Manchester Animation Festival 2023 at HOME
Tom Grieve, Cinema Editor
The UK’s largest animation festival takes an all-encompassing approach to the medium, with events to delight fans, families and industry types alike. With over 100 events ranging from the latest animated features such as Netflix and Aardman Animation’s much anticipated sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, to industry panels with leading studios, and family friendly workshops dedicated to claymation and LEGO stop motion, Manchester Animation Festival really does have had something for everybody.
Highlights of the screening line-up include an advanced three-episode screening of Netflix’s upcoming animated series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Michael Morpurgo adaptation Kensuke’s Kingdom starring Cillian Murphy, Sally Hawkins and Ken Watanabe, and Mars Express — a futuristic thriller in which a private eye joins and her android partner hunt down a notorious hacker.
There are panels and events from studios such as Disney, PASSION Pictures, Kugali and a special event celebrating two decades of Magic Light Pictures, the studio behind the likes of The Gruffalo and Stickman. Other industry-focussed sessions include ‘The Art of the Music Video’, and an in depth discussion on the BBC Children’s initiative, Inform, Educate, Animate.
Of course, there’s also the vast selection of short films to dive into. From the selection in competition, to work from new voices, to student films and themed programmes dedicated to Trans Identities, work from Africa, or commercial curiosities. These sessions are the best place to spot emerging talent, and survey the richness and diversity of animation today.
In prestigious news for the festival this year, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that Manchester Animation Festival will be an Academy Award qualifying festival on the Short Films Qualifying Festival List — meaning recipients of the festival’s Short Film Award are eligible to be considered for an Oscar next year.
