‘Zsazsa Zaturnnah’ wins Bronze Award at Fantasia 2026

Filipino animated film wins audience award in Montreal, boosts global buzz.

The Philippine flag is flying high in the international animation scene as the animated feature film adaptation of beloved Filipino superhero Zsazsa Zaturnnah has secured the Bronze Audience Award for Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival.

Widely regarded as North America’s leading genre film festival, this year’s Fantasia edition ran in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from July 16 to August 2.

Rocketsheep Studio, the animation company behind the project, marked the milestone on Facebook. Sharing a vibrant graphic of the titular superheroine alongside her new laurels, the studio announced the win to its followers, writing, “Confetti! Our Zsazsa Zaturnnah film won an audience award at Fantasia International Film Festival :).”

Directed by Avid Liongoren as a co-production between the Philippines and France, the film brings the iconic local komiks character to life on the global stage.

As the studio continues to polish the film, “Zsazsa Zaturnnah” keeps racking up accolades ahead of its local screening. Its voice cast features a slate of Filipino talents, including Phi Palmos (Ada), Adrienne Vergara (Zaturnnah), Io Balanon (Didi), Sig Pecho (Dodong), and Joelle Yuvienco (Feminah).

The Fantasia Festival also unveiled its audience-selected winners across animation categories, noting that entries—from feature-length films to shorts—took audiences “by storm.”

“Zsazsa Zaturnnah” shared the Best Animated Feature podium with Japan’s “Cherry and Virgin,” which won Gold, and France’s “Jim Queen,” which took Silver.

In the Best Animated Short category, “The Lovers” from the United States bagged Gold, followed by Japan’s “Echo” with Silver, and “Trading Cards” with Bronze.

READ: