MAF RETURNS: 10-14 NOVEMBER 2024!

12th September 2024

Back for our 10th edition, we’re excited to announce the dates for the much-anticipated return of the Manchester Animation Festival, taking place from Monday 10 to Thursday 14 November 2024.

Mark your calendars and get ready for an incredible lineup of events, panels, workshops, masterclasses, along with opportunities to connect with the best in the industry and much, much more. But that’s not all—on Monday 23 September, we will be officially launching the MAF24 programme.

RETURN OF THE ANIMATION NATION FORUM AND THE MARKETPLACE

Over the past two years we have welcomed leaders from the BBC, Aardman Animation, Magic Light Pictures, ILM, Blue Zoo, Locksmith Animation, Lupus Films, Animation UK and more; where we discussed topics covering all areas of the animation industry, offering a real look behind the curtain, to our headline event State of The Animation Nation, which annually addresses the challenges facing the industry, and how we move through them.

The Animation Nation Forum was rebranded last year in an attempt to better encapsulate what we hoped to achieve with the event, bringing animation companies from near and far together to forge new connections, hear from the industry’s top figures, and we feel we achieved just that. With this in mind we will be bringing the ANF back to tackle a whole new range of issues.
Returning again to the Bridgewater Hall, which is only a stone’s throw away from the festival central hub, HOME. Happening alongside the ANF is of course the Marketplace. The Bridgewater Hall is the place to be to network and meet lots of new studios to see what they have coming up.

The Animation Nation Forum will take place all day on Thursday 14 November.

Ahead of our programme launch later this month we wanted to give you a look at the different passes that will be available for you, and what they get you this year, along with pricing so you can start planning in advance! Read on to find out what the right pass is for you.

WHAT IS WHAT?

Festival: The events you’ve come to expect from us year after year, an international line up of short & feature films, masterclasses, panels, social events and more; for animated film fans and creators who want to explore the magic of animation.

ANF – Animation Nation Forum: for animation professionals looking to get to grips the inside scoop on the business of animation and make new connections.

ACC – Animated Connections Conference: for animation professionals and educators wanting to bridge the gap between education and industry and exploring practical ways we can ensure a bright future for animation.

MAF Market: free for all delegates to attend so come down and meet some of the great and the good from the world of animation.