Cardiff Animation Festival 2026: Award Winners
This year’s edition of Cardiff Animation Festival has announced its award winners at last night’s ceremony, hosted by Ali Plumb. The presentation capped off four days of incredible presentations, masterclasses, exhibitions, workshops, parties and screenings of some of the best new animation around.
The full list of winners and jury statements are as follows:
Best Student Short: Foreign Bodies directed by Lysander Wong
All shots in this film were fun and well composed with great use of foreshortening and perspective. Impressive use of physical media to depict itchy discomfort, especially in relation to the experience of being in the wrong body in a conservative environment.
Student Special Mention: Pear Garden (Shadab Shayegan)
This film is commendable for its tactility and use of perspective that makes the most of the “flat” medium. The story was a playfully cautious take on a heavy subject that maintains the tender and believable relationship between grandmother and grandchild. Not shying away from the boobiness, or the naive bluntness that comes from a child’s interpretation.
Best Short Film – And Granny Would Dance directed by Maryam Mohajer
The charming, at times, breathless painting style gives this film a sense of immediacy. The way the women can work the room and bullheadedly bring joy back into the widow’s life is hopeful in face of the palpable heaviness of her grief as well as the wider context that the film exists in.
Special Mention: A Night at the Rest Area (Saki Muramoto)
Cute but authentic depiction of quiet camaraderie.
Best Micro Short – Boglach directed by Sarah Benson
Utterly playful, sincere and well-rounded film thats represents Ireland while proudly wearing its Japanese influences on its sleeve. To pack a world that’s bursting at the seams into less than 2 minutes is no mean feat.
Young Jury Award – The Lost Marble by Laura Quinn Geyer
Audience Award – The Undying Pain of Existence by Oscar Jacobson
Animation fans, be sure to head over to cardiffanimation.com, where the online version of Cardiff Animation Festival will run through to May 4th. Keep your eyes on Skwigly for more coverage from this year’s edition of the festival.