“It is truly an honour to represent Pakistan at Annecy 2022. Only 8 exceptional feature films are selected from all over the world for Annecy’s Work in Progress category. To have our first feature film, ‘The Glassworker’, on the same stage as so many incredible and inspiring animated films that have come before us is genuinely humbling.
With this amazing opportunity, we will be able to showcase the incredibly meticulous work we are doing at Mano Animation Studios. To be the first hand-drawn feature film to come from Pakistan and for it to be acknowledged by our peers is extremely encouraging. I love the craft of animation more than anything in the world, I have dedicated my life to it. With ‘Annecy Work in Progress’, we are in the incredible position to share my love for the craft with the most outstanding studios, artists and animators in the world.” – Usman Riaz, Director
France’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the leading global get-together for all things animation has unveiled the lineup for this year’s ‘Work in Progress’ category
Mano Animation Studios ‘The Glassworker’ joins the exclusive roster for the Work in Progress at Annecy 2022, a barometer for future standout awards and box office success. Recent high-profile projects featured at Annecy’s Work in Progress include Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Oscar-winner “Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse” and Oscar nominees in Netflix’s “Klaus” and “Over the Moon,” Cartoon Saloon’s “Wolfwalkers,” Michael Dudok de Wit’s “The Red Turtle,” and Dean DeBlois’ “How to Train Your Dragon 2”.
‘Annecy Work in Progress’ will be a 75 minute detailed showcase to industry professionals on Mano Animation Studios and ‘The Glassworker’.
‘The Glassworker’ is an original story about young Vincent and his father Tomas, who run the finest glass workshop in the country and find their lives upended by an impending war in which they want no part. The arrival in their town of an army colonel and his young, talented violinist daughter, Alliz, shakes their reality and tests the relationship between father and son. The love that develops between Vincent and Alliz is challenged constantly by the differing views of their fathers. It is a time when patriotism and social standing are considered more important than free thought and artistic pursuits. It is a time when love is not relevant.
Set in a location loosely inspired by Pakistan, ‘The Glassworker’ is a hand-drawn animated feature film directed by Usman Riaz and created by Mano Animation Studios. It is the first hand-drawn animated feature from Pakistan and will release in 2023.
