'Flow' wins top honor at inaugural Chongqing Intl Animation Film Week

French animated feature "Flow" won the outstanding animated film award at the Golden Camellia Honors on June 12, as the inaugural Chongqing International Animation Film Week wrapped up with a gala in Yongchuan district.

A poster for "Flow." [Image courtesy of China Film Group]

"Flow," which also won the Academy Award for best animated feature in 2025, was released on the Chinese mainland in February 2025. Directed by Latvian filmmaker Gints Zilbalodis, the film follows a dark gray cat whose home is destroyed by a flood, forcing it to cooperate with other animals on a boat despite their differences.

Other winners included French director Jean-François Laguionie, who took outstanding animated film director for "A Boat in the Garden," and Wang Chao, art director of "Curious Tales of a Temple," who earned outstanding animated film art director.

Yu Shui and Liu Jia, screenwriters of the Chinese animated film "Nobody," received outstanding animated film screenwriter, while the soundtrack for "A Story About Fire" took outstanding animated film music. The Russian animated short "Mikhalych" rounded out the honors with outstanding animated short.

The winners were chosen by a jury led by Rob Minkoff and including Yin Hong, Cai Zhijun, Sheila M. Sofian and Cheng Teng, who selected them from 501 submissions worldwide.

The gala also gave special recognition to 10 animated series, including "Yao-Chinese Folktales 2," "My Nezha and Transformers" and "Ling Cage II," along with 10 animated shorts by young creators, including "Maybe Blue" and "Wild Animal."

The closing gala of the inaugural Chongqing International Animation Film Week, featuring an awards show and song and dance performances, is held in Chongqing, June 12, 2026. [Photo/China.org.cn]

During the film week, China Media Group and the Chongqing government launched the "Animation China" Western China Creative Production Center. Under the joint development project, the two sides will work together to develop intellectual properties such as "Journey to the West" into animation, with the aim of building a national animation brand and helping Chinese animation reach global audiences.

A total of 53 projects with a combined investment of 2.8 billion yuan ($410 million) were signed at an industrial investment promotion and project signing session on June 10, covering AI-generated content, film technology research and development, talent cultivation and film production. Nearly 300 representatives from film and TV associations, leading companies, AI firms and film institutions from Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states gathered in Yongchuan for the event.

The film week attracted more than 40 domestic and international film and TV institutions, including the Russian Animation Film Association, France's Unifrance, Disney, Universal Pictures, Paramount, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, Light Chaser Animation and Fantawild Animation.

To date, Yongchuan has drawn more than 170 film and TV companies, including 42 new firms in post-production, creative R&D and support services in the first half of this year. Maoyan Pictures also opened its southwest headquarters in Yongchuan.

The film week featured animation masterclasses, academic seminars and a technology exhibition on virtual production, AI imaging, embodied intelligence and immersive experiences.

The festival also launched a film consumption season in partnership with 30 major cinemas across the city, screening nearly 40 classic domestic and international animated films. Free outdoor screenings in commercial districts and public squares offered nostalgic and family-friendly titles. The event included animated film-themed markets, and organizers distributed millions of yuan in cultural tourism vouchers.

Su Da (right), art director of Shanghai Animation Film Studio, accepts the lifetime achievement award on behalf of 97-year-old animator Qian Yunda at the closing gala of the inaugural Chongqing International Animation Film Week in Chongqing, June 12, 2026. [Photo/China.org.cn]

This year's Golden Camellia Honors also presented a lifetime achievement award to Qian Yunda, 97, a Chinese animation director, screenwriter, art designer and former deputy director of Shanghai Animation Film Studio. Qian dedicated decades to the industry, creating classics such as "The Legend of the Sealed Book" beloved by generations of Chinese audiences.

"Half a lifetime devoted to animation, a lifetime of passion. Mr. Qian has guarded the spirit, integrity and romance of the nation's animation with one classic work after another," said Su Da, art director of Shanghai Animation Film Studio, who accepted the award on behalf of Qian.

"Before I left, Mr. Qian repeatedly told me that this honor belongs to all animators," Su said. "He hopes that everyone's love for Chinese animation will last forever."