Image Credit: ESMA
As attendees got to their seats, lights dimmed, and the show began, the Computer Animation Festival Electronic Theater captivated the audience at SIGGRAPH 2025. Prior to the first showing of the Electronic Theater, award winners took the stage to claim their well-earned honors. Celebrated that night were the visionaries behind the short film, “Trash”. We caught up with one of the directors, Robin Delaporte, for an engaging conversation on the Best in Show-winning production.
SIGGRAPH: Congratulations on your Best in Show Award for the Electronic Theater at SIGGRAPH 2025! When you originally submitted “Trash” to the Computer Animation Festival, did you imagine yourself up on that stage receiving the Best in Show Award?
Robin Delaporte (RD): Thank you very much! To be honest, no, we never expected to receive so much
recognition for our project, and even less to be so prominently featured at a festival like SIGGRAPH. Our goal was to fully explore our creative ideas, and as a result, we thought the film might be quite divisive. Winning first prize at the ESMA screening was already a huge reward for us, but it’s an immense joy to see where the film is going now and how much people have appreciated it.
SIGGRAPH: “Trash” tells the story of a rat who is left with no other options than to fight with a pigeon for a small slice of pizza. Can you tell our audience about what inspired the story that came to be?
RD: The original idea for the story was proposed by Max, who had already been thinking about creating a story around social issues and conveying a moral about our world through animals, similar to La Fontaine’s Fables. When the team came together, we collectively reflected on the story we wanted to tell about these two animals. And above all, the message we wanted to convey through them. Everyone contributed their ideas, references, and sensibilities, which ultimately allowed us to create this story.
SIGGRAPH: “Trash” has a unique visual look and feel that sets the tone for the location of the short film. Can you talk about the process of how you landed on the visual approach for this work?
RD: When defining the visual identity of the film, it was clear to us that the artistic direction had to support the narrative. Our goal was to make the “gritty” look beautiful, bringing a deconstructed aspect to our images through our creative choices. We drew strong inspiration from artists like Alberto Mielgo and Božo Balov, whose 3D work already incorporates a pictorial dimension that we greatly admire. Over the course of production, by building on their approaches, we gradually developed our own method to achieve a result that truly suited us.
SIGGRAPH: Once the film was ready to be premiered, what inspired you to submit your work to SIGGRAPH for a chance of being shown in Vancouver?
RD: SIGGRAPH is a major reference in the field of animation and visual effects. It was a unique opportunity for us to present our film to an international audience in a professional context, alongside projects that had inspired us throughout our training. Participating in such an event was not only a great achievement but also an incredible opportunity for meetings and exchanges.
SIGGRAPH: Do you have a favorite memory from your time at SIGGRAPH? Do you have any advice for other groups who may be interested in submitting their work to the SIGGRAPH 2026 Computer Animation Festival?
RD: The ceremony was a very powerful moment for us. The hall was filled with professionals from around the world, most of whom were already highly experienced in the industry, which was quite intimidating. Standing on stage to receive the award and speak in front of such a prestigious audience was both overwhelming and a tremendous honor.
As for advice, it’s difficult for us to give precise guidance, as we were so fortunate to participate and receive this award. Our approach has always been to consider that we might only have one chance in our lives to make a short film from start to finish and tell what truly matters to us. We would therefore advise others to do the same: If you have a story you want to share, something that touches or excites you, seize the opportunity to fully express your creativity and create something that truly reflects you
Huge congratulations to Robin and the entire team behind the award-winning production! If you are inspired by Robin and team, keep an eye out for Computer Animation Festival submissions opening in early 2026.
Looking for even more Electronic Theater content? We’ve got you covered:
- SIGGRAPH Spotlight: Episode 89 – Crafting SIGGRAPH 2025’s Animated Stories
- SIGGRAPH 2025 Computer Animation Festival Trailer
- SIGGRAPH 2025 Animation Theater Serves Up a Triple Shot of Storytelling
Robin DELAPORTE: Robin, originally from the south of France, has always been passionate about visual creation. Over time, his interest in drawing evolved into a love for 3D, fueled by a growing curiosity for computers and programming. His work is marked by strong influences from dark and cold universes, inspired by science fiction, cinema, and the painters he admires. It also resonates with electronic music, through his own musical project and the visuals he creates for producers and DJs.
