The Wily Ones

by Zarja Menart

Z vsemi žavbami namazani, animated, digital DCP, 1,77:1 (16:9), 25, c, 6 min
In progress

Fragments of grandparents’ memories take us back to days when the world smelled of rivers, forests, and freshly manured fields. People were tough, cows and horses were trusted sidekicks, and children ran on curious freedom and clever tricks, always ready to turn chores into pranks.

screenwriters
Jerneja Kaja Balog, Zarja Menart, Gregor Zorc
director
Zarja Menart
producer
Tina Smrekar
lead animator
Zarja Menart
animators
Matej Lavrenčič, Iza Ambrožič Simončič, Anka Kočevar
music composer
Boštjan Gombač
film editor
Iva Kraljević
sound designer
Julij Zornik

production
Finta Film
co-production
RTV Slovenija
in collaboration with
Film Studio Viba Film
co-funding
Slovenian Film Centre
distribution
Bear With Me Distribution
sales
Bear With Me Distribution

Finta
Tina Smrekar
tina@finta.si

Bear With Me Distribution
Lucia Dubravay Trautenberger
lucia@bearwithmefilm.com

Zarja Menart works as an animated film director, animator, illustrator, and art director. Her directorial debut, the sensitive animated film Three Birds (2024) in multiplane technique received several awards. As a lead animator and illustrator, she has also collaborated on films such as Nighthawk and Steakhouse. She graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana.

“With this animated film, I revive memories shared by the people of Bela Krajina, from a time when work, nature, and play were inseparably woven into everyday life. Through vivid and humorous scenes, I invite younger audiences into an unknown world shaped by the past, while offering adults a sense of familiarity and nostalgia for a time when life was closely tied to the land and the community.”

Finta Film specializes in author-driven animated films. They create exceptional animation experiences that push the boundaries of artistic expression, storytelling, and innovation. Through dedication to handcrafted animation techniques, they breathe life into characters, evoke emotions, and transport the viewers to mesmerizing worlds that captivate their imagination.