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The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) showcased an impressive array of animated films, discussions, and social events over four days, culminating in an awards ceremony at the National Arts Centre. Félix Dufour-Laperrière’s film Death Does Not Exist won the Grand Prize for Feature Animation, while Roberto Catani’s Il burattino e la balena received the Grand Prize for Short Animation. The festival wraps up today, September 28.

For those who could not attend, Joel Frenzer provided real-time fact-checking of Chris Robinson’s often humorous comments as the master of ceremonies, adding to the entertainment. Death Does Not Exist, which debuted earlier this year at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, features dreamlike visuals that delve into the impact of strong beliefs in a morally ambiguous world.

With its win at OIAF, Il burattino e la balena qualifies for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. This film tells the story of a puppet on a journey to discover its humanity, reminiscent of Pinocchio, but infused with Catani’s unique emotional depth and visual artistry.

This year’s CFI Award for Best Canadian Animation went to La jeune fille qui pleurait des perles (The Girl Who Cried Pearls), directed by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, showcasing their talents in stop-motion animation and storytelling. The Hélène Tanguay Award for Humour was awarded to Poor Marciano by Alex Rey, recognized for its comedic character study and satirical take on the Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies.

S the Wolf, directed by Sameh Alaa, won the Wacom Public Prize for its exploration of masculinity through a man’s experience with hair loss and his relationship with his barber. Alaa also received a Movink 13 drawing tablet from Wacom as part of the award. Rakugaki (The Graffiti), directed by Ryo Orikasa, earned the Animation Mentor Best Narrative Short Award for its adaptation of Makoto Takayanagi‘s poetry.

As is tradition, the OIAF 2025 award statues were crafted by Ottawa-based scrap metal artist Tick Tock Tom, featuring an animation by New York artist George Griffin.

The complete list of winners includes:

• Grand Prize for Short Animation: Il burattino e la balena (dir. Roberto Catani) – Jury Comment: Selected for its balanced use of image, movement, and sound, allowing viewers to engage with its themes of conformity and society.
• Grand Prize for Animated Feature: La mort n’existe pas (Death Does Not Exist) (dir. Félix Dufour-Laperrière) – Jury Comment: A profound exploration of personal convictions through stunning animation, enhanced by the natural world.
• Honorable Mention: La gran historia de la filosofía occidental (The Great History of Western Philosophy) (dir. Aria Covamonas) – Jury Comment: A challenging film from a visionary director, deserving recognition in the Dadaist tradition.
• Wacom Public Prize: S the Wolf (dir. Sameh Alaa)
• CFI Award for Best Canadian Animation: La jeune fille qui pleurait des perles (The Girl Who Cried Pearls) (dirs. Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski) – Jury Comment: For its extraordinary animation and insightful critique of human greed.
• Honorable Mention: We’re Kinda Different (dir. Ben Meinhardt) – Jury Comment: Recognized for its clever and entertaining affirmation of diversity.
• Hélène Tanguay Award for Humour: Poor Marciano (dir. Alex Rey) – Jury Comment: A film that embodies humor in a way that resonates with Hélène’s spirit.

In the Animated Short Competition, the following awards were given:

• ASIFA International 65th Anniversary Best Non-Narrative Award: Green Lung (dir. Simon Hamlyn) – Jury Comment: Praised for its inventive use of color and sound.
• Animation Mentor Best Narrative Short Award: Rakugaki (The Graffiti) (dir. Ryo Orikasa) – Jury Comment: A compelling story about language and consciousness.
• Best Commissioned Animation: Desi Oon (dir. Suresh Eriyat) – Jury Comment: Celebrated for its playful and over-the-top musical style.
• Bento Box Award for Best Student Animation: Anklebones (dir. Nicole Altan) – Jury Comment: Noted for its confident exploration of heritage.
• TVPaint Canadian Student Award: Lullaby for a Deathdream (dir. Charlie Galea-McClure) – Jury Comment: A lyrical work that lingers in memory.
• Honorable Mention: Music in My Pocket (dir. Veronika Kostyuk) – Jury Comment: A mature sand animation reflecting on a musician’s life.
• Honorable Mention: When the Moon Sings (dir. Jesu Medina) – Jury Comment: A hauntingly poetic film.

In the Animation for Teen Audiences 13+ Competition, the winner was Autokar (dir. Sylwia Szkiłądź). In the Animation for Young Audiences 7+ Competition, the winner was Les bottes de la nuit (The Night Boots) (dir. Pierre-Luc Granjon), with an Honorable Mention going to Omedodeedu (Edu’s Fear) (dirs. Bruno Mazzilli and Tiago Judas).

The Animated Series Competition awarded Eggland (dirs. Cole Kush and Christopher Rutledge) for its striking design and unique perspective. An Honorable Mention was given to Common Side Effects ‘Pilot’ (dir. Camille Bozec) for its blend of comedy and social critique.

In the Animated Short Competition – Craft Awards, the winners included:

• Best Script: S the Wolf (dir. Sameh Alaa) – Jury Comment: A story marked by brutal honesty and humor.
• Best Design: 海星， 乌鸦，独角兽 (Crow, Starfish, and Unicorn) (dir. Xiaoxuan Han) – Jury Comment: A design-driven narrative that is emotionally engaging.
• XPPen Craft Award Prize for Best Animation Technique: Fusion (dir. Richard Reeves) – Jury Comment: A film that masterfully combines sound, movement, and color.
• Best Sound Design: Evacuations (dir. Lilli Carré) – Jury Comment: Noted for its playful sound design that enhances the viewing experience.

Source: OIAF 2025

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