Two Black Boys in Paradise, the animated short film by One6th Animation co-founder Baz Sells based on a poem by award-winning writer Dean Atta (The Black Flamingo), has won the Oscar-qualifying Best Short Animation Award at the 2025 Woodstock Film Festival in New York.
Produced by U.K.-based studio and production company One6th Animation, the short film is now vying for Academy Award attention after a successful festival run. To date, the film has won top prizes at the Encounters Film Festival, Portland Festival of Cinema, Big Fridge International Film Festival and the Hollywood Queer Short Film Festival.
Two Black Boys in Paradise follows Eden (19) and Dula (18) — two young Black boys on a journey toward self-acceptance. Their love for each other, and their refusal to conceal it, transports them to a paradise free from shame and judgement. Inspired by Atta’s poem from his acclaimed collection There Is (still) Love Here, the film explores the intersections of race, sexuality and identity, tackling the realities of homophobia and racism through a tender, hopeful lens.
The short is narrated by musician and actor Jordan Stephens (The Ex-Wife, Foundation).
Receiving the award in New York on behalf of the team, producer and One6th Animation co-founder Ben Jackson said, “It’s an absolute honor to receive this award among such incredibly talented filmmakers, and we’re deeply grateful to the Woodstock Film Festival Jury. Two Black Boys in Paradise is a story about love, acceptance, belonging, and self-discovery — but it’s also about visibility. At a time when conversations around identity and equality are as urgent as ever, we hope this film reminds people that every form of love deserves to be seen, celebrated, and protected. We share this award with everyone who helped bring the film to life, and with everyone who sees themselves in it.”
The presenters of the award said of the film: “Interweaving moments of idyllic intimacy with harrowing experiences of social injustice, the film powerfully illuminates the stigmas queer Black men continue to confront today. With its emotional honesty, nuanced storytelling and unforgettable imagery, the film is both a searing critique and a moving celebration of love, making it a profoundly deserving choice for this honor.”
Two Black Boys in Paradise is directed by Baz Sells and written by Sells, Atta and Jackson. The film is produced by One6th Animation Studio and was funded by the BFI Short Form Animation Fund, funded by the U.K. national lottery. The project also received early development support from actor Ian McKellen and Partizan Films.
This latest win at Woodstock continues the film’s successful festival tour, which has seen Two Black Boys in Paradis screen and receive nomination honors at more than 40 festivals around the world.
