German Director Matthias Strasser Wins Student Academy Award

Matthias Strasser, a graduate of the Filmakademie Baden‑Württemberg, was named a winner in the Animation category of the 53rd Student Academy Awards for his short film “The Panic Inside.” The competition received 2,972 entries from 894 universities and film schools worldwide. The award ceremony will take place on 14 September at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Lightbox in Canada. All Student Academy Award winners become eligible for possible nomination at the 99th Academy Awards in the animated short, short film, or documentary short categories.

The Student Academy Awards, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, are regarded as a key talent pipeline for Hollywood, with past winners including notable filmmakers such as Pete Docter and Spike Lee.