Grand Prizes for “Beautiful Man” and “Memoir of a Snail” at Cinanima 2024

The 48th Cinanima International Animated Film Festival in Espinho, Portugal, revealed its 2024 winners, celebrating animation excellence across categories. Highlights include “Beautiful Man” winning Best Short Film, “Memoir of a Snail” awarded Best Feature Film, and “A Crab in the Pool” honored with two accolades.

Here is the making of “Beautiflu Man”:

The 48th Cinanima International Animated Film Festival, held in Espinho, Portugal, has announced its 2024 award winners, highlighting outstanding achievements in animation. The festival continues to showcase global talent, with films across short, feature, student, and national categories receiving recognition.

The Grand Prize for Best Short Film went to “Beautiful Man,” directed by Nicolas Keppens. This Belgian-French-Dutch co-production tells the story of three brothers grappling with personal insecurities while seeking hair transplants in Istanbul. The jury praised its unique humor and emotional depth.

In the feature film category, Adam Elliot’s “Memoir of a Snail,” an Australian clay animation, was awarded the Grand Prize. The poignant narrative follows a misfit’s journey of self-discovery amidst life’s challenges, underscoring Elliot’s reputation for heartfelt storytelling.

“A Crab in the Pool,” a Canadian film directed by Alexandra Myotte and Jean-Sébastien Hamel, won both the Jury’s Special Award and Best Screenwriting. The film portrays the strained sibling relationship of Zoe and Theo in a vivid 2D computer animation style.

Among other notable winners, Anastasiia Falileieva’s “I Died in Irpin,” from the Czech Republic, was recognized as Best Animated Documentary for its powerful portrayal of survival during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, Charles Nogier’s “See the Sun Rise in the Moon” received Best Experimental Film, and Nicolas Brault’s “Entropic Memory” earned the Best Sound Design award.

In the National Competition, “Percebes” by Alexandra Ramires and Laura Gonçalves stood out, winning the António Gaio Award and the Audience Award. The Portuguese-French production explores the life cycle of goose barnacles against the backdrop of the Algarve.

The festival also celebrated young Portuguese filmmakers. “Never Stop Singing” by Associação de Ludotecas do Porto – Anilupa won for directors under 18, while “Bursting at the Seams,” a reflection on femininity by Adriana Andrade and team, received the award for directors aged 18 to 30.

Special mentions included “Dragfox” in the student films category and “It Shouldn’t Rain Tomorrow” in the national competition, further showcasing the diversity and creativity in this year’s lineup.

Cinanima 2024 reaffirmed Espinho’s status as a hub for international animation, offering a platform for established and emerging talent to shine.

Complete List of Awards at the 48th Cinanima International Animated Film Festival (2024)

International Competition – Short Films

Grand Prize Cinanima 2024 – Espinho City Award

“Beautiful Man” / Nicolas Keppens / Belgium, France, Netherlands / 0:18:35 / 2023

Jury’s Special Award

“A Crab in the Pool” / Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel / Canada / 0:11:11 / 2023

Award for the Best Animated Documentary

“I Died in Irpin” / Anastasiia Falileieva / Czech Republic / 0:11:22 / 2024

Award for the Best Experimental Film

“See the Sun Rise in the Moon” / Charles Nogier / France / 0:11:06 / 2024

Award for the Best Sound Design

“Entropic Memory” / Nicolas Brault / Canada / 0:06:28 / 2024

Award for the Best Screenwriting

“A Crab in the Pool” / Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel / Canada / 0:11:11 / 2023

Commendation for Short Films

“Zarko, You Will Spoil the Child!” / Veljko Popovic, Milivoj Popovic / Croatia / 0:13:37 / 2024

Audience Award

“Percebes” / Alexandra Ramires, Laura Gonçalves / Portugal, France / 0:11:30 / 2024

International Competition – Feature Films

Grand Prize Cinanima 2024 – Feature Film

“Memoir of a Snail” / Adam Elliot / Australia / 1:34:00 / 2024

Special Mention for Feature Films

“Flow” / Gints Zilbalodis / Latvia, Belgium, France / 1:23:00 / 2024

International Competition – Student Films

Grand Prize Cinanima 2024 – Gaston Roch Award

“Unrecognized Character Detected” / Song Ye / China / 0:08:35 / 2024

Special Mention for Student Films

“Dragfox” / Lisa Ott / United Kingdom / 0:08:00 / 2024

National Competition

António Gaio Award

“Percebes” / Alexandra Ramires, Laura Gonçalves / Portugal, France / 0:11:30 / 2024

Young Portuguese Director Award (Under 18 Years Old)

“Never Stop Singing” / Associação de Ludotecas do Porto – Anilupa, EB de Fernão de Magalhães / Portugal / 0:06:57 / 2023

Young Portuguese Director Award (18 to 30 Years Old)

“Bursting At The Seams” / Adriana Andrade, Luana Rodrigues, Daniela Tietzen / Portugal / 0:03:38 / 2024

Special Mention for National Competition

“It Shouldn’t Rain Tomorrow” / Maria Trigo Teixeira / Portugal, Germany / 0:11:30 / 2024