Chongqing – The inaugural 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week concluded on June 12 with the announcement of 10 "Golden Camellia" Honor Recommendations at the Yongchuan Technology Studio.The inaugural 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week concluded on June 12. (Photo/The Organizer)

The five-day event, running from June 9 to 13, showcased 501 animated works from around the world. Of those, 45 were shortlisted across multiple categories, with winners including the Oscar-winning feature Flow and the Chongqing-made short Fireworks (Huo Shu Yin Hua).

Flow wins top honor

The Outstanding Animated Film went to Flow (Latvia/France/Belgium), the 2025 Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature and the first Latvian film ever to win an Oscar. Directed by Gints Zilbalodis, the dialogue-free survival adventure follows a cat as it navigates a flooded world with a menagerie of animal companions.The Outstanding Animated Film went to Flow. (Photo/The Organizer)

"It is a moving story that transcends language," said Zhang Hao, a representative for the film, who confirmed that Flow will return to theaters in China this summer.

Emerging local talent recognized

The Special Recommendation for New Generation Animated Short was presented to Fireworks, a fully hand-drawn short created by Long Jiaxin and her team from Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications.One of the Special Recommendations for New Generation Animated Shorts was presented to the Chongqing-made short Fireworks. (Photo/The Organizer)

The film centers on "da tie hua" (striking molten iron), a national-level intangible cultural heritage practice that dates back more than 1,000 years to the Northern Song Dynasty. Long's narrative follows an ordinary young woman who overcomes social and physical barriers to master the centuries-old craft, carrying a message that "ordinary people can create miracles."

"Aside from early concept work, the short took one month to complete," Long said. "All images were based on real-world scenes—we visited locations like Hong'en Temple for reference."

Traditional craft meets AI innovation

The closing ceremony paid tribute to the traditions of hand-drawn animation through a demonstration by Zhao Lei, a longtime advocate of cel animation. Zhao deconstructed frame-by-frame compositions from the classic 1981 short Nine-Colored Deer to illustrate the precision required of the pre-digital era.Zhao deconstructed the frame-by-frame compositions of the classic 1981 short Nine-Colored Deer to illustrate the precision required in the pre-digital era. (Photo/The Organizer)

"An animated feature typically requires more than 100,000 cels," Zhao explained. "If ten animators trace the same character line drawing, all ten sheets must stack perfectly—every line must align."

The Outstanding Technologically Innovative Animated Work went to Mountain Legends: Temple Tiger, directed by Chen Geng, who used AI tools to create the piece. Chen cited childhood influences, including The Legend of the Sealed Book and The Magic Brush, as inspirations for his animation ambitions.Chen Geng, Director of Mountain Legends: Temple Tiger. (Photo/The Organizer)

Lifetime achievement honor

The Golden Camellia Lifetime Achievement Honor was awarded posthumously to Qian Yunda, the Shanghai Animation Film Studio director whose seven-decade career shaped some of China's most beloved animated works, including The Legend of the Sealed Book, The Golden Conch, and The Slovenly Boy's Adventure.Su Da, art director of Shanghai Animation Film Studio, accepted the award on Qian's behalf. (Photo/The Organizer)

"Master Qian once told me that this honor belongs to all animators," said Su Da, art director of Shanghai Animation Film Studio, who accepted the award on Qian's behalf. "He hoped that everyone's love for Chinese animation would continue forever."

Yongchuan's growing role as a production hub

The film week was held at the Yongchuan Technology Studio in western Chongqing, a production base equipped with virtual shooting stages, digital set construction, and AI-enhanced post-production facilities. With two phases completed, covering 84,000 square meters, the studio has hosted more than 50 film and television projects and counts the Cannes jury prize-winning film Resurrection among its achievements.The inaugural 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week concluded at the Yongchuan Technology Studio. (Photo/The Organizer)

Other winners

Other Golden Camellia recipients included Nobody, Curious Tales of a Temple, and A Story About Fire, honored in categories such as screenwriting, art design, and music.The inaugural 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week concluded on June 12. (Photo/The Organizer)

The film week, whose theme was "Boundless Creativity · Excelling Together," also featured masterclasses, industry investment promotion, project signing sessions, and public screenings, with nearly 40 classic animated films shown at more than 30 cinemas across Chongqing.