Ipswich-born director of the Shaun the Sheep movie Richard Starzak has missed out on an Oscar at the 88th Academy Awards ceremony last night.
Richard Starzak, previously known as Richard “Golly” Goleszowski grew up in Ipswich and studied at Northgate High School in his formative years.
His film Shaun the Sheep had been nominated in the Animated Feature Film Category, but lost out to Disney Pixar production Inside Out at the star-studded awards last night.
The animator has been sharing selfies from the red carpet last week, and celebrating the nomination alongside stars including Eddie Redmayne and James Corden.
Despite missing out on the gong, Mr Starzak hailed his artistic upbringing and education in Ipswich as being influential in his career.
He said: “I liked surrealism and humour, and animation ties those things together. I animated things like baked beans and showroom dummies at college.
“My art foundation course at Ipswich art school gave me the space to develop the humour in my arty endeavours. I’m hugely influenced by Giles the cartoonist, whom I never met, sadly.”
Mr Starzak’s nomination is the second in two years for a Suffolk-affiliated director, after Mat Kirkby from Shottisham won best live action short film for The Phone Call last year.
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