BYU-made animated short 'Owned' n.. | The Salt Lake Tribune

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A short animated film directed by two Brigham Young University students has been nominated for one of the most prestigious honors available for a college filmmaker: A Student Academy Award.

The short "Owned," directed by Daniel Clark and Wesley Tippetts, is one of five nominees in the animation category for the Student Academy Awards — an honor bestowed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that hands out the Oscars every year.

The short centers on Jeff, a cocky videogame champion who is taken down a notch by an anonymous online opponent.

It's not the first accolade for "Owned," which won a College Television Award — also known as a "student Emmy" — in April.

Winning a Student Academy Award is kind of a big deal. Past animation winners include Pixar's John Lasseter and Pete Docter, Shane Acker ("9") and Trey Parker ("South Park"). Other student winners include Spike Lee, Bob Saget and Robert Zemeckis.

Winners of the Student Academy Awards will be announced June 7.

BYU-made animated short 'Owned' nominated for Student Academy Award