Animation Filmmaker Nina Sabnani Chosen For Lifetime Achievement Award At 18th IDSFFK

Animation filmmaker Nina Sabnani has been chosen for the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK). The recognition honours her work across animation, illustration, research and education, with ten of her films also set to be screened during the festival in Thiruvananthapuram.

Who is Nina Sabnani?

Nina Sabnani is an animation filmmaker, illustrator, researcher and educator whose work brings together visual storytelling, folk art and oral traditions. She received the National Film Award for Best Animation Film in 2016 for Hum Chitra Banate Hain, made in collaboration with traditional Bhil artist Sher Singh. Her other notable films include Mukand and Riaz, Tanko Bole Chhe (The Stitches Speak) and Baat Wahi Hai. She has also contributed extensively to animation education, co-founding the Animation Design Programme at the National Institute of Design and later teaching at the IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay.

Nina Sabnani to receive IDSFFK Lifetime Achievement Award

Nina Sabnani's award will include a cash prize of ₹2 lakh, a statuette and a citation. Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan is scheduled to present the honour during the festival's closing ceremony at Kairali Theatre.

Sabnani has also received the Big Little Book Award for Illustration in 2018, the Legend of Indian Animation Award in 2021 and the Ram Mohan Award of Excellence in Animation in 2024.

Ten Nina Sabnani films to screen at IDSFFK

Ten films by Sabnani will be screened as part of the festival programme. Her work has also taken her beyond filmmaking, with her collaborative project Fleeting Moments, created with artist Shrilekha Sikander, exhibited at COP27 in Egypt in 2022.

Sabnani has served as a jury member at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, SIGGRAPH Asia and Indie-AniFest Seoul. She is currently associated with Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Bengaluru and UPES in Dehradun. She also serves as Festival Director of the AniMela International Animation Festival.

The 18th IDSFFK will be held from September 25 to 30 across Kairali, Sree and Nila theatres in Thiruvananthapuram. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the closing ceremony on September 30.