Student Animation Awards

Short films created by DigiPen Institute of Technology students have won numerous animation awards and appeared at major film festivals around the world. See the full list of film honors and awards below.

Adija

Winner, Best Student Animation, 2018 DRAWTASTIC (fka 2D OR NOT 2D Animation Festival)
Best 3D Heartwarming Animated Short, 2017 Palm Springs International Animation Festival
Silver Remi Award in College Level Productions, 2017 Worldfest-Houston International Film and Video Festival
Award for Merit, 2016 Accolade Global Film Competition
Golden Eagle Award for Student Animation, 2016 CINE
Best Animation, 2016 International Family Film Festival
Best Animation, 2016 Lady Filmmakers Festival
Best Animated Short Film, The 2016 Short Film Awards (SOFIES)
Finalist, International Student Film Contest, 2017 Animaze - Montreal International Animation Film Festival
Finalist, University Category, 2017 TimeLine Film Festival
2018 Children’s International Film Festival Seattle
2018 Conscious Cartoons International Film Festival
2018 Milwaukee Public School All-City Arts Festival
2018 Rochester International Children’s Film Festival
2018 Scribe Video Center Street Movies Festival
2017 Adelaide International Youth Film Festival
2017 Animation Dingle Festival
2017 Athens Animfest
2017 Blue Plum Animation Festival
2017 British Animation Film Festival
2017 Burbank International Film Festival
2017 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival
2017 Cinequest Film & VR Festival
2017 Destiny City Film Festival
2017 Kansas International Film Festival
2017 Milwaukee Film Festival
2017 Northwest Animation Festival
2017 Rendezvous Film Festival
2017 Seattle International Film Festival
2016 Alexander Valley Film Festival
2016 Anchorage International Film Festival
2016 Giffoni International Film Festival
2016 Gold Coast International Film Festival
2016 International New York Film Festival
2016 Joy House Film Festival
2016 MIA Animation Conference and Festival
2016 Orlando Film Festival

Anchored

Winner, Haribo’s Best Female Filmmaker, 2022 Joy House Film Festival
Winner, Best Sound, 2022 KINO Short Film Festival
Winner, Merit Award, 2021 Anim8 Student Film Festival
Semi-Finalist, Best Student Animation, 2023 Drawtastic “Golden Pencil Awards”
Finalist, 2022 VAFI & RAFI – International Children and Youth Animation Film Festival
Semi-Finalist, Best Student Animation Film, 2022 Student LA Film Awards
Finalist, Student Character Films, 2021 Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival
Quarter-Finalist, Best Student Film, 2021 Animation Studio Festival
2022 FEST — New Directors New Films Festival
2022 Deep Focus Film Festival
2022 Khem Animation Film Festival
2022 Athens Animfest
2022 Amelia Island Film Festival
2022 AniMate – Australia Animation Film Festival
2022 Dam Short Film Festival
2021 International Student Animated Film Animafantasia Festival
2021 ICONA Film Festival
2021 TIAF - Tbilisi International Animation Festival
2021 Global Youth Film Festival Bangladesh
2021 Overmountain Animation Film Festival

Anna

Semi-Finalist, Student Competition Short, 2019 Columbus International Film Festival
2019 ZERO PLUS International Film Festival
2019 Animaze - Montreal International Animation Film Festival
2019 Kino Film Festival
2019 Cinemira-Budapest International Children’s Film Festival
2019 Athens Animfest
2019 Strapless Student Film Festival
2018 InShort Film Festival
2018 Overmountain (fka Blue Plum) Animation Festival
2018 Universal Kids Film Festival

Bait & Switch

2015 Blue Plum Animation Festival
2015 Columbia Gorge International Film Festival
2015 Portland Film Festival

Beneath the Night Sea

Best Animation, 2014 DAFNE (fka Digital Arts Festival)
2014 Blue Plum Animation Festival
2014 Columbia Gorge International Film Festival

The Castores Union

2020 Festival Angaelica

Chocolate and Flowers

Most Uplifting Film, 2023 Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival
Quarter-Finalist, Best Animated Film, 2023 Student World Awards
2023 Dam Short Film Festival
2023 Anim!Arte – International Student Animation Festival of Brazil
2023 Reel Love Film Festival
2023 International Student Animation Film Festival Animafantasia
2023 Overmountain Animation Festival

Etude

Best of the Fest, 2019 The Global Youth Film Festival
Best 2D Animation, 2019 Florida Animation Festival
Best Animated Short Film, 2018 Pollino International Film Fest
Award of Excellence, 2018 Anim8 Student Film Festival
Best of Student Award, 2018 Overmountain (fka Blue Plum) Animation Festival
Jury Nominee, Animation, 2019 Kansas International Film Festival
Finalist, Best Animated Film, 2019 Oregon Short Film Festival
Finalist, Animation, 2019 Carmarthen Bay Film Festival
Finalist, Student Competition, 2019 Columbus International Film Festival
2020 Children’s Film Festival Seattle
2019 Lady Filmmakers Festival
2019 ZERO PLUS International Film Festival
2019 LIFF - Lebanese Independent Film Festival
2019 Animaze - Montreal International Animation Film Festival
2019 jellyFEST
2019 Kansas International Film Festival
2019 ENFOQUE International Film Festival
2019 FAD Festival: Film-Art-Dance on Screen
2019 Kino Film Festival
2019 Athens Animfest
2019 Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival
2019 International Choreographic Festival of Blois
2019 FIAFest International Festival
2018 InShort Film Festival
2018 Capitol Dance & Cinema Festival (Washington, D.C.)
2018 Celtic Animation Film Competition
2018 Greensboro Dance Film Festival
2018 Hyperfest International Student Film Festival
2018 Palm Springs International Animation Festival
2018 Universal Kids Film Festival

Fathom

Semi-Finalist, Best Student Animation, 2022 Drawtastic “Golden Pencil Awards”
Semi-Finalist, Best Student Animation, 2022 New York Animation Film Awards
Finalist, Student Animated Film, 2020 International Student Animated Film Animafantasia Festival
2021 LittleBig Children’s Film Festival
2021 KINO Short Film Festival
2021 Anim!Arte – International Student Animation Festival
2021 Athens Animfest
2021 Dirigo International Student Film Festival
2020 Animation Festival ICONA
2020 Overmountain Animation Festival
2020 Down East Flick Fest

Flap

Winner, Student Animator, 2020 Florida Animation Festival
Award of Merit, Student, 2019 Southern Shorts Awards
Finalist, Student - Short Animation, 2021 JellyFEST
Finalist, Best Student Animation, 2021 Drawtastic “Golden Pencil Awards”
Finalist, Film of the Year, 2D Animation, 2020 The Rookie Awards
Finalist, Best Animated Micro Film, 2020 Oregon Short Film Festival
Semi-Finalist, Animation, 2020 Carmarthen Bay Film Festival
Semi-Finalist, Best Animated Film for Young Audiences, 2020 Children Cinema Awards (CCA)
Semi-Finalist, 2020 Kino Short Film Festival
Semi-Finalist, Best Animation - Student Film, 2020 New York Animation Film Awards
Honorable Mention, 2D Film, 2020 Florida Animation Festival
Finalist, Animated Short, 2019 Oaxaca FilmFest
Finalist, Best Animated Short Film, 2019 The Short Film Awards
2020 Festival Angaelica
2020 SCAD Savannah Film Festival
2020 MINT Film Festival
2020 Lady Filmmakers Festival
2020 Chautauqua International Film Festival
2020 LIFF – Lebanese Independent Film Festival
2020 Overmountain Animation Festival
2020 Living Skies Student Film Festival
2020 Soul 4 Reel Festival
2020 International Children’s Film Festival (India)
2020 Beirut International Children and Family Film Festival
2020 MOVE Summit
2020 Big Shoulders International Student Film Festival
2020 Animation Dingle
2019 ReAnimania International Film & Comics Art Festival of Yerevan
2019 Animation Chico
2019 Anim!Arte - International Student Animation Festival of Brazil
2019 Animaze - Montreal International Animation Film Festival

Fur and Feather Flock Together

2023 International Student Animation Film Festival Animafantasia

Galaxy Girl

Award of Merit Special Mention, Animation (Student), 2018 Accolade Global Film Competition
Best Student CGI/3D, 2018 Florida Animation Festival
Audience Choice Award: Animations by Student Animators, 2018 Overmountain (fka Blue Plum) Animation Festival
Finalist, Animation, 2018 Marin County International Festival of Short Film & Video
Finalist, International Science-Fiction Short Film, 2018 NanoCon International Science-Fiction Film Festival
2019 Children’s Film Festival Seattle
2018 Anim!Arte - International Student Animation Festival of Brazil
2018 Animation Chico
2018 Animation Dingle Festival
2018 Animex Awards
2018 Athens Animfest
2018 Cardiff Animation Festival
2018 ENFOQUE International Film Festival
2018 Festival Du Film Merveilleux & Imaginaire
2018 International Children’s Film Festival Bangladesh
2018 International Film Festival of Animation Cinema and Comics
2018 Kino Short Film Festival
2018 Lady Filmmakers Festival
2018 Mostra de Cinema Fantàstic de Ponent
2018 Mt. Fuji Atami Film & VR Festival
2018 Northwest Animation Festival
2018 One Reel Film Festival for Bumbershoot
2018 Orlando Film Festival
2018 Palm Springs International Animation Festival
2018 Red Rock Film Festival
2018 Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)
2018 Vlth Fantastic and Terror Festival in Tàrrega – GALACTICAT
2017 Emerge Microcinema

Heads Up

2023 Anim!Arte – International Student Animation Festival of Brazil
2023 International Student Animation Film Festival Animafantasia

Hidden

Semi-Finalist, Best Animated Film for Young Audiences, 2020 Children Cinema Awards (CCA)
2020 PSIAF Palm Springs Intl. Animation Festival & Expo
2020 Festival Angaelica
2020 Florida Animation Festival
2020 Overmountain Animation Festival
2020 Animex Awards

Iron Mermaiden

Finalist, 2023 AniMate - Australia Animation Film Festival
Finalist, Film of the Year, 2D Animation, 2021 The Rookie Awards
Honorable Mention, Student Short Animation, 2021 International Student Animated Film Animafantasia Festival
2022 Tbilisi International Animation Festival
2022 Overmountain Animation Festival

Katak

Semi-Finalist, 2023 AniMate - Australia Animation Film Festival

The Little Rat

Award Winner, 2023 Imaginary Mind Film Contest
Finalist, Best Animated Film, 2023 Student World Awards
Finalist, 2023 AniMate – Australia Animation Film Festival
Nominee, Best in Student, 2023 Animation Studio Festival
Honorable Mention, 2023 Los Angeles Animation Festival
2023 Dam Short Film Festival
2023 TIAF – Tbilisi International Animation Festival
2023 International Student Animation Film Festival Animafantasia
2023 The Animattikon Project
2023 Overmountain Animation Festival
2023 GIFFONI Film Festival
2023 Studio City International Film & TV Festival

Ming

Most Uplifting Film, 2019 Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival
Finalist, 2019 Marin County International Festival of Short Film & Video
2020 Children’s Film Festival Seattle
2019 Palm Springs International Animation Festival
2019 ZERO PLUS International Film Festival
2019 Seattle International Film Festival
2019 VAFI & RAFI - International Children and Youth Animation Film Festival
2019 Kino Film Festival
2019 Cinemira-Budapest International Children’s Film Festival
2019 ZLÍN International Festival for Children and Youth
2019 Athens Animfest
2019 Animation Dingle Festival
2018 InShort Film Festival

Mother

2023 Dam Short Film Festival
2023 TIAF – Tbilisi International Animation Festival
2023 ReAnimania International Animation Film & Comics Art Festival of Yerevan
2023 International Student Animation Film Festival Animafantasia
2023 Overmountain Animation Festival

Nobody

Winner, Best Animation, 2023 Catalina Film Festival
Winner, 2023 MICE Film Festival (Mostra Internacional Cinema Educatiu)
Winner, 2023 FEEDBACK Animation Film & Screenplay Festival
Best Performances (Audience Award), 2023 DIVERSITY Film Festival
Finalist, People’s Choice Award (Animation), 2023 KINO Short Film Fest
Semi-Finalist, Best Animation Student Film, 2023 New York Animation Film Awards
Semi-Finalist, Best Student Animation Film, 2023 Student LA Film Awards
Finalist, 2023 AniMate - Australia Animation Film Festival
Honorable Mention, Film of the Year (2D Animation), 2022 The Rookie Awards
Excellence Award, 2022 The Rookie Awards
2023 A Night of Misfit Films
2023 Imaginary Mind Film Contest
2023 International Student Animation Film Festival Animafantasia
2023 The Animattikon Project
2023 Khem Animation Film Festival
2023 Festival of Animation Berlin
2023 Tacoma Film Festival
2023 Overmountain Animation Festival
2023 Studio City International Film & TV Festival
2023 Full Bloom Film Festival
2023 Kino Short Film Festival
2023 DC Independent Film Festival
2023 Athens Animfest
2023 Women International Film Festival
2022 Spark Animation
2022 Tbilisi International Animation Festival
2022 Oaxaca FilmFest
2022 REEL Recovery Film Festival

Orientation Center for the Unseen

Award of Merit Special Mention, 2016 Best Shorts Competition
2016 2D OR NOT 2D Animation Festival
2016 Blue Plum Animation Festival
2016 Columbia Gorge International Film Festival
2016 New Animation & Cartoon International Film Festival
2016 San Francisco Frozen Film Festival

PrePAWsterous

Best PNW Student Film, 2021 KINO Short Film Festival
Best Sound, 2021 KINO Short Film Festival
Best Student Animation, 2021 PRIX ROYAL Paris Animation Awards
Best Dramatic Sequence, 2021 PRIX ROYAL Paris Animation Awards
Winner, Best Children Comedy, 2020 International Student Animated Film Animafantasia Festival
Semi-Finalist, Best Animated Film, 2022 Children Cinema Awards
Semi-Finalist, Best Student Animation, 2022 Drawtastic “Golden Pencil Awards”
Finalist (Highly Commended), Film of the Year, 2D Animation, 2021 The Rookie Awards
Finalist, Golden Student Category, 2021 Golden Short Film Festival
Finalist, Best Character-Based Short, 2020 Los Angeles Animation Festival
Finalist, Best Animated Short Film, 2020 The Short Film Awards
Finalist, Best Animated Film, 2020 Oregon Short Film Festival
Finalist, Best Washington Film, 2020 Oregon Short Film Festival
Semi-Finalist, Best Student Animation Film, 2020 Student Los Angeles Film Awards
2022 BAMKids Film Festival
2022 AniMate – Australia Animation Film Festival
2022 Children’s Film Festival Seattle
2021 Puerto Rico Film Festival
2021 LittleBig Children’s Film Festival
2021 Mobile Animation Film Festival
2021 Los Angeles Lift-Off Festival
2021 Bay Area International Children’s Film Festival
2021 Full Bloom Festival
2021 Orlando International Film Festival
2021 Zebra Animation Friendly Festival
2021 Animex Awards
2021 We Like ‘Em Short- Animation and Comedy Film Festival
2021 Moscow International Children’s Film Festival
2021 Florida Animation Festival
2021 Toronto International Animation Festival
2021 SHORT to the Point ISFF Awards
2021 Anim!Arte International Student Animation Festival
2021 Columbus International Film & Animation Festival
2021 Beirut International Children and Family Film Festival
2021 Athens Animfest
2021 Dirigo International Student Film Festival
2021 TAAFI - Toronto Animation Arts Festival International
2020 Animation Festival ICONA
2020 TIAF - Tbilisi International Animation Festival
2020 Festival Internacional de Cinema Escolar de Alvorada (FECEA)
2020 Prime The Animation! New Talent International Festival
2020 Overmountain Animation Festival
2020 Down East Flick Fest

Rakshama

Semi-Finalist, Best Student Animation, 2018 DRAWTASTIC (fka 2D OR NOT 2D& Animation Festival)
2018 Athens Animfest (Greece)
2018 Anim!Arte - International Student Animation Festival of Brazil
2018 Kino Short Film Festival

Remember to Sleep

Semi-Finalist, 2023 AniMate - Australia Animation Film Festival
2022 Tbilisi International Animation Festival
2021 International Student Animated Film Animafantasia Festival

Ripple

Winner, Best Student Short, 2022 Amelia Island Film Festival
Winner, Animated Micro Film, 2021 Oregon Short Film Festival
Finalist, 2022 Joy House Film Festival
Honorable Mention, Film of the Year (2D Animation), 2022 The Rookie Awards
Finalist, Best Animated Film, 2022 Children Cinema Awards
Runner Up, Best Student Short, 2022 KINO Short Film Festival
Semi-Finalist, Best Student Animation, 2022 New York Animation Film Awards
Semi-Finalist, Best Student Animation Film, 2022 Student LA Film Awards
Semi-Finalist, Best Animated Film, 2021 Student World Awards
Quarter-Finalist, Best Student Film, 2021 Animation Studio Festival
Honorable Mention, Student Short Animation, 2021 International Student Animated Film Animafantasia Festival
2022 Animaze - Montreal International Animation Film Festival
2022 Khem Animation Film Festival
2022 Florida Animation Festival
2022 Athens Animfest
2022 Riverside International Film Festival
2022 AniMate – Australia Animation Film Festival
2022 Dam Short Film Festival
2021 KIDS FIRST! Film Festival
2021 Imaginary Mind Contest
2021 TIAF - Tbilisi International Animation Festival
2021 Global Youth Film Festival Bangladesh
2021 Full Bloom Festival
2021 Overmountain Animation Film Festival

Star

2015 Trinity Film Festival

Steak to the Heart

2016 Blue Plum Animation Festival
2016 Columbia Gorge International Film Festival
2016 New Animation & Cartoon International Film Festival

Super Secret

2014 Blue Plum Animation Festival
2014 Columbia Gorge International Film Festival
2014 LA International Film Festival
2014 Portland Film Festival
2014 Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)
2014 Tacoma Film Festival
2014 Traverse City Film Festival
2014 Tumbleweed Film Festival

Tall Order

Winner, Best Student Short, 2023 KINO Short Film Fest
Winner, Best Sound in a Student Film, 2023 Kino Short Film Festival
Award of Excellence, 2022 Anim8 Student Film Festival
Winner, Best Student Film, 2022 Film Short Creative Award
Finalist, Best Short Animation, 2023 Paris Animation Awards
Finalist, People’s Choice Award (Animation), 2023 KINO Short Film Fest
Semi-Finalist, Best Animation Student Film, 2023 New York Animation Film Awards
Semi-Finalist, 2023 Soul4reel Film Festival
Runner Up, PNW Best Student Film, 2023 Kino Short Film Festival
Finalist, 2023 AniMate - Australia Animation Film Festival
Quarter-Finalist, Best Student Film, 2022 Animation Studio Festival
Honorable Mention, Character-Based Short, 2022 Los Angeles Animation Festival
Finalist, Best Animated Film, 2022 Oregon Short Film Festival Fall
Nominee, Best Animated Short Film, 2022 The Short Film Awards (SOFIES)
Excellence Award, 2022 The Rookie Awards
Finalist (Highly Commended), Film of the Year (2D Animation), 2022 The Rookie Awards
Semi-Finalist, Best Student Animation Film, 2022 Student LA Film Awards
2023 Catalina Film Festival
2023 Columbus International Film & Animation Festival
2023 Palm Springs Animation Festival
2023 Animation Dingle
2023 International Shorts Film Festival
2023 Athens Animfest
2022 Spark Animation
2022 Studio City International Film & TV Festival
2022 Tbilisi International Animation Festival
2022 Oaxaca FilmFest
2022 TAF – Thessaloniki Animation Festival
2022 REEL Recovery Film Festival
2022 Overmountain Animation Festival
2022 Animaze - Montreal International Animation Film Festival
2022 The Animattikon Project
2022 Orlando Film Festival
2022 Florida Animation Festival