Usman Riaz nabs Best Debut Director award

Almost a year after its release, The Glassworker keeps exceeding the mark. Usman Riaz, the creator of the Pakistani animated feature, took to social media on Friday to announce yet another win for the film.

"I'm honoured to receive the Tongues on Fire, Flame Award for Best Debut Director at the UK Asian Film Festival 2025 for The Glassworker," wrote Riaz. "Bringing The Glassworker to life has been the greatest creative journey of my life, and I'm deeply grateful to the festival and jury for this recognition."

While the animator himself was not present to receive the award in person, he expressed gratitude towards the fellow creative who did. "A heartfelt thank you to our brilliant screenwriter, Moya O'Shea, for attending the festival and accepting this award on my behalf."

Last month, Deadline reported that the London premiere of The Glassworker was set to close the UK Asian Film Festival, which covered venues across London, Leicester, and Coventry.

The Glassworker follows Vincent, a glassblower apprentice who works under his father and develops an attachment to Alliz, a violinist and the daughter of an army colonel. As the threat of war forces them to confront difficult truths, the two must find a way to face their fears and cling onto hope in times of despair.

Following The Glassworker's release in 2024, Mano Animation Studios achieved a record-setting milestone by launching Pakistan's first 2D hand-drawn animated feature. The film was shortlisted as the country's official submission for the Oscars of 2025 in the category of International Feature Film. It debuted on a global scale at Annecy International Animation Film Festival and has since received both national and international acclaim.

In September, Riaz took to Instagram to announce the achievement to his followers, "We are proud to announce that The Glassworker has been selected as Pakistan's submission for the International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars. This marks the first time a 2D hand-drawn animated film from Pakistan has been chosen for this prestigious honour."

He added, "The Pakistani Academy Selection Committee stated: 'Usman and Mano's work has demonstrated exceptional storytelling and artistry while breaking new ground for animation in Pakistan. This achievement will be remembered in our cinematic history.'"

He then included his own words in the caption, "The Glassworker represents a decade of passion and perseverance. I am deeply humbled by the selection and hope this story resonates with audiences everywhere, showcasing the talent and creativity Pakistan has to offer."