Sep 25, 2016

"I Like Girls", "Louise en Hibber" wins best award in Ottawa

The Ottawa International Animation Festival announced its 2016 winners last night at an award ceremony held at the Saint Brigid's Center for the Arts.

The grand prize for short film was a shocker to many attendees: Diane Obomsawin's new NFB short J'aime Les Filles (I Like Girls). The simplistic film, a short series of vignettes about women recounting their first memories of homosexual desire, wasn't particularly notable artistically or narratively, yet managed to come out on top.

“We were delighted by the charming coming of age tales, told from different perspectives,” said the short jury members–Ann Marie Fleming (Canada), Brooke Keesling (USA), and Sarina Nihei (Japan). “Fresh, funny, sweet. The vignettes were strong. The design and colors were excellent. Simple, lovely animation.”

The top feature prize was awarded to Jean-François Laguionie's Louise en hiver. The feature jury was comprised of Giannalberto Bendazzi (Italy), Peter Millard (UK), and Elise Simard (Canada).

A complete list of Ottawa's 2016 winners is below:

Nelvana Grand Prize for Independent Short Animation

Grand Prize for Best Animated Feature

Cartoon Network Award for Best Narrative Short Animation

Award for Best Experimental or Abstract Animation

Award for Best Undergraduate Animation

Walt Disney Animation Award for Best Graduation Animation

Award for Best Commissioned Animation

Award for Best Short Film Made for Young Audiences

Award for Best Short Film Made for Young Audiences (Honorable Mentions)

Award for Best Animated Series Made for Young Audiences

Award for Best Animated Series Made for Young Audiences (Honorable Mentions)

Award for Best Script

Award for Best Design

Award for Best Animation Technique

Award for Best Sound

DHX Public Prize

Canadian Film Institute Award for Best Canadian Animation

Canadian Film Institute Award for Best Canadian Animation (Honorable Mentions)

VIA Rail Award for Best Canadian Student Animation

VIA Rail Award for Best Canadian Student Animation (Honorable Mentions)