Celebrating Animation Excellence: Singapore’s Animation Festival Introduces Regional Awards to Spotlight Talent

Animation enthusiasts across Southeast Asia rejoice as Animation Nation, an esteemed festival dedicated to showcasing animation works under the patronage of the Singapore Film Society, unveils a groundbreaking initiative. In commemoration of its 20th anniversary, the festival proudly introduces the inaugural Lightbox Southeast Asia (SEA) Animation Awards, aiming to shine a spotlight on the region’s burgeoning animation talent.

A Gateway for ASEAN Talent

For the first time, the Lightbox SEA Animation Awards open its doors to animation creators from the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). From Brunei Darussalam to Vietnam, the awards seek to recognize and celebrate the creativity and innovation flourishing within the region’s animation industry.

Promoting Regional Excellence

More than a mere accolade, the Lightbox SEA Animation Awards endeavor to elevate winning works both regionally and on the global stage. Through this platform, animators from Southeast Asia will have the opportunity to showcase their talent and creativity to audiences worldwide.

Categories and Jury Panel

The Awards feature two distinct categories: Professional and Student short films. An esteemed international jury panel, including industry luminaries, will adjudicate the shortlisted films in the Professional category to select the ultimate winner for Best Short Film. Additionally, a separate jury will evaluate entries in the Student category.

Among the esteemed members of the international jury panel is Shuzo John Shiota, President and CEO of Polygon Pictures Inc., a pioneering Japanese animation studio renowned for its Emmy Award-winning work and groundbreaking contributions to Computer Generated Imagery (CGI).

Submission Details

Filmmakers vying for recognition in the Lightbox SEA Animation Awards must ensure their submissions meet specific criteria. Entries must have a duration of 40 minutes or less and must have been produced no earlier than January 2023.

The submission period opens on March 16th and runs until July 16th, 2024. Following a thorough review by a pre-selection committee, the shortlisted films will be unveiled in September 2024. Subsequently, the international jury panel will commence their evaluation, with the winner of Best Short Film set to be announced in late October during the 2024 Animation Nation Festival in Singapore.