Manchester Animation Festival (MAF), the UK’s largest animation festival, has revealed its programme for 2024’s November festival.
Celebrating its 10th edition this year, the festival promises to offer audiences and industry alike the incredible opportunity to experience some of the world’s best animated film content. Pre-sale for Patreon subscribers will start Wednesday 25th September, with the general on-sale taking place on Friday 27th September at 11am. Early bird offers are in place until Monday 14th October. Tickets will be available from www.manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk. More will be added to the programme in the coming weeks.
MAF is the only Oscar-qualifying animation festival in the UK. Now also a BAFTA-qualifying festival, it brings together the animation industry’s top talent, leading professionals, and a wide-ranging programme with fans of animation in mind. The festival will once again showcase a selection of events ranging from screenings, panels, workshops, masterclasses, ‘making of’ sessions and studio talks, hosted across the city from HOME cinema to the Anthony Burgess Centre, YES, Gasworks and Bridgewater Hall.
November’s lineup includes a special in conversation with legendary filmmaker Chris Sanders (Lilo and Stitch, How To Train Your Dragon), who will be discussing his latest film Wild Robot, which will be followed by a screening of the film. There will also be an appearance from the beloved Wallace & Gromit creators Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham.
A special screening of Richard Williams animated marvel The Thief and the Cobbler will include a talk and book signing by Imogen Sutton—Williams’ wife and long-time producer. In addition to these highlights, MAF will offer a packed schedule of industry-focused events at the annual Animation Nation Forum, a family focused day, and the return of the marketplace at the Bridgewater Hall.
Exclusive ‘making of’ sessions will divulge what it takes to make an animation on a global scale, including the making of That Christmas (Netflix), where designer Justin Hutchinson-Chatburn from Locksmith Animation will take an in depth look behind the scenes as he explains how the world of this festive feature was crafted.
Based on the charming trilogy of children’s books by beloved multi-award-winning writer/director Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, Yesterday), the film will receive a special screening at MAF before coming to Netflix on 4th December. There will also be a look at the creation of CBeebies’ first-ever 2D animated sitcom about dual-heritage British Asian brothers Nikhil & Jay, and how partnership and collaboration has ensured authentic representation at all levels of the production.
Additional panels and sessions across the week will also explore ‘Climate and Nature On Screen’ as BAFTA albert and inspiring animators delve into how climate and nature are portrayed on screen. They will also examine how storytellers can incorporate nature-positive narratives without compromising story integrity, make creative decisions that normalise sustainable behaviours, and authentically weave climate mentions into their work. Further panels include: Animated Answers: Doing IP Properly, How it works Short Film Funding, Short Film Directors Q&A and UK/UA Animation Lab Project Presentation.
MAF’s family day is back for 2024 on the 10th November and will include festival favourites such as the BBC Box Set and Short Films For Children events whereby audiences can bring the whole family to MAF’s enchanting screenings of animated short films made for children from across the world. Delight in colourful adventures, heartwarming tales, and imaginative worlds – a cinematic treat for all ages. The Young Animator of the Year UK Awards also returns this year for animators aged 11-18 from all across the UK.
Complimenting the international short film competition programme there are five feature films playing in competition: Memoir of a Snail, Flow, Black Butterflies, Sultana’s Dream and Sauvages. These films push the boundaries of what is possible in feature animation, telling stories and sharing insights that you won’t see in the multiplex. This is a rare opportunity to enjoy some of the best animated feature films on the festival circuit.
Adult Swim dives into the Manchester Animation Festival for the first time with an exclusive screening of series from their upcoming content slate. The session includes the highly anticipated Common Side Effects, wrestling infused action-comedy Invincible Fight Girl, the stop-motion Women Wearing Shoulder Pads coming out of Mexico and the return of Australia’s favourite party girls in YOLO: Rainbow Trinity, with a few other surprises along the way.
To add to this, Epic Games will be providing a travel guide for brave animators who are about to embark on a journey into the world of Unreal Engine. Animation software company Moho will present New Ways to think about 2d animation. With examples from Wolfwalkers, Star Wars Visions – Screecher’s Reach, My Father’s Dragon and Scavengers Reign, Víctor Paredes will showcase how rigs and vector drawings can live together with traditional animation.
This year MAF will host its annual awards ceremony on the 14th November which is a chance to celebrate the films audiences have come to know and love during the festival, MAF will be presenting awards for Short Film, Feature Film, British Film, Student Film, Commissioned Film, Immersive Awards, Short Film for Children and the Audience Award.
This year Alasdair Beckett-King is hosting the event for an evening of comedy and celebration and will be providing winners with their coveted Manchester Animation Festival trophies crafted by master model makers Mackinnon and Saunders. The yearly Industry Excellence Awards, which recognise individuals working in industry in the fields of writing, storyboarding, character design and character animation, will also take place during the awards ceremony.
Festival director Steve Henderson said: “Ten years gives us an amazing opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary talent we’ve showcased in Manchester. Over the past decade, we’ve evolved into the UK’s premier animation gathering, and that’s thanks to the brilliant creators, visionaries, and supporters who have shared their work, their craft, and their passion. Along with our supporters, the team have worked hard and this year’s programme is a testament to that legacy, and I’m looking forward to welcoming the global animation community to Manchester this November for our monumental tenth edition.”
Manchester Animation Festival is presented with the support of Higher Education Partner University of Salford, Festival Partner HOME, Hotel Partner Maldron Hotels and Festival Patrons Adult Swim, BBC Children’s & Education, BBC Studios, Blue Zoo, Epic Games, Maxon, Moho and Netflix.
