'We Are Aliens' Wins Best Animated Feature at Sitges Film Festival
Director Kohei Kadowaki becomes the youngest Japanese filmmaker to take the Anima't award at the 59th Sitges Catalonia International Film Festival.
("We Are Aliens") won the Best Animated Feature award in the Anima't animation section at the 59th Sitges Catalonia International Film Festival, according to cinemacafe.net. Director Kohei Kadowaki, who also planned and wrote the film, became the youngest Japanese director ever to receive the prize.
Kadowaki received word of the award on site and offered a comment expressing surprise and delight.
The film is currently in theaters across Japan, with expanded screenings having begun on October 16.
Past Japanese winners at Sitges
Japanese animation has taken the festival's animation prize before. In 2016, Makoto Shinkai's won the top award in the animation section, and in 2018 Mamoru Hosoda's did the same. In 2020, Yuta Murano's also won in the animation section.
Earlier in its run, had its world premiere in the Directors' Fortnight section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, was selected for the feature competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026, and won the grand prize in the feature competition at the 50th Ottawa International Animation Festival. The film opened in Japan on September 25.
Quick answers
Which award did 'We Are Aliens' win at Sitges?
It won the Best Animated Feature award in the Anima't animation section at the 59th Sitges Catalonia International Film Festival.
Who directed 'We Are Aliens'?
Kohei Kadowaki directed the film and also handled planning and scripting. He is the youngest Japanese director to win the Anima't award.
Is 'We Are Aliens' still in theaters?
Yes. It is showing across Japan, and expanded screenings began on October 16.