A University of Hertfordshire graduate’s short film has been shortlisted for a global award.
Corin Anderson, 24, originally from York, was recognised for his animation Expectation, which explores the mental struggles of a table tennis player before a match and was selected for the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards out of more than 8,400 entries from 162 countries.
Mr Anderson said: "Sony flew us out to Los Angeles where we spent several days taking part in workshops and masterclasses with filmmakers from across the industry.
"We heard from people including Eric Heisserer, the screenwriter behind Arrival, documentary filmmaker Nneka Onuorah and other professionals working in filmmaking and animation.
"Being surrounded by filmmakers from across the world and learning directly from people working at the highest level was an incredible experience."
A 2025 graduate of the University of Hertfordshire’s 2D Animation course, Mr Anderson was one of only 30 films shortlisted across all categories, and Expectation was the sole UK animation included.
The shortlisting earned him a trip to Los Angeles for a programme of masterclasses at Sony Pictures Studios, led by industry figures including Oscar-nominated screenwriter Eric Heisserer, director Zack Gregor, and Emmy Award-winning documentarian Nneka Onuorah.
Dr Stephen Partridge, dean of the School of Creative Arts at the University of Hertfordshire, said: "This is a remarkable achievement for Corin.
"To be selected as the only British animation in such a prestigious international competition is an incredible endorsement of his talent and creativity.
"The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards attract thousands of entries from around the world, making this one of the most competitive platforms for emerging filmmakers.
"We're immensely proud to see one of our graduates representing both the University and the UK on the international stage."
The selection marks another milestone for Expectation, which has now been chosen by more than 27 film festivals across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
It also earned the Production Design award at the Royal Television Society East Student Awards 2026.
Mr Anderson currently works as an animator at Studio Meala in the Republic of Ireland.
The University of Hertfordshire is ranked among the world’s top institutions for animation, listed as the best 2D animation school in the UK and fourth globally in the latest Rookies rankings.
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