The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has designated Manchester Animation Festival as an Academy Award-qualifying festival on the Short Films Qualifying Festival List.
The festival becomes the first, and only, dedicated UK animation festival to receive the coveted status and joins only a handful of other UK film festival events that qualify.
Recipients of the festival’s Short Film Award will be eligible for consideration in the Short Films competition of the Academy Awards without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.
Established in 2015 the festival has grown to become the UK’s largest animation event, taking place over six days of film competitions, workshops, masterclasses, panels and more as well as an academic conference, industry forum and family day.
Past guests at the festival include Aardman Animations, Blue Zoo, Cartoon Saloon, ILM, Locksmith Animation, Lupus Films, Netflix, Passion Pictures, Walt Disney Animation Studios and more.
Festival director Steve Henderson said: “It’s an honour to represent both Manchester and the UK animation community by being listed alongside some of the most prestigious film events in the world as an Academy-qualifying festival.
“We look forward to welcoming audiences and showcasing some of the best animated short films from around the world in Manchester this November.”
This year’s festival call for entries is open until 28 July. Winners of the film awards at Manchester Animation Festival will receive the festival’s iconic bee trophies [pictured above], designed and manufactured by Mackinnon & Saunders who recently produced the puppets for Guillermo Del Toro’s Oscar-winning Pinocchio, and also produced the hit ITV series The Sound Collector.
Manchester Animation Festival returns 12-17 November 2023.
