Wahid Ibn Reza Wins Environment Minister’s Award at SSFF & ASIA 2026

In a stellar achievement for international animation, Canadian short animated film After Us, written and directed by Vancouver-based Bangladeshi filmmaker Wahid Ibn Reza, has won the prestigious "Save the Earth! Minister's Award" at the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA) 2026. The announcement was made in Tokyo to coincide with World Environment Day.

Presented annually by Japan's Ministry of the Environment, the accolade honors the film across all festival selections that delivers the most compelling and urgent message regarding global ecological challenges. SSFF & ASIA is one of Asia's largest Academy Awards®-accredited international short film festivals, actively collaborating with Japan's "Deco-Katsu Oendan" national movement to promote decarbonized, sustainable lifestyles.

A Post-Human Vision of Natural Coexistence

Produced by the prestigious National Film Board of Canada, After Us (running time 5 minutes and 5 seconds) is a poignant, thought-provoking animation set in a silent world where humanity has entirely vanished. Amid the quiet structural ruins left behind by mankind, the narrative tracks an unlikely duo—a wolf and a wolverine—as they journey together to overcome instinct, build mutual trust, and discover a harmony to coexist with the natural world.

Expressing his joy on social media, Director Wahid Ibn Reza noted that After Us has already achieved official selection status at six international film festivals. He extended his deepest gratitude to the National Film Board of Canada for granting him complete creative autonomy to bring this ecological vision to life. Dedicated to his young daughter, Reza stated in his acceptance speech, "I really hope that together we can make the planet a better place for her and her generation to grow up in."

Watch it here: https://www.shortshorts.org/2026/en/program/after-us/

High Commendation from Japanese Environment Ministry

The film received high praise from Mr. Hirotaka Ishihara of the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, who lauded its deep philosophical and emotional impact across linguistic barriers.

"This short film is an exceptionally thought-provoking work that portrays the essence of coexistence with nature through the perspective of animals, set in a world enveloped in silence after the disappearance of humankind. The film delicately yet powerfully expresses the resilience of nature to regenerate even after destruction, as well as the possibility of a new harmony emerging within it, reminding us once again of the importance of environmental conservation. We highly commend the work for presenting environmental issues not as 'some distant future crisis,' but as 'issues that require action from us today,' and for its ability to inspire empathy across generations and languages."

— Hirotaka Ishihara, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Global Streaming Window Open

Director Wahid Ibn Reza, who brings over a decade of high-end Hollywood VFX and animation experience having contributed to multiple Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning projects, has achieved a rare feat for a filmmaker from the Bangladeshi diaspora. While local coverage in Bangladesh remains limited to initial updates by the Times of Bangladesh, international interest in the short film continues to surge.

Global audiences can stream After Us directly through the SSFF & ASIA online screening venue. The short animation will remain accessible for public viewing worldwide until Tuesday, June 30, 2026.