SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 crowns the winners of the Computer Animation Festival

Il SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 Computer animation festival (CAF), Asia's premier computer animation and visual effects event, will feature a global collection of the year's best works. From student films to professional projects, the festival once again showcases and celebrates some of the latest and most compelling technology-based visual arts in the industry.

Four winning films were selected by the jury out of a total of 501 nominations. This was the first year that the festival saw a draw in the Best Student Project category, garnering four awards for the CAF winners screening. The industry's international heavyweight jury also selected the best 16 works for the Electronic theater screening, and another 19 for the Animation theater selection.

"This year saw another fantastic selection of works by artists across Asia and around the world," said CAF President Dan Sarto. “Our CAF winning films, as well as each selection for Electronic Theater and Animation Theater screenings, showcase the latest innovative works by an incredibly diverse and talented group of artists. Our jury helped put together an amazing collection of animated projects, including 35 animated shorts, commercials and other works, that conference attendees can watch both in Tokyo and online. Congratulations to all the winners and everyone who took the time to share their work with us. "

Winners of the CAF 2021 Award

The best of the show: Twenty something

Dir. Aphton Corbin, prod. Erik Langley | Pixar Animation Studios | United States Adulthood can be difficult. Some days you're nailing it, while other days you're just a pile of kids hiding in a trench coat hoping no one will notice. Gia finds herself in this exact scenario on the night of her 21st birthday. This is a story about adult insecurities and how we're just pretending until we make it. Produced as part of Pixar Animation Studios' SparkShorts program.

Best student project (tied): Le Tour des Vagues

Dir. Manon Cansell, Alejandra Guevara Cervera, Edward Kurchevsky, Francisco Moutinho de Magalhães & Hortense Mariano; prod. Moira Marguin | Gobelins, the École de l'Image | France | Miyu distribution

Back in his hometown hoping to reconnect with his past, a young man encounters the place completely frozen in time. Moving through the familiar streets, memories bewilder him as he faces what he once left behind.

Best student project (tied): Les larmes de la Senna

Dir. Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard, Nicolas Mayeur, Etienne Moulin, Hadrien Pinot, Lisa Vicente, Philippine Singer and Alice Letailleur; prod. Carlos De Carvalho | 3D Polo | France October 17, 1961, "Algerian workers" take to the streets to protest against the mandatory curfew imposed by the Prefecture of Police.

Special Jury: Just a baby

Dir. Simone Giampaolo, prod. Gabriella de Gara | Amka Films, RSI Swiss Radio and Television, SRG SSR | United Kingdom, Switzerland

Just a baby is a visual poem created by over 20 animation directors under the artistic supervision of Simone Giampaolo, which gives shape and color to the original words spoken by Severn Cullis-Suzuki at the United Nations Summit in Rio in 1992, the desperate call for action of a child for the future of our planet. An omnibus film that celebrates the 30 years of work of the environmental youth movement.

SIGGRAPH Asia 2021 will take place at the Tokyo International Forum, Japan and online from December 14-17. For more information on the program and to find information on enrollment levels, visit https://sa2021.siggraph.org/en.