ASIFA-Student Award 25

We are proud to present ASIFA Student Award 25 (ASA25) as part of this year’s Festival of Animation Berlin, and to announce the winner. ASA25 is an initiative of ASIFA (the International Animated Film Association), dedicated to recognizing and encouraging outstanding student creativity in the field of animation. This year’s program highlights the diversity and talent of emerging artists from around the world, reflecting ASIFA’s mission to support and promote animation as an art form. ASA25 is open to all students, regardless of ASIFA membership, aiming to promote awareness of the association while providing young creators with a platform to show case their work on an international stage. The 2025 edition welcomed participation from 11 ASIFA chapters. A total of 48 captivating student films were submitted, offering a wide range of styles, techniques and storytelling approaches. After a careful pre-selection process conducted by Briana Yarhouse, Jim Middleton, and Valentas Askinis, 23 films were chosen for the official program. From this selection, the ASA25 Jury – Nelson Shin, Nancy Denney Phelps and Vessela Dantcheva – awarded the top honour to “Wild Animal” by Tianyun Lyu, China, from the University of Southern California, recognizing its exceptional artistic vision and emotional impact. Despite tight deadlines and logistical challenges, both the selection and jury committees demonstrated remarkable dedication in curating this year’s program. We invite you to explore this vibrant collection of student films – a celebration of new voices and fresh perspectives in animation from around the globe.