Pearce Sisters Wins First PLATFORM Animation Festival

PLATFORM International Animation Festival announces competition award winners during closing ceremonies of a six-day long program in Portland, Oregon. Luis Cook took home the Grand Prix for his film, THE PEARCE SISTERS, which also won Best Art Direction.

Awards were given in categories covering commercial and independent films, student animation, installations and films for new platforms, including cell phones and the Internet. In total, more than $50,000 was awarded to the winning artists.

"We truly feel that we have accomplished our goal in creating a literal platform for artists, innovation, debate and discussion as well as set the stage to explore new developments in animation," said festival director Irene Kotlarz. "We had a wide variety of quality work submitted for competition. The judges had to make some extremely tough decisions when determining the winners of this year's competition."

Below is a complete list of winners.

Grand PrixTHE PEARCE SISTERSLuis Cook

Grand Prix/ InstallationNO NEVER ALONEGregory Barsamian

Student Grand PrixGUY 101Ian Gouldstone

Student Grand PrixDREAMING OF LUCID LIVING Miwa Matreyek

Best Film Under $5,000EVERYTHING WILL BE OKDon Hertzfeldt

Best Film Under $50,000RABBITRun Wrake

Distinguished Jury AwardGOD ON OUR SIDEUri Kranot and Michal Pfeffer

Best Film Over $50,000TOWER BAWHERTheodore Ushev

Best Promotional FilmVODAFONE MAYFLYDarren Walsh

Best Title SequenceTHE SOUTH BANK SHOWSSSR

Best Art DirectionPEARCE SISTERSLuis Cook