Womanimation!

Womanimation! 2023 Judges

New for this year, we were privileged to be able to assemble a unique jury of execeptionally talented artists/musicians to review this year's festival films.

All of the following women at one point have topped one of the MergingArts Global Radio weekly charts.

Be sure to check out their links below and hear some fantastic music from around the globe!

Jury Members

Daryana Antipova (Russia) - Drummer and vocalist, co-founder of experimental folk outfit Vedan Kolod and Russian World Music Chart

Eva Väljaots (Estonia) - Folk musician playing various types of traditional kannels, inspired by Finno-Ugric traditional music

Inger Hannisdal (Norway) - Violinist, composer and improviser

Maja Milinkovic (Spain/Greece) - Fado & Sevdah singer and songwriter

Mariana Masetto (Argentina) - Musician, singer, composer, professional yoga teacher, writer and teacher

Marjo Smolander (Finland) - Kantele player and music educator

Maya Youssef (Syria/UK) - Speaker, composer and qanun virtuoso

Mircan Kaya (Turkey/Georgia) - Singer, composer, and civil & earthquake engineer

Roopa Panesar (India/UK) - Sitar player embracing Indian classical music, jazz and western classical genres

Sofia Labropoulou (Greece/Austria) - Kanun player, composer and improviser merging folk, Ottoman, Medieval, experimental and contemporary music

Tania Giannouli (Greece) - Pianist, composer, improviser and bandleader, classically trained and exploring improvisational jazz

Tania Saleh (Lebanon) - Singer, songwriter, visual artist, considered a pioneer of Arab alternative music

Tatiana Naryshkina (Russia) - Folklorist, multi-instrumentalist, arranger of Old Russian and Siberian music

Tatyana Molchanova (Russia) - Traditional and folk singer, vocal teacher and professor of Russian folk art

Tuulikki Bartosik (Estonia/Sweden) - Accordionist, composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, with degrees in classical and traditional music

Xanthoula Dakovanou (Greece/France) - Singer, composer, musical artistic director, and musical therapist

Womanimation! Audience Award 2023

Womanimation!

A custom creation by Joanna Lurie

Womanimation! Jury Award 2023

Womanimation!

A custom creation by Indra Sproģe

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Read More About Womanimation!

Womanimation! Press

A terrific write-up and summary of the festival from the New Haven Independent.

A featured event and another event highlight in the CT Patch.

A recommendation from the CT Tourist Office and the CT Insider.


A listing for the 2023 Encore Edition from WBUR Radio, and the Boston Patch.

Also mentions from MassArt on their website and facebook.


An article highlighting the 2023 festival from the
CT Insider, along with another listing here.

A detailed article from Patch.com.

Selected as a Coming Attraction by Boston's Arts Fuse.


A terrific article on the 2019 festival in the Providence Journal.

Another article in the RI Motif Magazine.

A recommendation from Boston's WBUR ARTery.


A great Motif article on the 2017 festival, along with a mention of the 2018 festival in the Boston Globe.


An interview with festival organizers from 2016 in Motif Magazine.

Another writeup on the 2016 festival in the Providence Monthly.


Motif Magazine also discussed the 2015 festival.


Read about the 2014 festival in the Providence Phoenix and Journal.


Read about the 2013 festival in the Providence Monthly and Journal.

The 2013 festival was a Providence Phoenix Editor's Pick.


Read recommendations for the 2012 festival in the Boston Phoenix and Weekly Dig.

The 2011 festival was covered in the Providence Journal and Phoenix.

Read a detailed interview on the 2010 festival in the Boston Globe.