The Singaporean film received the Cristal award at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, along with the award for best soundtrack
The Violinist, a hand-drawn animated film, has received the Cristal award, the highest honour at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Regarded as the ‘Cannes of Animation’, the festival is considered the most important international platform for animated film-making. Previous winners of the Cristal have included James and the Giant Peach, Coraline and Fantastic Mr Fox.
The Violinist also received the SACEM Award for Best Original Soundtrack in a Feature Film. The score was written by Singaporean composer Ricky Ho, in collaboration with Spanish composer Isabel Latorre. Violinist Joy Yong, also from Singapore, performed the lead violin part on the soundtrack.
‘To receive the Cristal at Annecy is beyond anything we imagined when we first began this journey,’ said Ervin Han, the film’s co-director and co-writer. ‘We hope this recognition not only celebrates The Violinist, but also encourages more stories from Singapore and South-east Asia to find audiences around the world.’ The Violinist marks Han’s feature directorial debut.
The Violinist is set against the backdrop of Singapore and Malaya during the 20th century, including the Japanese occupation. It follows the lives of two childhood friends whose lives are shaped and separated by war, time and circumstance. Bound by music, their shared journey unfolds across decades, tracing a story of love, loss and the enduring power of memory.
In a collaboration between Singapore, Spain and Italy, The Violinist is produced by Singapore’s Robot Playground Media along with Spain’s TV ON Producciones and Italy’s Altri Occhi.
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