Winners Revealed at London International Animation Festival 2023, “27” by Flóra Anna Buda Wins Top Prize

The curtains have closed on the London International Animation Festival (LIAF) 2023, showcasing a spectrum of outstanding animated creations. Among the distinguished awardees is Flóra Anna Buda, whose film "27" claimed the coveted Best Film of the Festival Award. Ross Stringer's "Crab Day" secured the Best British Film Award, exemplifying the diversity of talent at LIAF.

In the realm of abstract animation, "Overheating" by Jiin Chung, Lizzy Bovee, Yuna Tang, and Nathan Yeom earned the Best Abstract Film Award. Michał Fojcik's "Misaligned" was recognized for Best Sound Design, while Saul Freed's "Wild Summon" received the Best Original Score Award.

Raman Djafari's music video for Ashnikko's "Worms" clinched the Best Music Video Award, and Conor Kehelly's "The Final Nail in the Coffin" stood out with the Best Late Night Bizarre Award. Anne-Sophie Gousset's "To Be Sisters" and the collaborative effort "Malacabra" directed by Marylou Bort, Mathilde Bourges, Hugo Florin, Jeremy Guibert, Valentine Miniot, Vincent Nogues, Axel Prukop, and Pierre Segonds were honored as the Best Children's Films for age groups 0-7 and 8-15, respectively.

Additionally, the Judge's International Competition Programme recognized noteworthy entries, such as Marta Magnuska's "Misaligned" in Programme 2 – Playing with Emotion and Stephen Vuillemin's "A Kind of Testament" in Programme 5 – Into the Dark. Special mentions were accorded for Best Script, Best Voice Performance, and Best Commissioned Film.

The festival also featured an Audience Voting segment, with films like Çağil Harmandar's "Vision" in Programme 1 – Abstract Showcase and Alexandra Myotte & Jean-Sébastien Hamel's "A Crab in the Pool" in Programme 2 – Playing with Emotion earning acclaim.

LIAF 2023 showcased a rich tapestry of animated narratives, affirming the global resonance and creativity within the animation community.

Best Film of the Festival Award:

• Winner: "27" by Flóra Anna Buda

Best British Film Award:

• Winner: "Crab Day" by Ross Stringer

Best Abstract Film Award:

• Winner: "Overheating" by Jiin Chung, Lizzy Bovee, Yuna Tang & Nathan Yeom

Best Sound Design Award:

• Winner: "Misaligned" by Michał Fojcik (Dir. Marta Magnuska)

Best Original Score Award:

• Winner: "Wild Summon" by Saul Freed (Dirs: Saul Freed & Karni Arieli)

Best Music Video Award:

• Winner: "Ashnikko - Worms" by Raman Djafari

Best Late Night Bizarre Award:

• Winner: "The Final Nail in the Coffin" by Conor Kehelly

Best Children's Film Award 0-7 Year-Olds:

• Winner: "To Be Sisters" by Anne-Sophie Gousset

Best Children's Film Award 8-15 Year-Olds:

• Winner: "Malacabra" by Marylou Bort, Mathilde Bourges, Hugo Florin, Jeremy Guibert, Valentine Miniot, Vincent Nogues, Axel Prukop, Pierre Segonds

Judge’s International Competition Programme Voting:

International Competition Programme 2 – Playing with Emotion:

• Winner: "Misaligned" by Marta Magnuska

International Competition Programme 3 – From Absurd to Zany:

• Winner: "Aaah!" by Osman Cerfon

International Competition Programme 4 – Being Human:

• Winner: "Island" by Michael Faust

International Competition Programme 5 – Into the Dark:

• Winner: "A Kind of Testament" by Stephen Vuillemin

International Competition Programme 6 – Animated Documentaries:

• Winner: "The Waiting" by Volker Schlecht

International Competition Programme 7 – Looking for Answers:

• Winner: "Money and Happiness" by Ana Nedeljković & Nikola Majdak Jr

International Competition Programme 8 – Long Shorts:

• Winner: "Eeva" by Lucija Mrzljak & Morten Tsinakov

Judge’s Special Mentions:

• Best Script: "A Crab in the Pool" by Alexandra Myotte & Jean-Sébastien Hamel
• Best Voice Performance: "My Name is Edgar and I Have a Cow" by Filip Diviak
• Best Commissioned Film: "After the After Party" by Jess Mountfield
• Special Mention: "World to Roam" by Stephen Irwin
• Special Mention: "My Year of Dicks" by Sara Gunnarsdottir
• Special Mention: "The Role" by Paolo Chianta
• Special Mention: "Beardiful Tone" by Masashi Yamamoto

Audience Voting:

International Competition Programme 1: Abstract Showcase – Vision:

• Winner: "Çağil Harmandar" by Vision

International Competition Programme 2: Playing with Emotion:

• Winner: "A Crab in the Pool" by Alexandra Myotte & Jean-Sébastien Hamel

International Competition Programme 3: From Absurd to Zany:

• Winner: "An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake, and I Think I Believe It" by Lachlan Pendragon

International Competition Programme 4: Being Human:

• Winner: "Rosemary A.D (After Dad)" by Ethan Barrett

International Competition Programme 5: Into the Dark:

• Winner: "A Kind of Testament" by Stephen Vuillemin

International Competition Programme 6: Animated Documentaries:

• Winner: "The Waiting" by Volker Schlecht

International Competition Programme 7: Looking for Answers:

• Winner: "Now That I’m Thinking" by David Gelfand

International Competition Programme 8: Long Shorts:

• Winner: "Eeva" by Lucija Mrzljak & Morten Tsinakov