March 26th, 2018 
Jerry Beck 
The GLAS Animation Festival 2018 in Berkeley has come to a close and they have unveiled news of a new GLAS Animation Grant, a new program to support independent animators making short films in the United States. This first year, GLAS will be awarding two grants of $2,500 each to two animation filmmakers. Applications and full eligibility information for the inaugural grant will be available starting May 1st on the GLAS Animation website. This grant is being made possible from a significant contribution from an anonymous donor with additional support from Screen Novelties. “We think this community is making truly exciting work,” says GLAS founder Jeanette Bonds. “We can’t wait to begin supporting them in a new way.”
GLAS also announced the competition winners from this year’s festival. The festival jury consisted of Jonathan Hodgson, Boris Labbé, and Ruth Lingford. The prize winners are listed below.
“The Burden” by Niki Lindroth Von Bahr
GRAND PRIX
The Burden by Niki Lindroth Von Bahr
This film evokes strong and complex emotions. It is both absurd and profound, both humorous and tragic. The extraordinary music and strong cinematography contribute to an intensely powerful film.
NEW TALENT
Ugly by Nikita Diakur
This film’s innovative technique injects poetry into the software, where real-world physics combine with unsettling puppet-like movement to create a vision of beauty and humanity into a disturbingly fragmented world.
HIGH RISK
Who’s the Daddy by Wong Ping
This film offered a fistful of challenges and made us very uncomfortable in interesting ways. The dark humor and engaging design helped us to endure the experience.
Special Mention from Jonathan Hodgson
For its strong and atmospheric sense of place, its subtle and understated character animation and its powerful and accurate depiction of the dynamics of bullying as seen from the perspective of the victim, we award a Special Mention to:
Clemence’s Afternoon by Lenaig Le Moigne
Special Mention from Boris Labbé
For its original use of cinema as personal memory abd collective experience, a film that plays with three different times: an early photograph, a young child with his family and a film noir. We award a Special Mention to:
A Photo of Me by Dennis Tupicoff
Special Mention from Ruth Lingford
This surprising and playful film mixes sensuality and humor in the story of a woman’s thwarted quest for pleasure. The animator’s freedom from shame liberates the audience. We award a Special Mention to:
Pussy by Renata Gasiorowska
FXX ELEVATION AWARD
The Burden by Niki Lindroth Von Bahr
Niki Lindroth van Bahr’s The Burden is truly representative of excellence in animated storytelling. Niki has crafted a world with exquisite attention to detail that enhances a dark mood while shining a spotlight on unforgettable characters. The musical balances comedic lyrics, smart themes and a distinct point of view on the mundane spectacle of our lives. FX is excited to invest in this visionary artist for her next project.
US Competition
The US Competition Jury includes Reca Busci, Simon Wilches Castro, and Michael Frei.
BEST US FILM
Strange Fish by Steven Subotnik
Catching fish is hard, Steven did it, he gets an award.
US Competition Special Mention
△▽ by Connor Griffith
We wish this film had a longer extension
because it didn’t it gets an honorable mention.
Children’s Competition
The Children’s Competition Jury includes Rachel Sale, Erick Oh, and Sophie Koko Gate
BEST FILM FOR CHILDREN
Hedgehogs Home by Eva Cvjianovic
In children’s animation, we tend to see a lot of clean, shiny depictions of nature. This film breaks the mould. It courageously focuses on some challenging themes without compromising on magic and charm.
Children’s Competition Special Mention
Birdlime by Evan DeRushie
We really enjoyed the unexpected development of the story which gradually unfolds with the full attention of the audience. We loved the sensitive portrayal of friendship and the minimal approach to defining a sense of place and time. Also, probably the most beautiful human hands we’ve ever seen on screen.
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