Slovak Animated Sci-Fi Film "Angel & Meow" Set for World Premiere at One of the World's Top Film Music Festivals
BRATISLAVA / VARAŽDIN – Slovak animation is celebrating another international milestone. The short sci-fi film Angel & Meow, produced by GONG Art Company, has been selected for the prestigious official selection of the International Sound & Film Music Festival (ISFMF). The ISFMF is globally recognized as one of the three largest and most important sound and film music festivals in the world.
The film, which features contributions from world-class creators including two-time Grammy winner Vlado Meller, will hold its world premiere on May 22nd at CineStar Cinemas in Varaždin, Croatia.
An Immersive Audio-Visual Odyssey
Angel & Meow is a visionary animated journey defined by its creators as an immersive audio-visual experience. This non-verbal film blurs the lines between reality and the cosmos through monumental sound architecture. It blends a hyper-realistic tribute to the cinematic city of Cannes with a breathtaking leap into the farthest reaches of the galaxy. Without dialogue, the story relies on precise visuals and a dominant musical score that carries the entire emotional weight of the work.
„The project is the result of a unique international collaboration aimed at creating a universal story understandable to audiences anywhere in the world,“ explains Vlado Železňák Jr., the film’s screenwriter, composer, and lead producer, who is also the founder of the international FMC – Film Music Contest & Festival.
Japanese Animation Meets Global Cooperation
Slovak company GONG Art Company serves as the production lead and fully managed the musical and post-production phases. The film was created in close partnership with the Japanese animation team at Adarnia Studio, operating under Fuji Project Co., Ltd..
The visual direction and animation were led by Clemhyn Escosora, an award-winning filmmaker based in Tokyo.
„Vlado’s script and his vision for the film resonated with me so much that I decided to accept the offer and work on this film with my team,“ says Escosora.
Escosora brings over twelve years of experience in the creative industry, specializing in 3D modeling and immersive environments. His impressive portfolio includes technical contributions to major Hollywood productions for Paramount Pictures, such as Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, as well as Netflix’s hit series Alice in Borderland.
Sound in the Hands of a Legend
The technical and artistic quality of the sound is guaranteed by a legend of global mastering, Vlado Meller. His work is part of human heritage, with his mastering appearing on the golden record aboard the Voyager spacecraft. Over his storied career, he has collaborated with icons such as Céline Dion, Andrea Bocelli, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Currently, Meller is exclusively handling the Dolby Atmos masterings of Michael Jackson’s legendary albums for Sony USA, tied to the recently released biographical film Michael.
„When the creators approached me, I was impressed not only by the high quality of the visuals but especially by the precisely crafted film music and sound design. Having known the work of Vlado Železňák and GONG for years through our collaboration on the FMC, where I previously served as jury chairman, I view them as a proven and professional partner. For this film, I provided a final mastering at the highest standard—the same we provide for our top global artists,“ says Vlado Meller.
World Premiere and Q&A at CineStar
The film will be unveiled to the international public on Friday, May 22nd, at CineStar Cinemas in Varaždin as part of the 14th edition of the ISFMF. A special highlight of the premiere will be a live Q&A session.
Producer Vlado Železňák Jr. will share insights into the unique cooperation with Japan’s Adarnia Studio. He will also focus on the creation of the original score and complex sound design, which were produced under his leadership at GONG Studios in Slovakia before being finalized by Meller in the USA.
About GONG Art Company: 30 Years of Creativity and Innovation
With a history spanning nearly 30 years, GONG Art Company is an established pillar of the Slovak audiovisual scene. Known for long-term technological co-productions with Slovak National Television and Radio, the studio provided the complete musical production for cult projects like Hviezdička and Zlatá brána, earning numerous Gold and Platinum records.
Today, GONG is a modern production house focusing on international film co-productions. The studio simultaneously manages multiple projects; while the soundtrack for Angel & Meow was being finalized, sound post-production was underway for the documentary Man from the Mountain, also slated for international festivals this year. GONG is also the founder of the global FMC – Film Music Contest & Festival, connecting Hollywood and Netflix elites with worldwide talent. Team members regularly represent Slovak creativity at key international markets, including Cannes (Marché du Film), Annecy (MIFA), and Berlinale (EFM), continuing the tradition of high-quality original production with global ambitions.