The Festival Team
Dr Steve Henderson - Festival Director
Steve is the Director of Manchester Animation Festival and a founding member of the team. He is also the editor and co-owner of skwigly.com, the UK’s biggest online animation magazine and community. Steve has a PhD in Animation Archives and British Children's Television Animation from Loughborough University.
steve@manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk
Jen Hall - Executive Producer & Programmer
Jen is the Executive Producer & Programmer of Manchester Animation Festival. She is a founding member of MAF, but before setting up and running MAF, she worked for the Bradford Animation Festival (BAF) for 7 years. Away from MAF she is also the Film Programme Producer at HOME, Manchester’s independent cinema and arts venue.
jen@manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk
Greg Walker - Festival Producer
Greg has been part of the festival team since 2017. Outside of MAF, he is Producer at CULTPLEX cinema and has previously worked as Director of Pilot Light TV Festival, founder of RAD screenings and on Sheffield DocFest, Bradford Lit Fest, Grimmfest and more in varying Producer & Production Management roles.
greg@manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk
Bill Lawrence - Finance Director
Bill Lawrence is the CEO of Reel Solutions and founder of the now closed Bradford Animation Festival (BAF) and the Bradford Film Festival (BIFF). He is a founding member of Manchester Animation Festival.
bill@manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk
Isabelle Croissant - Short Film Programmer
Isabelle has been a member of MAF selection committee since 2017. Outside of MAF she is part of the Artist Development team at HOME , Manchester’s independent cinema and arts venue, with a particular focus on film and digital.
Laura Scott - Festival Coordinator
Laura is the Festival Coordinator for Manchester Animation Festival and has previously worked in other event production roles for various film festivals, such as the Edinburgh International Film Festival, Dublin International Film Festival, Glasgow Film Festival, Grimmfest and more.
laura@manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk
Curtis Dunn - Box Office Manager
Curtis is the Box Office Manager for Manchester Animation Festival 2023, his first year with the festival. Originally from the US, he has worked with arts organisations around the world, most recently as Box Office Coordinator for Sheffield DocFest and Hospitality Supervisor for Sheffield Theatres.
boxoffice@manchesteranimationfestival.co.uk
Tom Box - Chair of The Board
After co-founding Blue Zoo 20 years ago, Tom continues to be a driving force throughout the company helping the studio stay ahead of the game within the industry and with the workforce; volunteering on many initiatives to help the next generation of artists from all backgrounds break in and move up in the animation industry.
Sherelle Fairweather - Board Member
Sherelle is a Work and Skills Specialist creating and delivering the work that Manchester City Council does to support business and connect local residents to the opportunities created by the City's growth. Sherelle is currently leading on creative and digital skills, digital inclusion and the development of the Manchester Adult Education and Skills Plan.
Jackie Edwards - Board Member
Jackie is currently living her dream job as Head of the BFI Young Audiences Content Fund, where she is responsible for the successful implementation of this game changing UK Government initiative to stimulate the provision of public service content for audiences of 0-18. Jackie joined the BFI from BBC Children's where she had been the Head of Acquisitions and Independent Animation.
Elroy Simmons - Board Member
Elroy Simmons has worked as a 2D Animator since 1995 and as a tutor since 2005. Elroy’s career has, so far, survived the Animation Industry’s transition from 2D cel animation to an overwhelmingly digitally animated, 2D/3D landscape. Elroy’s worked on a range of projects - from TV commercials and kids TV series, to independent shorts – in collaboration with other Directors.
Elroy’s substantial experience working on both ‘independent’ and ‘commercial’ animated projects, has afforded work in both a range of roles (from writing, to character design/development, storyboarding, animation timing, animation layout and supervising animator, animation direction and art direction) and in a range of drawing styles.
Jo Clayton - Board Member
Jo Clayton has a background in journalism and is an experienced PR specialist. She works part-time in communications at the BBC, publicising content made by the Children’s & Education department. Outside of the BBC she is a freelance PR consultant and an Associate Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Helen Bowdur - Board Member
Helen has been fundraising in the cultural sector for over 15 years and worked with some of the major national arts organisations in the North of England including the National Science and Media Museum, The Manchester International Festival and Opera North. She has been part of the MAF team since 2017 and in 2022 has joined the MAF Board.
Kate O'Connor - Board Member
Kate is a senior consultant in creative industries, working with a wide range of private and public-sector clients in the UK and internationally. Kate is Executive Chair of Animation UK, part of the UK Screen Alliance, and represents the sector to the government level, developing business, export, and skills-related policies to support the industry’s growth.