Manuel Cristobal: Last News

It’s not every day an animated movie emerges from Pakistan — and if it’s feature length, 2D hand-drawn animation, that’s virtually unheard of coming from this region of South Asia. For Usman Riaz, creator, animator, co-composer and director of The Glassworker, it took dedication and perseverance to bring this first-of-its-kind animation from Pakistan in front of a global audience.

EXCLUSIVE: The Gotham Group has signed Usman Riaz, the director, animator and co-composer of the animated feature The Glassworker, which has been selected as Pakistan’s official entry for Best International Feature at this year’s Oscars and is vying for an animated feature nomination, as well.

Jamie Lang A star-studded edition of the Seville European Film Festival wrapped up over the weekend, with Ludovich and Zoran Boukherma’s French coming-of-age drama “And Their Children After Them” taking home the Giraldillo de Oro, the Festival’s top honor. Its lead, Paul Kircher, also scored a best actor win.

Naman Ramachandran Usman Riaz’s Annecy selection “The Glassworker” has unveiled its first trailer. The film will also screen at the Cannes Film Market and has set a date for theatrical release in Pakistan. The animated film will debut in Annecy’s Contrechamp strand.

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy award-winning Indian producer Apoorva Bakshi (Delhi Crime) has boarded The Glassworker, Pakistan’s first ever Hayao Miyazaki-style animated feature, as an executive producer. 

Emiliano De Pablos After a two-and-a half year hiatus, renowned Spanish producer Manuel Cristobal has returned to toon production, joining the team behind animated feature project “The Glassworker,” directed by Usman Riaz, and created by Pakistan-based Mano Animation Studios. “The Glassworker” marks the first hand-drawn animated feature from Pakistan. Scheduled for a 2023 release, the project is said to be in the running for a berth at this year’s Annecy Work in Progress showcase, a prestige selection which would earn the title considerable international profile. Targeting family audiences, the film is set in a location loosely inspired by Pakistan, telling the story of young Vincent and his father Tomas, who run the finest glass workshop in the country and find their lives upended by an approaching war in which they want no part.  The arrival in their town of an army colonel and his young talented, violinist daughter, Alliz, shakes their reality and tests the relationship between father and son.The love that develops between Vincent and Alliz is challenged constantly by the differing views of their fathers.