Filipino animated feature “ZsaZsa Zaturnnah” is set to make its international premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious animation event.
Directed by Avid Liongoren and co-produced by Rocketsheep Studio and CreaZion Studios Inc., the film’s selection signals a major step forward for Philippine animation on the global stage.
A Filipino Story Goes Global
Blending humor, spectacle, and bold LGBTQ+ representation, Carlo Vergara’s “ZsaZsa Zaturnnah” reimagines a beloved Filipino cultural icon through a vibrant animated lens. The film stands out for its unapologetically local voice and universal themes of identity, transformation, and heroism.
Annecy’s recognition places the film alongside the most innovative works in global animation—further cementing the growing presence of Southeast Asian storytelling in international cinema.
A Director Bridging Indie Roots and Global Recognition
Avid Liongoren has steadily built a reputation as one of the Philippines’ most distinctive animation voices, known for blending independent sensibilities with ambitious visual storytelling. He was a key creative force behind Saving Sally, a groundbreaking Filipino film that combined live-action and animation, earning critical acclaim for its inventive approach and emotional depth. The film toured international festivals and became a touchstone for a new wave of Filipino genre storytelling.
Liongoren’s body of work reflects a commitment to original IP, youth culture, and outsider narratives, often exploring themes of identity, imagination, and transformation. His creative process—frequently shaped by long development cycles and grassroots support—has positioned him as a filmmaker who thrives outside conventional studio systems.
“ZsaZsa Zaturnnah,” developed over six years, represents the evolution of that journey: a larger-scale project that retains his signature voice while pushing into more expansive, globally resonant storytelling.
Liongoren shared the emotional journey behind the film in a recent post:
“Birthing a film into the world is terrifying. Our team has worked so hard the past 6 years & our work will be judged in one sitting. Making a queer super hero film sounds fun until you realize that it is so niche that no business entities would be willing to back it. But we kept working despite the countless rejections & we slowly gained support from really kind folks.”
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Building Filipino IP for the World
For co-producer CreaZion Studios, the film reflects its mission to bring Filipino stories to a global audience.
Anter “RJ” San Agustin, CEO of CreaZion Studios, said: “ZsaZsa Zaturnnah represents exactly the kind of storytelling we believe in—bold, original, and proudly Filipino. Its journey to Annecy proves that our stories can resonate far beyond our borders, and this is only the beginning of building Filipino IP for the global stage.”