Producer Matea Milić Passes Away
Long-time producer of Animafest Zagreb and member of Hulahop has died at the age of 45 after a battle with illness.
Long-time producer of Animafest Zagreb and member of Hulahop has died at the age of 45 after a battle with illness.
Croatia's cultural scene has lost a prominent producer, Matea Milić, who passed away at the age of 45 after a courageous battle with illness. The news of her death was announced on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and confirmed by the production company Hulahop, of which she was a long-time member.
Matea Milić graduated in art history and Slovak language from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb. She began her professional career at Hulahop in 2012 as an office manager. Just three years later, in 2015, she became the producer of the World Festival of Animated Film, Animafest Zagreb.
Over the years, she made an invaluable contribution to the festival's development, coordinating production and collaborating with domestic and international partners. She was particularly instrumental in developing the Animafest PRO professional program.
Her work was not limited to the domestic scene. As part of the Rise & Shine project, conceived as a laboratory for presenting and developing animated works by young creatives, she led its implementation. Since the founding of the international Animation Festival Network (AFN) in 2020, she served as its coordinator.
Within the Croatian Producers' Association, she acted as its representative in the CEE Animation initiative. She also participated in numerous international selection committees and festival juries, confirming her status as a respected expert in the world of animated film.
The production company Hulahop bid farewell to Matea with an emotional message on social media.
"Dear Matea, together with you, we believed a miracle would happen,"their post reads.
In a long and touching tribute, they added:
"We at Hulahop 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 nature, always ready to help colleagues, Matea was beloved in our office and will be deeply missed."
The final farewell to Matea Milić will take place on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 12:00 PM in the Great Hall of the Crematorium at Zagreb's Mirogoj Cemetery. Through her dedicated work and warmth, she left a deep mark on the Croatian and international animated film community.
