The Annecy International Animation Film Festival has awarded its most prestigious honor, the Cristal for a Feature Film, to "The Violinist." This marks a significant achievement for Singapore, as it is the country's first feature film to compete in Annecy's main competition.

The film, a co-production between Singapore, Spain, and Italy, tells the story of two young violinist virtuosos during and after WWII in Singapore.

While "The Violinist" had its supporters, many industry observers had anticipated the top feature prize might go to films like "Iron Boy" or "Tangles," both considered strong contenders for awards season.

However, the victory of "The Violinist" highlights the growing influence of Asian animation and international co-productions within the industry, themes that were prominent at this year's Annecy Festival.

"Iron Boy," despite not taking the top feature prize, still garnered significant recognition at the Annecy Festival.

It received the Jury Award, the Audience Award, and the Gan Foundation Award for Distribution.

Directed by former Pixar animator Louis Clichy, "Iron Boy" has been praised for its 2D animation and its inspiring storyline about an 11-year-old boy facing challenges with a metal body brace.

In the short film category, double Academy Award winner Don Hertzfeldt added another accolade to his collection, winning the Cristal for a Short Film for "Paper Trail." This award follows his Sundance Special Jury Prize win for the same film earlier this year.

Hertzfeldt, known for his distinctive animation style, developed "Paper Trail" using a blend of 2D computer animation and animated objects to create its unique visual and temporal pace.

Other notable winners at the Annecy Festival included "Decorado," which received the Paul Grimault Award for its existential fable.

"God is Shy," directed by Jocelyn Charles, was a favorite, winning two short film prizes and the SACEM Award for best original soundtrack.

The Contrechamp Grand Prix went to France's "Blaise," while the Annecy Presents Audience Award, a new prize, was given to "Brave Cat," the feature film debut of Gabriel Osorio.

The Annecy Festival also confirmed its continued growth, reporting a new record of 19,100 accredited attendees.

The festival announced that its 2027 edition will take place from June 13-19, returning to its traditional mid-month slot, and that Colombia will be the Country of Honor for that year.