“Flow” and “La Voix des Sirènes” Win Grand Prizes at Ottawa International Animation Festival
The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF), one of North America's largest and most prestigious animation festivals, wrapped up its 2024 edition by awarding the Grand Prize for Short Animation to "La Voix des Sirènes", directed by Gianluigi Toccafondo, and the Grand Prize for Feature Animation to "Flow", directed by Gintz Zilbalodis. The festival, held at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa from September 25-29, attracted a global audience of animators, producers, and fans.
"Flow", a feature film that expands on Zilbalodis's earlier student work Aqua, captivated the jury with its immersive world-building and emotional depth, conveyed without dialogue. The jury praised the film’s “impressive cinematography and surprisingly uplifting narrative,” noting its unique use of refreshing animation techniques.
"La Voix des Sirènes", a visually striking short film by Italian director Gianluigi Toccafondo, was commended for its inventive use of mixed media and its enchanting yet dark storytelling. The jury described it as a "timeless piece" that stands out for its originality and captivating narrative.
The festival also recognized other standout works. The DGC Award for Best Canadian Animation went to Arash Akhgari’s "In the Shallows", a thought-provoking exploration of media intoxication through a combination of animation styles. Akhgari received a cash prize of $1,000 CAD, courtesy of the Directors Guild of Canada.
The Wacom Public Prize was awarded to "Carrotica", a stop-motion animation by Daniel Sterlin-Altman, while "Beautiful Men", directed by Nicolas Keppens, received the Best Narrative Short award for its redefinition of masculinity, portraying men in vulnerable and authentic states. The jury admired its well-structured narrative and compelling character arcs.
Other notable winners include "Samochód, który wrócił z morza", a Polish short film by Jadwiga Kowalska, which received the Hélène Tanguay Award for Humor for its playful yet deeply personal depiction of 1980s Poland.
The OIAF 2024 jury featured international experts from across the animation world, including Neil Hunter (Canada), Jonathan Djob Nkondo (France/UK), Anastasiya Verlinska (Ukraine), Ivana Volda (Croatia), Dahee Jeong (South Korea), and Thomas Volda (Croatia).
The competition also spotlighted student work, with the Bento Box Award for Best Student Animation going to "Martyr’s Guidebook" by Maks Rzontkowski. The Best Canadian Student Animation award was presented to Samuel Wasserman for "91 Thousand Unrelenting Stitches", a unique work combining embroidery techniques with animation.
Ottawa-based scrap metal artist Tick Tock Tom once again crafted the festival’s distinctive awards, which this year took the form of working phénakisticopes featuring animations by George Griffin.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Grand Prize for Short Animation:
"La Voix des Sirènes" / Gianluigi Toccafondo / Italy
Grand Prize for Feature Animation:
"Flow" / Gintz Zilbalodis / Latvia
Honourable Mention:
"Memoir of a Snail" / Adam Elliot / Australia
Wacom Public Prize:
"Carrotica" / Daniel Sterlin-Altman / Canada
DGC Award for Best Canadian Animation:
"In the Shallows" / Arash Akhgari / Canada
Hélène Tanguay Award for Humor:
"Samochód, który wrócił z morza" (The Car That Came Back from the Sea) / Jadwiga Kowalska / Poland
Best Narrative Short:
"Beautiful Men" / Nicolas Keppens / Belgium
Best Non-Narrative Animation:
"you've got a friend in me" / Peter Millard / UK
Best Commissioned Animation:
"Corridor 'Jump Cut'" / Winston Hacking / Canada
Bento Box Award for Best Student Animation:
"Martyr’s Guidebook" / Maks Rzontkowski / France
Best Canadian Student Animation:
"91 Thousand Unrelenting Stitches" / Samuel Wasserman / Canada
Honourable Mentions:
"Hope in the Tundra" / Jesu Medina / Canada
"Rudy Goes Sightseeing" / Sadie Berger / Canada
The festival showcased a wide range of styles, genres, and techniques, confirming OIAF's role as a vital platform for both established and emerging voices in animation worldwide.