Manchester Animation Festival 2024 Reveals Full Lineup for Its 10th Edition in the UK
The Manchester Animation Festival (MAF), the UK’s largest celebration of animation, is preparing for a grand 10th anniversary this November. MAF 2024 promises an extensive program of screenings, industry panels, and masterclasses, attracting global filmmakers and animation enthusiasts alike.
A highlight of this year’s lineup is a special conversation with Chris Sanders, director of Lilo and Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon. Sanders will discuss his latest work, The Wild Robot, which will be followed by a screening of the film. Also joining the festival is Nick Park, creator of Wallace & Gromit, who, alongside Merlin Crossingham, will discuss their newest project, Vengeance Most Fowl.
MAF will also celebrate the legacy of animation legend Richard Williams. His wife and producer, Imogen Sutton, will discuss his career alongside the release of a new book Adventures in Animation.
In competition, films from across the globe will vie for awards. The Feature Film Competition includes Black Butterflies by David Baute, Flow by Gints Zilbalodis, Memoirs of a Snail by Adam Elliot, Sauvages by Claude Barras, and Sultana's Dream by Isabel Herguera. Zilbalodis’s Flow has already garnered acclaim at Cannes, Annecy, and TIFF, and now Manchester will host its UK premiere. Memoirs of a Snail by Adam Elliot returns to the festival circuit after its triumph at Annecy.
For short films, MAF will present over 100 selections from 32 countries. The Animation Mixtape strand will showcase the best in international short films, while New Animated Voices will focus on student filmmakers. The competition also includes categories for commissioned films and immersive works.
This year’s festival marks an exciting milestone as MAF becomes a BAFTA-qualifying event. British short films shown at MAF will automatically be considered for BAFTA’s prestigious British Short Animation Award, cementing the festival’s importance within the UK animation industry.
In addition to screenings, MAF will host a variety of panels, such as “Climate and Nature On Screen,” examining how animators can integrate environmental themes into their storytelling. Animation professionals will also explore technical topics like 2D animation methods, drawing from projects such as Wolfwalkers and Star Wars Visions.
MAF’s 2024 edition is also a celebration of animation milestones, with a special screening of The Thief and the Cobbler: A Moment in Time by Richard Williams and a tribute to 70 years of Animal Farm, the UK’s first animated feature.
Rounding out the festival will be family events, including the return of Family Day on November 10. This will feature workshops, screenings of children’s short films, and the Young Animator of the Year Awards, celebrating animators aged 11-18.
The MAF 2024 awards ceremony will take place on November 14, with categories including Best Feature Film, Best Short Film, Best Student Film, and Best British Film. The winners of these competitions will automatically qualify for both BAFTA and Academy Award consideration, highlighting MAF's growing influence in the global animation industry.
With ticket sales beginning on September 27, animation fans from across the world will be able to immerse themselves in this landmark celebration of the art form.