Graduate's film only UK animation selected for prestigious Sony Future Filmmaker Awards
A UK graduate has achieved international recognition after his film became the only British animation selected for this year's prestigious Sony Future Filmmaker Awards in Los Angeles.
Corin Anderson, 24 from York, who graduated from the University of Hertfordshire’s 2D Animation programme in 2025, was shortlisted for the global competition with his film Expectation, which was selected from more than 8,400 entries submitted from 162 countries.
Only 30 films were shortlisted across all categories, including just five animated films, with the majority produced by established professionals rather than students or recent graduates.
Expectation is about a table tennis player who, in the minutes before he is set to play, finds himself overwhelmed by the pressure of the moment as he struggles to find composure and remember what makes him play.
As part of being shortlisted, Corin was flown to Los Angeles to take part in an exclusive programme of workshops and masterclasses with internationally renowned filmmakers and industry experts at Sony Pictures Studios.
The programme included sessions led by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Eric Heisserer (Arrival), director Zack Gregor (Weapons), Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Nneka Onuorah, alongside leading creative professionals working across film production, animation and visual development.
The selection marks another milestone in an exceptional international journey for Expectation, which has now been officially selected by more than 27 film festivals across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, including festivals in Portugal, Italy, Spain, Greece, Mexico, Colombia, India, Kenya and the United States.
The film has also picked up major recognition closer to home, winning the Production Design category at the Royal Television Society East Student Awards 2026, as well as being shortlisted for both Animation and Sound.
Dr Stephen Partridge, Dean of the School of Creative Arts at the University of Hertfordshire, said:
"This is a remarkable achievement for Corin. To be selected as the only British animation in such a prestigious international competition is an incredible endorsement of his talent and creativity.
"The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards attract thousands of entries from around the world, making this one of the most competitive platforms for emerging filmmakers. We're immensely proud to see one of our graduates representing both the University and the UK on the international stage.
“It further enhances Herts’ reputation as a career-focused university which produced graduates fit for taking up opportunities in global film, television and games industries.”
Herts is the only UK Creative Arts School in the World's top 30, according to the most recent Rookies global rankings which place Herts' School of Creative Arts as Best 2D Animation School in the UK and fourth best in the world. It lists Herts as Best Concept Art School in the UK, and Best VFX School in the UK. Herts was Second in the UK for Games Design and Development.
Corin - who is currently working as an Animator at Studio Meala in the Republic of Ireland - said the opportunity gave him invaluable access to some of the film industry's leading creative figures.
"Sony flew us out to Los Angeles where we spent several days taking part in workshops and masterclasses with filmmakers from across the industry. We heard from people including Eric Heisserer, the screenwriter behind Arrival, documentary filmmaker Nneka Onuorah and other professionals working in filmmaking and animation.
"Being surrounded by filmmakers from across the world and learning directly from people working at the highest level was an incredible experience.
"I think the themes in Expectation are fairly relatable, even if not necessarily in the specific setting. In the Sony festival specifically, I was part of the category titled ‘against the grain’. They grouped the films based on the themes of the works rather than their mediums."
The achievement also represents a landmark moment for the University of Hertfordshire, with Expectation becoming the first animation from the University ever to be selected for the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards.