Poland’s ‘Impossible Figures and Other Stories II’ by Marta Pajek receives Grand Prix award; Spela Cadez’s ‘Nighthawk’ (Slovenia) wins award for best narrative short.
‘Impossible Figures and Other Stories II’ by Marta Pajek (Poland).
Winners for the second edition of the GLAS Animation Festival, which ran March 2-5, 2017 in Berkeley, CA, have been announced.
The winners were selected from more than 1,300 submissions in eight competition categories including Narrative, Non-Narrative, Graduate, Undergraduate, Commissioned Shorts, Children’s Competition, US Competition, and International Showcase.
Special guests at GLAS 2017 included Incredibles director Brad Bird, Belgium’s Mathieu Labaye, Brooklyn animator Peter Burr, Pixar and Nickelodeon storyboard artist Madeline Sharafian, Japan’s Masaaki Yuasa, Canadian collage artist and animator Amy Lockhart, Pixar artist Ana Ramirez, Swiss animator Georges Schwizgebel, China’s Lei Lei, and AWN contributor and OIAF artistic director Chris Robinson.
Poland’s Impossible Figures and Other Stories II by Marta Pajek took home the Grand Prix award, while Spela Cadez’s Nighthawk (Slovenia) received the award for best narrative short.
The full list of winners at GLAS 2017 is shown below:
GRAND PRIX
Impossible Figures and Other Stories II
Marta Pajek (Poland)
For its economic, often bleached-like drawings that capture the fragile battle between consciousness and obliviousness, along with its mesmerizing, painful but ultimately buoyant story of self-awareness and self-control, we award the Grand Prize to Impossible Figures and Other Stories II by Marta Pajek.
AUDIENCE AWARD
Hotaru
William Laboury (France)
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
Nighthawk
Spela Cadez (Slovenia)
A blistering, squirming tragedy trailing an alcoholic whizzing blurrily through bending roads in the black of night, the award for Best Narrative animation goes to Nighthawk.
BEST NON-NARRATIVE SHORT
Datum Point
Ryo Orikasa (Japan)
In capturing the serenity of the sea, the soothing rush of the waves while reminding us of our own temporary, always flowing existence, the award for Best non-narrative goes to the Zen-inspired clay animation mastery of Datum Point.
Special Mention: The Estate by Ronny Trocker (Belgium)
Conceptually smart, technically innovative, with a subtle approach to complex issues, we give a special mention to The Estate.
Special Mention: Orogenesis by Boris Labbe (France)
For its hypnotic rhythm, precision and effects, we give a special mention to Orogenesis.
BEST GRADUATE SHORT
Garden Party
Florian Babikian (France)
For its striking mise-en-scene, unique multi-layered story, and its odd, funny and horrifying ambiance, the award for Best Graduation film goes to Garden Party.
BEST UNDERGRADUATE SHORT
Big Surf
Brian Smee (USA, CalArts)
Fusing documentary, history, experimental film, this raw and richly re-imagined ghost story captures the blurred pains and fragments of a tragedy caused by bone-headed and greedy humans. The award for Best Undergraduate animation goes to Big Surf.
BEST COMMISSIONED SHORT
Flight Attendant
Mattis Dovier (France)
For its beautiful and intense visuals, the award for Best Commissioned film goes to Flight Attendant.
BEST US SHORT
Jill
Lilli Carre
Jill is like an empty container that viewers have to fill. This film is like an invitation and gives the viewers the opportunity to individually do whatever they want with it, according to who they are and how they feel. Using a minimalist, weird form, it just says enough to put you in a very strange state in which you’re entertained and embarrassed at the same time, in which you don’t exactly know if you want to laugh or not. Which makes Jill a very unique charming lady.
Special Mention: Glucose by Jeron Braxton
Groundbreaking ways to tell stories in this film, and we could see the artist Influenced by Japanese comics, early 8bit games, multimedia art in the film. This film beautifully explores the complicated identities of young POC americans in the age of the internet.
BEST FAMILY SHORT
In a Cage
Loic Bruyere (France)
In a Cage, the seemingly simple and charming story about an unlikely friendship between a caged bear and an abandoned hatchling, is our choice for the best film within the Children’s competition. We loved this film for its clarity of storytelling, beautiful visuals, the music and the meaningful message that is more than meets the eye.
Special Mention: Otto by Job, Joris & Marieke (Netherlands)
We’d also like to give a very honorable mention to Otto. This film is beautifully executed and deals with difficult themes like loss and acceptance, and the power of the human spirit to heal. The organic inclusion of such a diverse cast needs to be applauded.
Source: GLAS Animation Festival
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
