Once again in 2026, the students’ projects and portfolios stood out in the 3D Animation and Visual Effects categories, reaffirming the high quality of the work produced at the school.This 16th edition of the Rookie Awards attracted 6,870 entries from 559 schools and 111 countries, following an open call for submissions from April 7 to June 22, 2026. The projects were evaluated by professionals from the international creative industries.
2026: A Particularly Impressive List of Winners
For ARTFX, this edition resulted in 27 finalists, plus 38 Draft Selections, but above all, a particularly impressive list of honors, including 2 Award Winners, 1 Runner-Up, and 1 Highly Commended entry.
🏆 Film of the Year | Visual Effects : TWO KINGS
Winner : TWO KINGS
The graduation film *TWO KINGS*, directed by seven ARTFX students, won the Film of the Year | Visual Effects award at the 2026 Rookie Awards. Earlier in 2026, it had already won the Best Student Film Award at PIDS ENGHIEN.
The short film tells the story of a father and his son in the midst of a besieged city. Its production relies on a hybrid approach combining live-action footage, digital environments, and visual effects. In particular, the team developed a USD pipeline to manage a production consisting of 80 shots—some of which were entirely CG—with more than 30 visual effects. The Rookie Awards jury thus recognized a collaborative production that combines storytelling, direction, and technical mastery of visual effects.
- TWO KINGS on The Rookies
- Film of the Year : Visual Effects: view the rankings on The Rookies
🏆 Film of the Year | 3D Animation : AZIMUTH
Winner : AZIMUTH
Another major win for ARTFX: AZIMUTH wins Film of the Year | 3D Animation. This victory is all the more impressive because this award comes on top of the VES obtenu à Los Angeles en février dernier !
This science-fiction graduation film was produced by a team of ten students. *The Rookies* highlights the collaborative nature of the project and solidifies its first-place finish in the 3D Animation category.
This award recognizes the students’ work across the entire production process of a 3D animated film, from conception to completion.
- AZIMUTH on The Rookies
- Film of the Year : 3D ANIMATION: view the rankings on The Rookies
«Two ARTFX films stand out in particular this year: TWO KINGS and AZIMUTH, which together have won major international awards. After winning the Best Student Film Award at PIDS for TWO KINGS and the Best Visual Effects in a Student Project Award at VES for AZIMUTH, respectively, both productions also triumphed at the 2026 Rookie Awards, where they each claimed the title of Winner in their respective categories. This exceptional track record illustrates ARTFX productions’ ability to excel in several leading competitions and attests to the effectiveness of an educational approach grounded in artistic excellence, technical mastery, and production conditions that closely mirror those of the industry. »
🥈 Career Opportunity| Outpost VFX : Thibaut Masson
Our graduating student, Thibaut Masson, also stood out in the Career Opportunities | Outpost VFX category, where he won the top prize. His “CG Generalist / 2026” portfolio caught the attention of the international studio Outpost VFX, which specializes in visual effects for films and TV series.
He is also a finalist in the Rookie of the Year | 3D Animation category. This career opportunity award recognizes the quality of his work and his profile as a CG Generalist, with skills developed particularly in 3D modeling, environments, animation, lighting, and compositing.
⭐ Highly Commended : LANCASTRIA
Highly Commended : LANCASTRIA
The film *LANCASTRIA* also received a “Highly Commended” award in the Film of the Year | Visual Effects category. Directed by a team of ARTFX students, the film recounts the sinking of the Lancastria off the coast of Saint-Nazaire on June 17, 1940.
The Rookies highlights the historical significance of the project and recognizes its quality among the category’s finalists.
- LANCASTRIA on The Rookies
- Film of the Year : VISUAL EFFECTS: view the rankings on The Rookies
ARTFX is among the finalists for the 2026 Rookie Awards…
In addition to these honors, 27 ARTFX students were selected as finalists for the 2026 Rookie Awards. The selections span several individual categories, graduation films, and professional opportunities offered by the competition’s partner studios.
In total, the ARTFX tracking table lists 38 Draft Selections and 27 finalists for this edition.
Rookie of the Year
Nine ARTFX students are among the finalists in the 2D Animation, 3D Animation, and Visual Effects categories.
-
2D animation
Charlot Gady : 2D Compositing and VisDev
Julia Funk : 2D Animation Demo Reel
Alexis Rateau : 2D Animation Showreel
More about this category finalists The Rookies
-
3D animation
Enzo Fournier : Environment Artist & CG Generalist | Demoreel 2026
Thibaut Masson : CG Generalist / 2026
More about this category finalists The Rookies
-
Visual Effects
Gabriel Pannetrat : 2026 Portfolio
Hugo Legay : Chara/Creature Generalist Demoreel 2026
Loris Eck : Graduation Demoreel
Alfred Merton : Compositing/Generalist Works
More about this category finalists The Rookies
Film of the Year
Ten ARTFX projects were also selected in the Film of the Year | 2D Animation, 3D Animation, and Visual Effects categories.
-
Animation 2D
The Quest, by Auregane Mossler
Argentique, by Samuel Rubi
Cartes sur Table, by Jeanne Boutiller
CENDRES, by Candice Lobjoie
More about this category finalists The Rookies
-
Animation 3D
AZIMUTH, by François-Clément Michez
MESOFAUNE, by Louis Cresson
THE EDITOR, by Matylda Szablewska
More about this category finalists The Rookies
-
Visual Effects
UDDA, by Maël Jamier
TWO KINGS, by Eliot Hervier Blondel
LANCASTRIA, by William Ariza
CONSPIROSAURUS, by Axel Joly
More about this category finalists The Rookies
Career Opportunities
Several ARTFX students were also selected in the Career Opportunities categories, which allow participants to present their portfolios directly to studios and professionals partnering with the Rookie Awards.
The ARTFX selections include Outpost VFX, Important Looking Pirates, beloFX, Skydance Animation, Dupe VFX, WPP Production, and Electric Theatre Collective.
Among the selected students are Gabriel Pannetrat, Loris Eck, Alfred Merton, Romain Babol, Enzo Fournier, Thibaut Masson, Joséphine Durand, Hugo Legay, Blanche Dandoy, Sibylle Maurin, Josselin Martinez, Roberto Fernandez Ruiz, and Eloi Pourtau.
View all results and career opportunities on The Rookies
More International Recognition for ARTFX Talents
With two “Winner” awards, one “Runner-Up” award, and one “Highly Commended” distinction, ARTFX has once again made its mark in an international competition that connects young talent with professionals in the creative industries.
The Rookie Awards serve as an international showcase for students and emerging artists in the fields of animation, visual effects, video games, and design. Projects are evaluated by industry professionals and can also lead to career opportunities, internships, and mentoring programs offered by the competition’s partners.
The 2026 edition thus confirms the ability of ARTFX students to stand out in highly competitive international categories, both through their graduation films and their individual portfolios.
Congratulations to all the ARTFX student finalists, and especially to the teams at TWO KINGS and AZIMUTH, as well as to Thibaut Masson and the LANCASTRIA team, for these remarkable honors at the 2026 Rookie Awards!
Continue