Usman Riaz
Director of The Glassworker — Mano Animation Studios
Usman Riaz is the director of The Glassworker and founder of Mano Animation Studios. A filmmaker, artist, composer and TED Senior Fellow, he is best known for leading Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated feature film, a decade-long project that premiered in competition at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
The Glassworker also screened at the Shanghai International Film Festival and Hiroshima Animation Season, and was Pakistan’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. Riaz’s work brings together storytelling, visual art and music, with a focus on hand-drawn animation.
At SACC, Riaz will share the making of The Glassworker and the experience of building a hand-drawn animation studio, offering insights into the creative and production journey behind the film.