MUMBAI: The excitement, the nervousness, the anticipation, the honor... that's what make award ceremonies exciting and the BAF Awards held yesterday at the Frames convention was no different.

The BAF (Best Animated Frames) Awards have grown bigger in terms of scale, which was evident also from the fact that the handing out the trophies were some of the best international personalities of the industry, including Barrie Osborne and Jon Niermann.

Each awards ceremony has its moments and amongst the best moments at BAF was when Indian animation veteran Bhimsen Khurana received the Special contribution to the Animation Industry(Indian) and his trophy was presented to him by none other than Lord of The Rings Producer Barrie Osborne.

Khurana has to his credit many firsts in Indian animation, including the first Indian animated TV series `Lokgatha' and `Vartaman'.

In a jovial mood, Khurana took a jibe at the long citation read out in his honor when he quipped,"Was it me?" Later on, he told Indiantelevision.com,"With this recognition, I feel that hardwork pays. Though they take their own time, results do come."

The BAF award for Special contribution to the Animation
Industry(International) went to Mike Young of Mike Young Productions. Mike, who could not make it to India, sent in a special recorded message that was played out as a representative from his company collected the award.

Some of the other memorable moments included the ecstatic JWT team when Bhaskar Mani went onstage to receive his BAF Award for the Best Social Welfare Film (Professional) for 'Bust that Noma'. MAAC student Neha Gupta was overwhelmed as she went on stage to receive her BAF award for Best Promo Students) for 'Concept Ad Motorola V3'.

Indian studios that figured in the winning list included Crest Animation, Paradox Studios, Dhruva Infotech and Vaibhav Studios. Electronic Arts, Turner Entertainment and Studio Nix were amongst the international winners.

THE COMPLETE LIST OF THE WINNERS:

Short Films Professional -
Studio Nix, Australia for 'Twelve Months'

Short Films Students -
Eva Steegmayer, Institut of Animation, Visual Effects and Digital Post Production Germany for 'Das Flops'

Special Jury Award -
Sudhanshu & Harun from NID for 'Once upon a Tree'

TV Episode -
Crest Animation/Mike Young Productions, USA for Rain Rain go away -Jakers

AD Film
Vaibhav Studios for Amaron -Pandu Mangal

Promos Professional
Turner Entertainment for Marinate You

Promos Students
Neha Gupta (MAAC) for 'Concept AD Motorola V3'

VFX (in film)
Yashraj Films - Dhoom

Social Welfare/NGO (Professional)
J Walter Thomson for 'Bust that Noma'

Gaming
Electronic Arts, USA, for 'Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban'

Special Jury Award
Paradox Studios for Bomberbabe

Mobile Gaming
Dhruva Infotech for Pat Cash Tennis Pro

Special Contribution to the Animation Industry (Indian)
Bhimsen Khurana

Special Contribution to the Animation Industry (International)
Mike Young