Ryan wins Oscar

The short animated film Ryan, by Toronto filmmaker Chris Landreth, has won an Oscar in the best animated short film category. Ryan tells the affecting story of Ryan Larkin, a celebrated animator and Oscar nominee who became a panhandler on the streets of Montreal. The film, which combines documentary with animation, is in a style that Landreth calls “psychological realism.”

"It is a great honour to be recognized for this film - it was a labour of love for almost four years," Landreth said at the Oscar ceremony. "Ryan Larkin is a unique and inspirational genius, and I wanted to be able to tell his story in an original and visually expressive way that would do his story and my own justice." Landreth also publicly acknowledged the support of the Canada Council.

In addition to the Oscar, Ryan has won more than 30 prizes this year, at film festivals in Cannes, Annecy, Spain, Hiroshima, and at the Ottawa International Animation Film Festival. (A clip from the film can be seen at: www.nfb.ca/.)