Daemen Uni
versity Visual and Performing Arts (VPAC) Animation BFA alum Jeremy Lopez-Reices ‘26 won Best Animated Student Film in the 2026 Buffalo International Film Festival (BIFF) for his film “Terence And Penny In: The Remote.”
Lopez-Reices’ film was shown on Saturday, October 10, as part of the BIFF Saturday Morning Cartoons showcase. He received his award—the first BIFF win by a Daemen student or alum—on Sunday, October 11.
“It was exciting and surreal to win such an amazing award,” said Lopez-Reices. “There were so many talented people with amazing films at the festival. I would like to thank Professor Jones and the VPAC for helping me with the film, and thank you to BIFF for enjoying my film!”
The BIFF featured over 200 feature films, shorts, and episodic works from more than 40 countries, including eight additional shorts from Daemen Animation students: Annamarie Pope, Grace Gominiak, Braydon Fox, Lily Beyer, Essence Brown, Sam Redden, Anja Zielinski-Runfola, and Mia Weller.
“We are incredibly proud of Jeremy for winning the Best Local Student Animated Film Award at the Buffalo International Film Festival,” said Mike Jones, associate professor of Animation. “This is an excellent example of the quality of the animation and storytelling our students create in the Animation program.”