The 22nd edition of the MAAC 24FPS International Animation Awards and Creator Fest recently concluded, marking over two decades of celebrating creative excellence. What began years ago as an internal awards initiative has grown into MAAC’s flagship creative platform, bringing animation, VFX and gaming students together on a scale that felt both exciting and meaningful.

At its core, 24 FPS continues to remain a space where learning meets recognition. Students present work developed through months of dedication spanning short films, VFX sequences, game assets, motion graphics and experimental formats each reflecting both technical expertise and creative identity. Over the years, 24FPS has grown into a respected creative and film showcase, offering students a rare opportunity to have their work evaluated beyond the classroom and through an industry lens. Curated screenings, exhibitions and interactions help students understand the importance of presentation, storytelling and portfolio positioning.

This year marked a significant shift with the first-ever 24FPS Creator Fest, hosted alongside the Awards Night. Designed as an interactive, walk-through experience, the fest invited students to explore the creative industry beyond the stage. Results? A strong response with high student walk-ins throughout the day, turning the venue into a lively, campus-like space filled with conversations, curiosity and exchange of ideas.

The Creator Fest featured interactive stalls with participation from platforms such as AnimationXpress, Anime Times, Versus and The Virtual Production Academy, offering students a closer look at the industry they aspire to be part of. Nili Games emerged as one of the most visited zones, reflecting the growing interest in gaming as a creative career.

Throughout the festival, students engaged with prominent voices from across sports, entertainment and digital culture including, Rahul Chahar, Gen Z youth inspiration and Indian cricketer; Shweta Mahadik, creative innovator; Devika Khade, comedy creator; Hamza Syed, game-changer creator; Arbaz Patel, reality icon; Zaid Darbar, music creator; Harsh Rane, comedy creator; and Arjun Pandey, YouTube star.

The event was further elevated by the participation of Suresh Eriyat, acclaimed animation filmmaker and founder of Studio Eeksaurus, and Hombale Films, one of India’s leading production houses known for creating culturally impactful cinema, reinforcing 24FPS’ strong connect with the professional animation, VFX and storytelling ecosystem.

Their participation brought valuable perspective, inspiration and industry relevance to the platform, creating meaningful engagement opportunities for students.

Alongside the awards, learning continued through interaction. Sessions like the VFX & Animation workshop enabled students to gain valuable insights from industry experts. These experiences help bridge the gap between training and professional expectations, giving learners clarity about the road ahead.

The presence of gaming is another highlight. With strong participation from students enrolled in gaming and animation courses, the event highlighted the close collaboration between these fields. From game design visuals to real-time animation, the overlap created exciting opportunities for young creators.

Another most inspiring component of the fest was the MAAC Students’ Gallery that highlighted diverse styles and creative approaches while serving as the starting point for real success stories across studios, agencies and production houses.

At MAAC, 24FPS reflects what students can achieve when given the right guidance and space making learning visible and creativity seen. And this is just the beginning. With the strong response to the Awards and Creator Fest, 24FPS is set to expand through multi-city chapters across India and, in time.