VERONA, N.Y. – The Las Vegas Film Festival, held April 9 – 12 in the city known as the entertainment capital of the world, selected “Raccoon & Crawfish” as the winner of the Best Animation prize, making it the 18th festival win since it entered the festival circuit more than a year ago.

The Las Vegas Film Festival win joins the list of other top animation prizes that “Raccoon & Crawfish” has garnered, including the Moondance International Film Festival, known as “the American Cannes,” and the Okanagan Film Festival in British Columbia. It was also screened at the renowned Cannes Festival in France in May 2008.

The 3-D animated short film from the Oneida Indian Nation’s Four Directions Productions studio uses modern technology to tell an ancient Oneida legend that illustrates the dangers of boasting and deception.

Editor’s note: Indian Country Today is a division of Four Directions Media, which is owned by Oneida Nation Enterprises, LLC.