Manchester Animation Festival (MAF) is coming back to Manchester from 9-13 November, taking over HOME and other venues across the city for five days packed with screenings, talks, premieres and meet-ups.
This year marks an exciting new chapter with a three-year partnership with University of Salford, bringing student-led programming, guest lectures and an even tighter connection between education and the animation industry.
Highlights of the festival – the biggest of its kind in the UK, and the only BAFTA and Oscar-qualifying festival in the country – include the Irish studio Cartoon Saloon (famous for Wolfwalkers and The Breadwinner) receiving the festival’s Fellowship award, and a retrospective on the staggering 50-year legacy of the legendary, George Lucas-founded studio Industrial Light & Magic.
On the big-screen side, Walt Disney Animation Studios’s Head of Animation Chad Sellers and 2D Lead Renato dos Anjos will dive into the soon-to-be-released Zootropolis 2, while director Alex Woo will present his upcoming Netflix feature In Your Dreams.
There’s also behind-the-scenes access to The Scarecrows’ Wedding, and the unveiling of Rafi the Wishing Wizard from BBC Studios Kids & Family.
The international feature-film competition is stacked: a preview of The Last Blossom by Japanese director Baku Kinoshita (with Q&A), the UK premiere of Arco (written & directed by Ugo Bienvenu, produced by Natalie Portman and Félix de Givry), the stop-motion Mexican feature I Am Frankelda (directed by Arturo & Roy Ambriz), plus The Square by Kim Bo-sol and Little Amelie or the Character of Rain (directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han).
Other screenings include Lesbian Space Princess (Emma Hough Hobbs & Leela Varghese) and a 4K remaster of the 1985 cult classic Angel’s Egg (Mamoru Oshii). Late-night shenanigans will feature Adult Swim’s New, Newer, Newest, with exclusive upcoming content.
Panels and workshops will explore the craft behind animation—from real-time workflows via Epic Games’ Animating in Unreal, to the role of animation in advertising (The Art of the Ad), and how curiosity fuels creativity in Constantly Curious (in collaboration with the University of Salford). Each morning kicks off with intimate Q&A sessions featuring short filmmakers from around the world.
Diversity and inclusion remain front and centre. BlackFrame Presents will amplify Black voices in animation, Where We Go From Here (by WIA UK) tackles gender equity in the industry, and Neurodiversity in Animation: Unlocking Creative Potential (hosted by Aardman Animations and Flycheese Animation) explores how neurodivergent creatives are changing the game.
The annual awards night takes place on 13 November, hosted by comedian and writer Alasdair Beckett‑King. Trophies are handcrafted by North-West model makers Mackinnon & Saunders, and will reward achievements across British Film, Feature Film, Short Film, Student Film, Commissioned Work, Immersive Work, Children’s Shorts, Audience Award, and Industry Excellence in writing, storyboarding, character design and animation.
Beyond the screen, MAF features the return of the Animation Nation Forum (industry-focused panels and discussions), a free-to-attend marketplace at Bridgewater Hall to connect studios and recruiters, and a Family Day packed with hands-on animation experiences for budding creatives.
Festival Director Steve Henderson said: “As we stride into a new decade of MAF, we’re thrilled to bring another packed programme of premieres, exclusives, special guests and more back to Manchester this November.
“The passion of the animation community is what makes MAF so special, and their energy is what inspires us to aim higher every year. The whole team at MAF are really looking forward to celebrating with them when the festival returns from 9-13 November.”
Tickets are on sale now via manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk.
