The upcoming Oscar submissions are underway as Pakistan becomes the second country, after Latvia’s Flow, to officially submit an animated movie under the international feature film category for the 2025 Academy Awards.
Usman Riaz directs romance-animated feature The Glassworker becoming the first traditionally-animated 2d film produced in Pakistan. The film is heavily influenced by Studio Ghibli and revolves around a young glassworker who becomes romantically entangled with a striving violinist. The story takes a turn as the two are faced with an approaching war and opposing ideals from their fathers. The film exudes star-crossed lovers feeling through this message of the two characters finding it difficult to get together.
The film had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival this past June, released theatrically in Pakistan in July. The animated feature has been playing at film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival, and the Hiroshima Festival, and will be taking part in this week’s Sitges Film Festival.
Mano Animation Studios founded by Riaz and his cousins, Khizer Riaz and Miriam Riaz Paracha, made the film while Spanish producer, Manuel Cristobal, produced it. Charades is taking care of international film sales. However, there is yet to be a U.S. distributor for the film.
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