The National Museum of Photography, Film & Television has announced the winners of this year's BAF Awards. The awards were presented at a glittering ceremony hosted by legendary stop-frame animator Barry Purves (KING KONG and MARS ATTACKS!) on Saturday night, Nov. 18, 2006, at the museum in Bradford.

This year has witnessed record highs in film submissions with more than 1,000 submissions whittled down to just 42 films entered into the official selection. The winners were selected by an international jury of animation experts chaired by Pat Raine Webb who worked at the renowned Halas & Batchelor Studio from 1977 to 1992 and has been on the board of directors of the International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) since 1988. Other jurors are Margot Grimwood (director of ASIFA U.K. since 1985); award-winning animator and lecturer Pedro Serrazina from Portugal; Andy Wyatt, formerly of Aardman Animation; and animation author Giannalberto Bendazzi from Italy.

BAF 2006 award winners are:

Grand Prix
DREAMS & DESIRES -- FAMILY TIES -- Dir. Joanna Quinn (U.K., 2006)
"For the sheer beauty of its cinematic language."

Special Jury Prize
WHO I AM AND WHAT I WANT -- Dir. Chris Shepherd and David Shrigley (U.K., 2005)
"For its fresh and provocative approach which challenges the boundaries of animation."

Best Professional Film
RABBIT -- Dir. Run Wrake (U.K., 2005)
"For its innovative design values and interpretation of a bizarre subject."

Best Student Film
GUY 101 -- Dir. Ian Gouldstone (U.K., 2005)
"For its creative use of contemporary graphics"

Best Independent Film
TALE OF HOW -- Dir. Blackheart Gang (South Africa, 2006)
"For daring to be outrageous -- both visually and musically"

Best Music Video
New York Dolls -- Dance Like a Monkey -- Dir. Dano Johnson (U.S., 2006)
"A brilliant visual interpretation of the spirit of the music."

Best Commercial
Motorola Classics -- Dir. Smith & Foulkes (U.K., 2005)
"For its sheer brilliance and professionalism."

Best TV Series
CHARLIE & LOLA -- But That Is My Book -- Dir. Kitty Taylor (U.K., 2005)
"A delightful series that teaches without preaching."

Best Film for Children
ABOUT A GOAT & A RAM -- Dir. Sergey Glagolev (Russia, 2005)
"For its design values that are pictorially rich -- daring yet traditional."

Best Film Produced By Children
RUBBISH -- Dir. Alex Hancocks (U.K., 2005)

Specially Commended
THE WARDROBE (Lewi Bolton, U.K. 2005)
PLANT THE MOVIE (Ben Mansfield, U.K. 2006)

Best Machinima Film
THE DAYS AFTER -- Dir. Andre Pesch (Germany 2006)

For more information, visit www.baf.org.uk.