AIE Students Win Best Animated Short Film at Seattle Film Festival

A team of students from the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) has taken home the prestigious Best Animated Short Film award at the Seattle Film Festival for their film, Spare Parts. The team, known collectively as Bonque Studios, was comprised of students from the animation and visual effects for film class of 2023.

Spare Parts is a deeply moving short film that explores the human condition through the lens of a unique protagonist. Under the guidance of Instructor, Director, and Producer Andy Romine, the students embarked on a twenty-week production journey, resulting in a stunning and emotionally resonant film.

“The VFX and Animation for Film class of 2023 aka ‘Bonque Studios’ had a clear vision for Spare Parts from the outset, and they stayed true to that vision from first concepts to final edit,” said Romine. “I’m honored to have been their instructor/director, and extraordinarily proud of their award-winning work.”

Student Gabe Grende, Animation lead, Story director, Character TD, Lighting, and Editor, shared his insights on the film’s narrative: “When you can understand a goal and a journey perfectly, the audience can resonate easier and maybe come to terms with their own. As artists, we had to figure out how to tell a truly human story through a tall lanky robot.”

Christian Gunning, Foley, Environment Modeler, and Texture Artist, emphasized the collaborative nature of the project: “Working on Spare Parts was an amazing experience...Everyone really stepped up in their own individual departments, and it was a beautiful site to see as it all came together.”

The AIE is immensely proud of the accomplishments of its students and extends its congratulations to the entire Bonque Studios team on this remarkable achievement.