We know the winners of the 18th edition of the International Animated Film Festival ANIMATOR in Poznan!
The gala for the 18th edition of the International Animated Film Festival ANIMATOR is behind us – a week full of emotions, premieres, and unforgettable screenings. The jury and the audience chose the best animations from around the world. The Grand Prix went to Sylwia Szkiłądź for the moving film “Autokar”, which also received the Audience Award – thus shortening its path to an Oscar nomination.
This edition was full of surprises – for the first time in ANIMATOR’s history, one of the films entered the international competition without a jury selection, solely by audience votes – and won a festival award!
In the Polish Competition, the jury’s attention was drawn to visually bold films that dared to experiment with the form and language of animation. The Silver Animusz for “Rozdarcia” was awarded to Paulina Ziółkowska, who returns to ANIMATOR as a prizewinner after several years – in 2018, during the first edition of the Polish Competition, she won the Golden Animusz for her debut film “Na zdrowie!”.
Below is the full list of winners from all competitions:
INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION
GRAND PRIX | GOLDEN PEGASUS | 45,000 PLN gross
“Autokar”, dir. Sylwia Szkiłądź
Belgium, France 2025, 17’27’’
Jury’s remarks:
For a tender portrait of a bus journey as a coming-of-age adventure seen through the eyes of a child, woven into an enchanting fairytale-like atmosphere.
SECOND PRIZE | SILVER PEGASUS | 12,000 PLN gross
“Ordinary Life”, dir. Yoriko Mizushiri, France, Japan 2025, 9’48’’
Jury’s remarks:
For depicting the flexibility of the human body with distinctive richness, while maintaining the same visual tension until the very end.
THIRD PRIZE | BRONZE PEGASUS | 6,000 PLN gross
“Shadows”, dir. Rand Beiruty, Jordan 2024, 12’00’’
Jury’s remarks:
For the powerful and exceptional ability to tell a sad, true story through vivid animation, poignantly symbolized by the moose – an expected but compelling echo of loneliness, resilience, and introspection.
POLISH SHORT FILM COMPETITION
GRAND PRIX OF THE POLISH COMPETITION | GOLDEN ANIMUSZ | 12,000 PLN gross
Prize funded by the Polish Filmmakers Association
“The Pool or Death of a Goldfish” (“Basen albo śmierć złotej rybki”), dir. Daria Kopiec, Poland 2025, 13’48’’
Jury’s remarks:
A visually engaging film that uses mixed techniques to build mood and tension, delivering a clear message and a narrative that never ceases to surprise.
SECOND PRIZE OF THE POLISH COMPETITION | SILVER ANIMUSZ | 4,000 PLN gross
“Tears” (“Rozdarcia”), dir. Paulina Ziółkowska, Poland 2025, 8’48’’
Jury’s remarks:
A masterful use of cinematic language and collage-based techniques takes the viewer on an unpredictable journey toward self-discovery.
THIRD PRIZE OF THE POLISH COMPETITION | BRONZE ANIMUSZ | 2,000 PLN gross
“Can You Hear Me?” (“Czy Ty mnie słyszysz?”), dir. Anastazja Naumenko, Poland 2024, 15’00’’
Jury’s remarks:
Keeps the audience on edge through a skillful exploration of the generational divide and the turbulent relationship between mother and daughter, with highly effective use of form and color.
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM COMPETITION
AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE FILM | 30,000 PLN gross
“Boys Go to Jupiter”, dir. Julian Glander, USA, 2024
Jury’s remarks:
The winning film evokes nostalgia through a fresh and unique lens, delivering excellent social commentary on the issues young people face today, with an instantly engaging quirky sense of humor. This film is a true original.
SPECIAL MENTION
“Olivia & the Clouds”, dir. Tomás Pichardo Espaillat, Dominican Republic, 2024
Jury’s remarks:
A delightful, community-driven collage of creativity, showcasing a captivating spectrum of colors, stories, and techniques.
SERIES COMPETITION
AWARD FOR BEST ANIMATED SERIES | 5,000 PLN gross
“A Pain in the Butt”, dir. Elena Walf, Germany, 2024, 5’40’’
Jury’s remarks:
An engaging film that faithfully portrays reality, with endearing characters. A funny and elegant narrative that works entirely without dialogue.
SPECIAL MENTION FOR ANIMATED SERIES
“One Minute Movies: Danger Island”, dir. Nicolas Mahler, Stefan Holaus, Austria/Switzerland, 2025, 1’00’’
Jury’s remarks:
BRILLIANT!!!
AWARD FOR BEST SERIES FROM THE YOUTH JURY
“Flo Pigeons”, dir. Qieer Wang, USA, 2024, 3’10’’
Jury’s remarks:
Awarded for its exceptional ability to combine a humorous, rapped tale about pigeons with rich historical knowledge.
SPECIAL MENTION FROM THE YOUTH JURY FOR ANIMATED SERIES
“A Pain in the Butt”, dir. Elena Walf, Germany, 2024, 5’40’’
Jury’s remarks:
The film conveys an important moral: don’t judge by appearances, in a fun and meaningful way.
OPEN CALL: ROTAMINA The Chemistry within Us
AWARD FOR VISIONARY WORK | 5,000 PLN gross
“Ordinary Life (Futsu no Seikatsu)”, dir. Yoriko Mizushiri, France/Japan, 2025, 9’44’’
Jury’s remarks:
A film with an extraordinary sensory impact, especially on the sense of touch. It engages the viewer by being both alien and familiar, casting human skin in the lead role. It leaves the audience with as many questions as answers.
SPECIAL MENTION FROM THE THEMATIC OPEN CALL JURY
“And don’t call me crazy (I nie mów o mnie wariat)”, dir. Dorota Skupniewicz, Poland, 2024, 13’05’’
Jury’s remarks:
The film boldly tackles social stigma and exposes the many challenges faced by people experiencing mental health issues, both personal and systemic. It blends deeply intimate experience with social commentary. The most personal film in its category.
WOJCIECH JUSZCZAK AWARD FOR MUSIC | 2,000 PLN gross
Prize funded by BitterSweet Festival (Good Taste Production)
“Fish River Anthology”, dir. Veera Lamminpää, Finland, 2024, 9’30’’
Jury’s remarks:
For a deadpan, satirical delivery into the musical market in a falsely operatic style, and for its inherent fishy quality.
MARCIN GIŻYCKI AWARD FOR BEST STUDENT FILM | 3,000 PLN gross
Prize funded by Animoon
“It’s Just A Whole”, dir. Bianca Scali, Germany, 2023, 10’37’’
Jury’s remarks:
It’s not easy to be whole - sometimes it’s simpler to be a part. We appreciated both the visual artistry and the narrative inventiveness of a story that tackles mortality in the clearest, funniest, and most sincere way.
AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE FILM
“Black Butterflies (Mariposas Negras)”, dir. David Baute, Panama, Spain, 2024, 83'
with an average rating of 4.33
AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM
“Autokar”, dir. Sylwia Szkiłądź, Belgium, France, 2025, 17'27"
with an average rating of 4.65
Our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners!
A screening of the awardees will be held on July 13 at the Muza Cinema in Poznan, as well as at later dates after the Festival. We encourage you to follow our channels so you don’t miss the information.
