UK’s Manchester Animation Festival 2025 Opens Call for Entries

6 January 2025

The Manchester Animation Festival (MAF), the UK’s sole Academy Award, BAFTA, and BIFA qualifying animation festival, has opened its call for entries for the 2025 edition. Early Bird Deadline is 3 March, with a final submission deadline on 18 July. Categories include Short Films, Student Films, Commissioned Films, and Immersive Films.

Manchester Animation Festival

United Kingdom (UK)

The Manchester Animation Festival (MAF) has officially announced its call for entries for the 2025 edition, marking a decade since the festival's inception. Recognized as the UK’s only Academy Award-qualifying animation festival and a BAFTA and BIFA-qualifying event, MAF continues to celebrate excellence in animated storytelling.

Filmmakers are invited to submit their works across several categories, including Short Films, Student Films, Commissioned Films, and Immersive Films. Those with feature-length animations are encouraged to contact the festival team directly for submission details.

Submissions can be made through MAF's FilmFreeway page. The Early Bird Deadline, offering reduced fees, is set for 3 March 2025, while the final deadline closes on 18 July 2025, giving ample time for creators to finalize their projects.

Winning films in each category will receive the festival's iconic trophies, designed by the celebrated Mackinnon & Saunders, known for their work on films like Corpse Bride and Frankenweenie.