2025 JURY AND AUDIENCE AWARDS
JURY STATEMENT
This year’s collection of work was a reminder of how alive and multifaceted animation can be. The range of voices, techniques, and perspectives, especially from local artists, made the festival feel like a series of personal creative invitations for engagement. Our jury came from varying artistic backgrounds, and instead of creating friction, it helped us see the films from multiple angles. We often found ourselves returning to a group of works that stood out for their clarity of vision, strong craft, and bold imagery. The filmmakers this year reached a high standard for originality and authenticity, and we want to congratulate all of them on contributing to an amazing festival experience.
Written by Winston Hacking on behalf of the GIRAF 21 Jury
JURY AWARDS
Our jury awards for Best Canadian Short Film and Best International Short Film both come with a $200CAD cash prize for the filmmakers.
BEST CANADIAN SHORT FILM
Mangittatuarjuk (The Gnawer of Rocks)
DIRECTOR
Louise Flaherty
ORIGIN
CANADA, 2024
RUNTIME
15M
The Gnawer of Rocks is a visually stunning short that follows two young girls trapped in the Mangittatuarjuk’s lair. It evokes the primal terror of fireside folklore through masterful lighting, precise camerawork, and expressive character design. The film’s technical craft elevates the narrative rather than distracting from it, creating a world that feels both mesmerizing and deeply unsettling. Each shot draws you further in; captivating, eerie, and impossible to look away from.
Written by David Kativu on behalf of the GIRAF 21 Jury
HONORABLE MENTION
COWMAN
JIWOO KIM
CANADA
“Cow Man” is a refreshingly fun and free-spirited short film. It captures the creative energy that comes from not fully knowing what you’re doing and turning that uncertainty into real comedy. Its distinctive look blends blobby clay characters with a mix of cinematic slow motion and bizarre, jittery movements, creating a striking balance between something cute and something unsettling. That tension really stuck with us, and paired with the dramatic sound design it made the film stand out in a big way.
Written by Michelle Ku and Winston Hacking on behalf of the GIRAF 21 Jury
BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
SULAIMANI
DIRECTOR
VINNIE ANN BOSE
ORIGIN
FRANCE, 2025
RUNTIME
20M
Vinnie Ann Bose wonderfully captures the emotional nuances and complexity around leaving home for the promise of a better life, weaving together past & present. The flashback scenes are depicted in a colourful watercolour style, contrasting with the present day scenes animated in stop motion - coming together to seamlessly explore a wide range of emotions and experiences while still staying cohesive and centered with food as a connecting thread. A film that touches the heart, and a unanimous choice for this award.
Written by Michelle Ku on behalf of the GIRAF 21 Jury
HONORABLE MENTION
DOLLHOUSE ELEPHANT
JENNY JOKELA
FINLAND
Psychedelic style can easily take over a film, but here it supports a surreal mix of intimate moments and encounters with wonderfully unique characters. The layered, hand-painted look pulls you in almost hypnotically, yet the film still feels grounded because the filmmaker’s presence and point of view comes through in every frame.
Written by Winston Hacking on behalf of the GIRAF 21 Jury
AUDIENCE AWARDS
TOP CANADIAN SHORT FILM
Mangittatuarjuk (The Gnawer of Rocks)
DIRECTOR
LOUISE FLAHERTY
ORIGIN
CANADA, 2024
RUNTIME
15M
CANADIAN RUNNER-UP
WE'RE KINDA DIFFERENT
DIRECTOR
BEN MEINHARDT
ORIGIN
CANADA, 2025
RUNTIME
3M
TOP INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
SULAIMANI
DIRECTOR
VINNIE ANN BOSE
ORIGIN
FRANCE, 2025
RUNTIME
20M
INTERNATIONAL RUNNER-UP
PETER HAIR
DIRECTOR
Arthur Studholme, Cosmo Wellings
ORIGIN
UK, 2024
RUNTIME
8M
JURY HONORABLE MENTIONS
SWEET & SALTY AWARD
Paradaïz
MATEA RADIC
CANADA
Paradaïz balances heavy subject matter with playful animation and whimsical imagery, immersing the audience in the emotional world of the character while offering moments of lightness and laughter. Live action footage and photo collage are incorporated delightfully and thoughtfully with the linework and colour of the drawings. The film feels grounded in real life through unique details, while also making excellent use of elements of fantasy and surrealism to capture those internal, invisible experiences that stay with us throughout time.
Written by Michelle Ku on behalf of the GIRAF 21 Jury
JURY HONORABLE MENTIONS
CHILDLIKE WONDER AWARD
AUTOKAR
SYLWIA SZKIŁĄDŹ
BELGIUM
Autokar takes us on an imaginative journey with Agata as she travels to Poland, inviting us to see the world through her eyes as something grand, slightly daunting, and full of undiscovered wonder. The film exaggerates scale, plays thoughtfully with colour, and introduces whimsical animal characters whose personalities feel instantly relatable. The distinctive visual style heightens the sense of curiosity and adventure, bringing a feeling of emotional warmth.
Written by David Kativu on behalf of the GIRAF 21 Jury
JURY HONORABLE MENTIONS
HAPPY MARRIAGE OF TECHNIQUE AND STORY
the night boots
PIERRE-LUC GRANJON
FRANCE
The loneliness and strange magic of being a child is a feeling that can be difficult to capture, but “The Night Boots” transports and immerses us in the world of monsters, imaginary friends, and mysteries of the forest, through beautifully done pinscreen animation. All of this comes together to create a lasting impression, leaving us wanting to follow these charming characters on more future adventures.
Written by Michelle Ku on behalf of the GIRAF 21 Jury
JURY HONORABLE MENTIONS
THE HORRORS OF BEING UNDER ACKNOWLEDGED
MY WONDERFUL LIFE
CALLEEN KOH
SINGAPORE
My Wonderful Life is hilariously grotesque and hits right where it hurts, reminding us of the deep solace found in brief moments of reprieve from an under appreciated, chaotic life. As artists, we can seriously relate. The playful and extreme elements of its mixed-media style, along with colour shifts that distinguish blissful relief from chaotic despair, pair perfectly with the gruesome, unnervingly detailed scenes. It’s the icing on a wonderfully twisted cake.
Written by David Kativu on behalf of the GIRAF 21 JurY
JURY HONORABLE MENTIONS
TRULY TERRIFYING AWARD
Sisowith Quay
STÉPHANIE LANSAQUE, FRANÇOIS LEROY
FRANCE
Sisowith Quay brings a terrifying story of an ill-fated romance to life through a profoundly vibrant and remarkably unique visual style, blending multiple animation techniques to heighten its unsettling atmosphere and leaning on each style to support the narrative. Truly chilling and unforgettable.
Written by David Kativu on behalf of the GIRAF 21 Jury