RUKELI, the animated short film directed by Alessandro Rak, received the Best Director Award at the 17th edition of the Muuh Film Festival.

The festival took place on September 11 and 12, 2026, at Cascina Duc in Grugliasco (Turin), a venue that has long welcomed short films, filmmakers, and audiences in an informal and participatory setting.

Organized by Associazione ColoriQuadri in collaboration with Cascina Duc, the Muuh Film Festival presents Italian and international short films, creating opportunities for exchange and shared experiences around independent cinema.

The award presented to Alessandro Rak marks another important achievement in the journey of RUKELI and recognizes the directing work through which the film brings to the screen the story of Johann “Rukeli” Trollmann, a Sinti boxer persecuted by the Nazi regime. Through the language of animation, the short film transforms Trollmann’s story into a tale of memory, identity, discrimination, and resistance, continuing to find new spaces for visibility and discussion.

We are proud of this award and of the path RUKELI continues to build, festival after festival, reaching new audiences and contexts.

Our thanks go to the Muuh Film Festival, ColoriQuadri, and Cascina Duc for this recognition.

Follow the latest updates on RUKELI at antropica.org.