Anna Ginsburg’s HAG wins SXSW 2026 Special Jury Award and SeriesFest Pitch-A-Thon
Skwigly
Fresh off its world premiere at SXSW 2026, Anna Ginsburg‘s BFI-funded animated short HAG has solidified its status as a breakout hit, taking home two major honours that celebrate both its resonance with audiences and future potential.
Produced by Strange Beast and PASSION PICTURES and made with the support of the BFI, National Lottery funding, the film has been awarded the Special Jury Award in the Animated Shorts Competition. The jury praised the film’s “sharp, deliberate creative choices that never lose sight of character” they said “We would be excited to rewatch this film over and over again”
Anna Ginsburg is a multi award-winning filmmaker with a diverse skillset, including stop motion, live action and her signature hand-drawn 2D animation. Known for inventive transitions, visually rich storytelling and a fearless perspective, Anna is able to move with dexterity between the emotive and the playful. Anna is a recipient of the prestigious ADC Young Guns Award, Vimeo Staff Picks and best of the month, an Annecy Cristal, a British Arrows award, as well as a BAFTA for her music video for Bombay Bicycle Club. Anna has directed films for the BBC, CNN and Channel Four. Anna’s films Private Parts, What is Beauty and Ugly approach the issues of body image, female sexuality and refugee stories thoughtfully yet directly.
L-R: Becky Perryman, Miranda Latimer (Image ©Strange Beast/Passion Pictures)
In a double win at SXSW for the project’s future, HAG also won the Episodic Pitch-A-Thon presented by SeriesFest, with Becky Perryman, the creative producer, and Miranda Latimer, the co-writer, presenting the pitch. This prestigious win provides director Anna Ginsburg and the creative team the platform to realise the ambition of the HAGIVERSE and to transition the short into a full-scale series.