Introducing The Cartoon Brew Award For Excellence In Animation

Today, we’re incredibly proud to finally unveil the physical award for the ASIFA-East Festival Media Partnership Award, and we are even more excited about what it represents. (Also, it looks incredible)

When we first partnered with ASIFA-East as the festival’s media partner, we knew we wanted to do more than put our name on a program. We wanted to create something tangible that reflects how deeply we believe in the artists, filmmakers, and storytellers who make this community what it is.

Cartoon Brew has spent 22 years covering animation professionally, and I’ve been at it personally for a decade. Far more than just an industry, animation is our passion, and we have endless respect for the individuals who create the work that moves us, makes us laugh, and helps us make sense of the world. Honoring the art form that has impacted us so profoundly is something we couldn’t pass up and take very seriously.

We’re thrilled to be attached to this award, thrilled to celebrate the filmmakers who earn it, and grateful to ASIFA-East for welcoming us so fully into the festival. We can’t wait to see who wins the very first Cartoon Brew Award for Excellence in Animation.

This year’s 56th edition of the annual ASIFA-East Animation Festival continues its legacy as one of the longest-running showcases of animated short films, spotlighting exceptional work from independent, student, and professional creators. With a juried selection of films and a culminating awards ceremony on May 22, the festival brings together filmmakers and the animation community to celebrate the breadth, ambition, and artistry of the medium.