CIC Winner Suresh Eriyat brings global glory to Indian Animation with ‘Desi Oon’
Indian animation filmmaker Suresh Eriyat has won the Jury Award for Best Commissioned Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025 for his work Desi Oon. Desi Oon has already won multiple awards, including at the WAVES Awards of Excellence 2025, and was shortlisted at Cannes Lions.
Hyderabad: Renowned animation filmmaker and Create in India Challenge (CIC) winner Suresh Eriyat made India proud with his film ‘Desi Oon’, which won the Jury Award for Best Commissioned Film at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025 in France.
A gold winner at the WAVES Awards of Excellence 2025 under the Create in India Challenge, the film ‘Desi Oon’ blends Indian ethos with world-class storytelling and animation. Set against the backdrop of rural India, the film captures the lives of shepherds with authenticity and emotional depth, weaving a powerful narrative about tradition, resilience, and identity.
Suresh Eriyat shared, “It’s a huge honor to win at Annecy. It’s a rare achievement for an Indian film, and we are very happy to bring this award home to India.”
Eriyat and his team spent a considerable time studying the lives of shepherds to authentically portray their story on screen. “We wanted to truly understand their world, their landscapes, rhythms, and way of life, to ensure that every frame felt real,” he added.
The win at Annecy follows a series of recognitions for ‘Desi Oon’, including shortlisting at Cannes Lions 2025 and awards at Good Ads Matter, AICP Show, and Kyoorius Creative Awards. ‘Oon’ means wool, and Desi Oon refers to the traditional wool obtained from indigenous Deccani black sheep found mainly in Karnataka and southern Maharashtra, as well as in parts of Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The film has been created by Suresh Eriyat’s Studio Eeksaurus.