The short film COWS stands out at the 2026 Student Academy Awards

The short film COWS stands out at the 2026 Student Academy Awards and continues its international journey.

COWS continues its journey towards the Oscars

A graduation film created by students from ESMA’s 2025 class in 3D Animation and Visual Effects, COWS has just reached another major milestone. The short film has officially been named one of the three winners in the Animation category at the 2026 Student Academy Awards, organised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

This marks a first in ESMA’s history. Out of 2,972 films submitted by 894 institutions from around the world, COWS succeeded in securing a place among the three award-winning productions in its category.

The film will therefore receive a gold, silver or bronze medal. The final ranking will be announced on 14 September 2026 in Toronto.

Among the world’s top three student animation films

Created by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organisation behind the Oscars, the Student Academy Awards celebrate outstanding films made by students from around the world each year.

Over the years, the competition has helped launch the careers of several major names in cinema, including Spike Lee, Robert Zemeckis and Pete Docter.

For this 53rd edition, nearly 3,000 productions from around 900 schools and universities were submitted to the Academy.

COWS is one of the three films recognised in the Animation category, alongside Gauze, created at Gobelins, and The Panic Inside, from the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg.

On 14 September, during the ceremony held as part of the Toronto International Film Festival, the three teams will discover whether they have won gold, silver or bronze.

From ESMA to the Oscars race

COWS was created by Nicolás Acevedo Ferraté, Valentin Brachet, Maxence Corriette, Tanguy Delepine, Eireen Failly, Jonathan Lally, Elio Molinaro, Yulia Nikitina and Alexandre Verspuce.

The film follows a cow who, tired of her everyday life, becomes convinced that a happier existence awaits her at the farm on the other side of the road.

By revisiting the idea that “the grass is always greener on the other side” with humour and sensitivity, the students deliver an accessible and universal story while showcasing the artistic and technical skills developed throughout their studies.

And COWS’ journey may not end there. This recognition at the Student Academy Awards makes the film eligible for the 99th Academy Awards in the corresponding category. The short film can therefore continue its journey towards a potential nomination for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

A major international achievement for ESMA

After successfully progressing through the various stages of the Student Academy Awards selection process, COWS has established itself as one of the year’s most notable student animation films.

This recognition celebrates the talent of its nine directors, as well as the collective effort required to produce a graduation film and the high artistic and technical standards developed within ESMA’s 3D Animation and Visual Effects programme.

Congratulations to the entire COWS team on this outstanding achievement. Join us on 14 September in Toronto to discover which medal the film will receive and to follow the next chapter of this international journey.