This program is only available in Canada. Take in the best in the world of animation with this year's SPARK ANIMATION FESTIVAL award-winners as selected by the <a href="https://sparkanimation.eventive.org/jury" target="_blank">Festival Jury</a>.

The SPARK ANIMATION FESTIVAL awards show goes online! Join us as we honor this year's festival award winners!

SPARK ANIMATION CELEBRATION!

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/8e36ab04b6abc7e5134d2b5d0d27ecc2.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Best in Show, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 Only a Child is a visual poem created by over 20 animation directors under the artistic supervision of Simone Giampaolo, which gives shape and colour to the original words spoken by Severn Cullis-Suzuki at the UN Summit in Rio in 1992, a child’s desperate call to action for the future of our planet. An omnibus film celebrating the environmental youth movement 30 years in the making.

Only a Child

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/9224a5a4101786d3d2750039b64d7eed.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Director's Prize, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 Leafie is a plucky little maple leaf who loves to groove. But when their latest performance takes an unexpected turn, the harsh realities of the season come crashing down.

The Fall

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/5bcc22b9e27c1f36b3ed4c943ca9d005.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Winner, 3D Narrative Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 A man with a head full of dreams is beaten down by the foremen in the factory where he works. Then he meets the Woman in the Polka Dot dress who brings meaning, love, and dreams back to his life. Mr. Spam is a silent film with title cards. The soundtrack has a jaunty orchestral quality much like Chaplin’s City Lights. The film has a delicately faded, technicolor quality and is an homage to films gone by.

Mr. Spam Gets a New Hat

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/7c5f742cb999beb8ed79de4fdc5a8f1c.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Runner Up, 3D Narrative Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 Mila is a war story that takes on a child's perspective. Inspired by World War II stories from the director's mother, the character of Mila represents the best of humanity. Although she has lost everything — her family, her house, her peace — she still clings to hope. With a little more than imagination and humanity, Mila manages to profoundly impact others, including a caring stranger who saves her.

Mila

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/7ad60cecf7ba6f7b8331d474d2038f94.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Winner, 2D Narrative Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 How many obsessions can one family have? In Joanna Quinn and Les Mills’ Affairs of the Art, we reconnect with Beryl, the working-class heroine who not only reveals her own obsession with drawing but exposes the addictions of her eccentric family, which include pickling, screw threads and pet taxidermy.

Affairs of the Art

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/bc185ad1fbfffe56753a388a692e8d5c.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Runner Up, 2D Narrative Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 Multi-Emmy®Award-winning Baobab Studios presents Namoo, a narrative poem that comes to life as an animated short film directed by Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Erick Oh (Opera). Inspired by the passing of Erick’s grandfather, Namoo — which translates to “tree” in Korean — follows the meaningful moments of one man’s life from beginning to end and marks Oh’s most personal work to date. The film, completely hand-painted, follows the journey of a man from his beginning to his end. As a young man, he falls in love with painting and as an adult, he falls in love with another person. Nothing lasts forever, and he eventually finds himself a broken man who puts a bandage — literally — on his past and his mind on the future in order to move on. As he faces his own mortality, does he learn to accept the life he’s led? Namoo is a deeply personal yet surprisingly universal piece that has been created with the hope of uniquely resonating with each audience member. During the pandemic, many wonder what fulfillment is and what are the things we most value when we pass; Namoo explores this head-on.

Namoo

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/16539bf35214c0a98eea6953e3da2dc2.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Winner, Stop-Motion Narrative Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021Winner, Canadian Film, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 A young shaman must face her first test—a trip underground to visit Kannaaluk, The One Below, who holds the answers to why a community member has become ill. Facing dark spirits and physical challenges, she must trust her mentor and grandmother's teachings and learn to control her fear.

Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/a04b425eaa863bb76e217a865fac6089.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Winner, Mixed-Media Narrative Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 When there is no choice left. A father’s story of his perilous swim from China to Hong Kong during the Cultural Revolution rhythmically parallels his son’s weekly fight for freedom in the Hong Kong protests now. An intergenerational story.

Freedom Swimmer

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/fd733adc9135f0ec03ac2cef17fa2c52.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Runner Up, Mixed-Media Narrative Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 I am Chuma explores the story of how a young black woman, (having experienced numerous gender-based violence incidents) studying at a business college in Cape Town found herself homeless and living rough on a park bench for 3 years. 35 year-old Chuma Somdaka is a disabled, lesbian, isiXhosa woman, who unexpectedly finds her calling as an artist when to survive, she responds to an inner voice and embarks on an empowering journey of awakening and healing, but meets new societal challenges in her yearning to be truly seen and remain connected to her inspired state.

I am Chuma

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/ff81d499aa08a2cda0c56d079444445a.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Winner, Student Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 On 17 October 1961, "Algerian workers" got down the streets to manifest against the mandatory curfew imposed by the Police prefecture.

The Seine's Tears (Les larmes de la Seine)

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/de7e14628bcaa65af03690aed718a71b.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Runner Up, Student Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 Struggling to make it in a big city, a young artist finds herself retreating into the rose-tinted memories of the village she left behind.

Homebird

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/af263188879bc547f50f4f700dd50c4a.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Social Message, Student Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now depicts the childhood memory of Blyth trying on his father’s boxers at age eight, before leaving for Brownies still wearing them under his uniform. This memory is one of many that have contributed to Blyth understanding that his gender identity did not align with the sex he was assigned at birth, leading to the artist coming out as transgender at eighteen. The artist intends for this to be the first of many animations in a series titled Defining Moments of a Trans Experience, which will portray Blyth’s experiences pre and post transitioning from female to male that contribute to his continued understanding of the fluidity of gender. The animation consists of 728 unique cels, shot at a rate of 24 frames per second. It was hand-drawn using fine-liners and colouring pencils, using a live-action video for reference of the artist’s eight-year-old sister trying on a similar pair of boxers to that which he remembers. The audio accompanying the animation is from the live-action reference and features the voices of Blyth’s parents, bringing a personal reality to the animation of this intimate moment.

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/99f841635653134e7cb839898cf8b5ee.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Social Message, Student Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 A visual, surrealist exploration on the absurdity and inconclusive nature of living in a double culture, personally from a Taiwanese American lens.

Where Are You Really From?

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/05e63a47487d9ad32769dd97d1b32cf0.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Social Message, Student Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 A young Mexican smuggler and a little girl travel illegally on top of a cargo train, called La Bestia, to get to the USA. An injury transforms his perception of the journey.

La Bestia

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/9d4caedab5b3b899fad7069d149a4505.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Social Message, Student Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 In a village ruled by ridiculous laws, two old ladies and their forbidden dog have lost their sister and need to find a replacement singer for their upcoming performance.

The Soloists

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/272f42bb3a0cf9d3fcf0769f423fcc90.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Social Message, Student Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 One night, Seolgi is lying on a grass field with friends. A shooting star falls, and dark and intrusive thoughts hit her. Her melancholy blooms into bright and colorful “flower people”, dancing around and making a wish of a meteorite to end the world.

Misery Loves Company

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/d0e60866d4b9906a2cd192622c79496d.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Documentary, Student Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 During a circus performance, Mary the elephant loses her balance and crushes the trainer. The accident damages the circus’ reputation and the circus director sees himself forced to punish the elephant. This is opposed by his deep friendship for the animal. Nevertheless, the director decides to hang Mary on the marketplace. The story is inspired by the real hanging of Mary the elephant in 1916.

Circus In Town

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/ef7ae23b703c57c05c7a0dac78729b99.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Comedy, Student Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 When the entire British Royal family tragically dies, the Queen’s corgi finds himself next in line for the throne and in the seat of power.

Barking Orders

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/310fe86b6cd0ee2d561cd52b45bb2f9d.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Comedy, Student Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 Molly is enjoying her summer holidays, her grandmother decides to give her a kitten. The feline happens to be more intrusive than expected.

Molly & Her Cat

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/3652dae3faba5c979f3ea94da085916c.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Stop-Motion, Student Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 In a desperate struggle against his ballooning ego, Bill battles in vain to re-woo Deb with his below-par outdoor skills and, quite frankly, shocking behaviour, until their last-ditch camping trip takes a VERY sinister turn.

The Clearing

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/e7c931e2d73ee20a7d1ee2b0e848180f.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Stop-Motion, Student Short, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 A black comedy describing one evening of the lives of several animals. A couple of turtles, a bear and a monkey want to find their will to consciously manage their life. The story takes the Aesopian tradition of narration by means of an animal fairy tale on the level of contemporary existential problems and attempts at understanding between the characters.

Three Jumps to Happiness (Trzy Skoki do Szczęścia)

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/7e0527ec9627a47fa57ccb028fff593d.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Winner, Commercial, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 A series of animated adventures tells the story of how our hero, Ando the spy, discovers he has dandruff and ultimately overcomes it with h&amp;s Scalp. Despite repeatedly escaping his nemesis, Detective Takashi and his henchmen, in a chase around the world, he is finally captured. Asking how the detective constantly manages to find him, he learns that what gives him away really is his dandruff. But after using H&amp;S scalp, he once again manages to escape – but this time without a trace.

Head & Shoulders 'The Chase'

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/f0a0e31fb036baeda5a709599b5e0f5c.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Winner, PSA, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 Save Ralph is a stop-motion animated documentary-style short film written and directed by Spencer Susser and produced by Jeff Vespa and others in partnership with Humane Society International (HSI) and the Arch Model studio of puppet-maker supreme Andy Gent. The film features HSI’s campaign spokesbunny Ralph, voiced by Taika Waititi, as he goes through his daily routine as a “tester” in a lab. In addition to Taika Waititi as Ralph, the film stars Ricky Gervais, Zac Efron, Olivia Munn, Pom Klementieff, and Tricia Helfer, with additional versions in Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Vietnamese with Rodrigo Santoro, Rosario Dawson, Wilmer Valderrama, George Lopez, and others voicing the characters in those languages.

Save Ralph

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/e867f34169aa32f93407d15f74b170dd.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Winner, Cinematic, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 A cinematic trailer that is equal parts epic and emotional for the mythical game League of Legends. The commanding and intricate lead characters Xahya &amp; Seraphine were brought to life to protect the temple of the famous Anivia, a major figure in LoL, in a world created to amaze even those who aren't versed in gaming or the release of the Phoenixmancers skins in China. Girl Power!

League of Legends 'Phoenixmancers'

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/b825626b553817bd14544a08081bd4c1.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Animated Interactive, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 Using artificial intelligence, machine learning and generative processes, Wayfinder lets users capture nature’s fading memories before they’re gone forever. <a href="https://wayfinder.nfb.ca/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Play the game.</a>

Wayfinder

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/19d9be3eb161df426c181f41b3c43f62.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Winner, Music Video, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 Freedom tells the coming-of-age story of a boy with Down Syndrome who learns to navigate the world with a loving mother, an absent father, a classroom bully, and a life-long crush.

Jordan Heart "Freedom"

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/86b1304571628e960cf25b0361eb0027.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Runner Up, Music Video, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 Nicos Livesey welcomes you to Belshazzar’s Feast through an epic six-minute 2D &amp; 3D animated music video for Iron Maiden’s single The Writing on the Wall. We are taken on a journey through a dystopian world ravaged by pollution and drought, ruled by an elite class as they gear up for an exclusive party. Featuring the Four Bikers of the Apocalypse, a vampire king feasting off the souls of the young, and the latest iteration of Iron Maiden’s irrepressible mascot Eddie.

Iron Maiden 'Belshezzar’s Feast: The Writing on the Wall'

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/9bed66ce5118e11a3e44b156e69c8e20.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Music Video, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 A mash-up of rubber-hose animated Hawaiian kitsch and authentic Hula, this Katy Perry music video follows the adventure of two island locals who escape their tourist-luau-job for a sunset Harley ride.

Katy Perry 'Harleys in Hawai'i'

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/46ad1532074156495e8f42d7547b2b78.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Special Mention, Music Video, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 A musical journey of the protagonist, creating a world with a strand of light in its hand and sees the end of it.

Cacophony 'I Am Sorry' (아이 엠 쏘리)

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/100729e8d74db139fd9c4b4a092421dd.png" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Winner, VFX, SPARK ANIMATION 2021 A young woman in a big nice house creates the design of the apartment while a very gloomy delivery man delivers the pizza at night. What do they have in common and how does she affect him...

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