KOSICE, SLOVAKIA, June 9, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - The original film by Vlado Zeleznák Jr. has achieved remarkable international success. The new Slovak-Japanese animated sci-fi film Angel & Meow celebrated its World Premiere by winning the prestigious Crystal Pine Award. The film proved its quality against an immense global competition of nearly 1,000 entries from 81 countries. This achievement is particularly notable as the film was produced as a fully independent project by the Slovak company GONG Art Company, led by Vlado Zeleznák Sr.The success took place at the 14th International Sound & Film Music Festival (ISFMF) in Varazdin, Croatia, which ranks among the world’s three most significant festivals dedicated to film music and sound. The gala ceremony was held in the magnificent historic setting of the Croatian National Theatre (HNK Varazdin).
In the Company of Oscar Winners and Hollywood Stars The winners were selected by a prestigious international jury consisting of elite professionals—recipients and nominees of Oscar, Emmy, BAFTA, Grammy, and César awards. The jury president for this year was the legendary and respected actor Ciarán Hinds. Widely considered one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation, Hinds is known to audiences for global blockbusters such as Game of Thrones, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the Oscar-winning drama Belfast, and the animated phenomenon Frozen.
Slovak creators stood on stage alongside the world’s absolute elite. Other award-winning personalities at this year’s festival included Hollywood actor Simon Pegg (Mission: Impossible, Star Trek), who received a Lifetime Achievement Award, and Oscar-winning sound designer James Mather (Top Gun: Maverick). The Slovak team shared the spotlight with elite sound professionals from the film Sirât, including Yasmina Praderas (Goya winner and Oscar nominee) and Laia Casanovas (European Film Award and Goya winner).
Personal Moments from the Festival Stage The heart and engine of the project is Slovak producer, screenwriter, composer, and sound designer Vlado Zeleznák Jr., who accepted the award directly from the festival directors. During the gala, he experienced unforgettable personal encounters with the world’s biggest film stars.
"When we stood on stage after the announcement, I expressed my appreciation to the jury president, Ciarán Hinds, for his work. I was delighted that he already recognized our film—he responded immediately with a wide smile by singing the title of our project. It was a pleasant and spontaneous experience," recalls Vlado Zeleznák Jr.
The meeting with Hollywood actor Simon Pegg was equally emotional. "I spoke with Simon on the day of the World Premiere, where I had the opportunity to introduce our film to him personally. When we met again on stage the next day during the awards ceremony, it was great to see that he was familiar with Angel & Meowand congratulated me with a smile again. These moments are a huge encouragement for my future work," adds the Slovak creator.
The entire event was managed by the festival founders. The gala was hosted by Artistic Director Ozren K. Glaser, who publicly congratulated Vlado Zeleznák Jr. on stage, while Executive Director Marijana Glaser ceremoniously presented the Crystal Pine Award.
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