Bristol has once again cemented its reputation for producing world-class animation with another win at last night’s Bafta Film Awards.

Bristol-based Director Emma Lazenby and the team at Arthur Cox are celebrating their well-deserved win for Mother of Many in the animated short category.

Produced with support from South West Screen / the UK Film Council Digital Shorts and Channel 4 / 4mations, Mother of Many is a five minute animation celebrating Midwifery, inspired by Emma’s mum – a midwife for almost thirty years and catcher of around three thousand five hundred babies.

Emma picked up her award at the ceremony at London’s Royal Opera House last night.

She said

’ It’s unbelievable! I’m absolutely delighted to win a Bafta. My film is a celebration of midwifery and childbirth – inspired by my mum – and I had been thinking of retraining as a midwife but I think I’ll stick with animation now!’

Emma added

‘Unfortunately Sally Arthur, the Producer of Mother of Many couldn’t join me at the Baftas to collect her gong because she is about to give birth! I wish Sally all the best and am very grateful for all her hard work – she is fantastic.’

Mother of Many is based around the rhythms of a baby inside the womb and the rhythms and day to day routine of the midwife being calm and controlled – leading women through the most life-changing and challenging event of their lives. It was made using real recordings of childbirths and foetal heartbeats, combining painting on glass, hand drawn animation, Flash and After-Effects to create a very illustrative style.

Caroline Norbury, Chief Executive of South West Screen, the development agency for film, TV and digital media in the region, said:

‘It’s fantastic news for Bristol that once again our talent is being recognized by Bafta. Last year Esther May Campbell and Aardman both brought home awards (in the Short and Animated short categories respectively) – so to achieve a win again in 2010 is simply exceptional. It’s a brilliant achievement for Emma and the team at Arthur Cox and further proof that Bristol’s reputation as a world-leader in animation is well-deserved.’