On September 23, Zsazsa Zaturnnah won the Grand Prize at the Seoul Indie-AniFest, an annual animated film festival in South Korea since 2005. The film was up against Company Sports Day from South Korea and A Mighty Adventure from Taiwan under the Mirinae Road (Feature Film) Competition. According to the festival, the winner will receive a prize of 3 million Korean Won (close to P140,000).
“Thank you to all our beautiful collaboratorsz!!!!,” posted Rocketsheep Studios, the independent animation company behind the film, on social media. “This is a team effort by our staff, freelancers, interns, dogs & zombies!”
Last June 2026, Rocketsheep Studios founder and director Avid Liongoren spoke to Rolling Stone Philippines when the film was in its final stages of development. Liongoren spoke about how hard it is to find funding for the film due to its queer-focused story.
“The sad and painful thing about making a film is that you think all that hard work is everything,” Liongoren tells Rolling Stone Philippines, “But when you finish a film, that’s actually only half of the effort. The other half is trying to sell it.”
Zsazsa Zaturnnah is an adaptation of Carlo Vergara’s 2002 graphic novel of the same name. The story follows queer beautician Ada, who gains the ability to transform into a superhero after consuming a magical pink meteorite.
The novel won the 2003 National Book Award from the Manila Critics Circle. It was then adapted into a film released in 2006, starring Zsa Zsa Padilla and BB Gandanghari.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlo Vergara is the author of Zsazsa Zaturnnah, the graphic novel was published in 2002.
The Zsazsa Zaturnnah animated film was made by independent animation company Rocketsheep Studios, founded by director Avid Liongoren.
The Seoul Indie-AniFest is an annual animated film festival in South Korea.
The Seoul Indie-AniFest Grand Prize winner receives a cash prize of 3 million Korean Won.
Zsazsa Zaturnnah follows queer beautician Ada, who gains the ability to transform into a superhero after consuming a magical pink meteorite.
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