Submission Terms & Conditions
Film Awards
This is an award for a film, it can be a Short Film, Student Film, Commissioned Film or Immersive Film.
Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway. You may submit your film to one category only. Films must be under 30 minutes in length.
- Short Films: Films not made by a student or person under the age of 16.
- Student Films: Films created by undergraduate and post-graduate students.
- Commissioned Films: Can be educational or scientific films, music videos or for advertising/promotional purposes. Commissioned films must have the permission of the rights owner before submission.
- Immersive Films: Films that abandon traditional screening conditions and opt for an immersive format, this could be VR (interactive and non interactive), AR or 360° films.
All films must have been completed after Friday 29 July 2022 and must be submitted and received by Friday 28 July 2023. All animation techniques are eligible.
All information in your submission form is correct and can be used in print and on the web if your film is selected (excluding personal information). Manchester Animation Festival reserve the right to edit or rewrite text where they see fit.
We reserve the right to include a short 10-40 second clip of the film as part of a festival trailer/promotional video, this clip will be either selected by you or the festival team and will be appropriate for its use.
Our screening format is DCP, should this not be available for November our technical partners will be in touch to discuss options. All films are carefully checked and processed before screening at the festival. Please be aware that the information you provide when you submit your film will ensure it is presented in the correct format.
Manchester Animation Festival will hold the details of your submission in accordance with our privacy policy.
We aim to inform successful entrants by Friday 8 September 2023.
Submission also certifies that all film and music rights and clearances have been obtained (in accordance with UK copyright laws). Screenings may be in-venue or online behind a pay wall. For more information please see the FAQ section of the website. By submitting, you agree not to withdraw your film from the festival after it has been accepted by the selection committee.
Industry Excellence Award
This award is for an individual person for their work in the fields of:
- Scriptwriting
- Storyboarding
- Character Design
- Character Animation
Nominations are to be submitted via our website. Only work on one project can be submitted per nomination. You may nominate another person as long as you have their permission. As scriptwriters we understand you often work in pairs and so two people can be under one nomination for scriptwriting. All collaborations will require a little clarification in the form. International nominations are accepted.
Nominations must be for one person working on a project that has been commissioned by a third party or broadcaster (television or online). It can not be a student film or have been commissioned as part of advancement in an academic qualification process, nor is it an independent project created without the input of any third party commissioner. Applying for and receiving funding for a film pre-conceived by the filmmaker does not qualify as a commission.
Nominations MUST have the permission of the rights holder of the project and the nominee to enter into this award.
Supporting documentation will be requested in the submission process, ideally a copy of the storyboard, animatic or script, design work or a clip/showreel of clips of the nominees work on character animation. This will only be viewed by the selection committee and the jury.
All nominations must be received by Friday 28 July 2023 for projects/work completed after Friday 29 July 2022.
Manchester Animation Festival will hold the details of your submission in accordance with our privacy policy.