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The Pakistan Academy Selection Committee just announced its pick for the country’s official Oscars submission — Usman Riaz’s animated wonder, The Glassworker!

The Glassworker is being submitted in the International Feature Film category at the 2025 Oscars. It is both Pakistan’s first feature length hand-drawn animated film and the first animated film to represent Pakistan at the Oscars.

“This selection marks a historic milestone, as The Glassworker is Pakistan’s first 2D hand-drawn animated feature and the country’s first animated feature to ever be submitted for the Oscars. Usman and Mano’s work has not only demonstrated exceptional storytelling and artistry but has also broken new ground for the animation industry in Pakistan. This is an achievement that will be remembered in the annals of our cinematic history,” shared Mohammed Ali Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee.

“The Glassworker represents a decade-long journey of passion and perseverance. This film is a love letter to cinema, and it was my passion for the art form that drove me to create a film like this in a country where such artistic endeavours are rare,” Riaz said in a statement.

“I am deeply humbled by the trust and faith the selection committee has placed in our film. I hope this story resonates with audiences everywhere, transcending borders and showcasing the depth of talent and creativity that Pakistan has to offer.”

Made under the banner of Riaz’s Mano Animation Studios, The Glassworker was a film years in the making. It released in Pakistan on July 26, years after it was first announced.

Set in a war-torn country, it tells the story of a young glassworker named Vincent Oliver who develops a friendship with violin prodigy Alliz Amano. As they grow up amidst conflict and personal turmoil, they struggle to navigate their dreams, relationships, and the impact of the war on their lives. The film is a poignant exploration of artistry, love, and the human spirit in the face of adversity.

The film was written and directed by Riaz. The screenplay is by Moya O’Shea, with music by Carmine DiFlorio and Riaz. It has been produced by Khizer Riaz and Manuel Cristobal, with Mariam Paracha as an associate producer and Azhar Hameed, Art Malik, Ameed Riaz and Apoorva Bakshi as executive producers.

This year’s Pakistani selection committee, chaired by Naqvi, comprises filmmaker Saqib Malik, producer Abid Merchant, actors Mohib Mirza, Humayun Saeed, Vasay Chaudhry and Alina Khan, director Kanwal Khoosat, director Anam Abbas, director Afia Nathaniel, Grammy-winning artist Arooj Aftab, producer Fizza Ali Meerza, former PTV general manager Moneeza Hashmi, and Film Fund founder Akbar Hamid.