Producer Matea Milić passed away at the age of 45 after a brave battle with illness.
Matea Milić graduated in Art History and Slovak Language and Literature from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb. She joined the production company Hulahop in 2012 as Office Manager, and in 2015 became a producer of the World Festival of Animated Film – Animafest Zagreb.
With her knowledge, exceptional organisational skills and dedication, she made an invaluable contribution to the development of the festival, shaping it through production coordination, collaboration with domestic and international partners, and the development of the professional programme Animafest PRO. She also led the Rise & Shine project, a pitching laboratory for the development of animated projects by emerging authors, and served as coordinator of the international Animation Festival Network (AFN) from its founding in 2020. As a member of the Croatian Producers’ Association, she represented the association in the CEE Animation initiative, and through her work also participated in numerous international selection committees and festival juries.
Matea left a profound mark on the Croatian and international animation community.
At Hulahop, we will remember her for her professionalism, reliability, dedication and the warmth with which she built friendships, as well as for her immense contribution to Animafest Zagreb and to all of us who had the privilege of working with her. With her cheerful spirit and her constant willingness to help her colleagues, Matea was deeply loved in our office and will be profoundly missed. On behalf of Hulahop, we extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends.
