Short film Swipe wins the Special Jury Award at AnimaFilm International

Arafat Mazhar’s Swipe has received the Special Jury Award at the 4th ANIMAFILM International Animation Festival. After being the first Pakistani animated short to make it to the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

The news was posted on both his public and Swipe Instagram accounts by the filmmaker. “We haven’t been able to fully announce this yet. Since we’ve been busy with some other interesting things.” He said in response to a story about the incident.

The “other amazing thing,” as the filmmaker puts it, is that his short Shehr-e-Tabassum has been acquired for streaming on Dust.

Swipe Short Film wins Animafilm International Animation Festival

Short film Swipe storyline

Mazhar’s Swipe depicts a fictionalized, digitalized other world of Pakistan. In which, rather than swiping left or right to discover your ideal match, people of all ages, including toddlers, are hooked to swiping on iFatwa. The software crowdsources religious death sentences by enabling users to vote on the fate of those accused in a public trial.

Also Read: Sanam Saeed’s “Ab Buss” is inspired by the Motorway Incident

Swipe is a hand-painted animated short film about Pakistan. It was created over the course of a year by a team of 20 Pakistani animators, singers, storytellers according to the official description. Furthermore, Puffball Studios wrote, animated, composed, and performed the film under its banner.

Also Read: Nabeel Qureshi bags the Miami short film festival award

The reality of a society

“Swipe is our attempt to address a rising issue brought on by the convergence of technology, fanaticism, and fascism. The tale revolves around a confrontation with increasingly harsh, alienating, and dividing circumstances. Also as well as an appeal for more understanding before it’s too late,” the official description continues.

You can watch the short film here:

The short film has been directed and produced by Mazhar and co-produced by Rasti Farooq.

Have something to add to the story? Comment down below!