selected for the "MONSTRINHA 2025" competition in the short film category for children aged 3 to 5. It is also officially included in the Tricks for Kids program at the International Animation Film Festival in Stuttgart (ITFS).
With its compelling story and distinctive visual style, I Am Akiko continues to win the hearts of audiences, proving that imagination is the most powerful tool in discovering the world.