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Manchester Animation Festival Announces 2022 Program

The event returns in-person in Manchester this November with screenings, panels, workshops, masterclasses, and studio talks across citywide venues.

The 8th edition of the Manchester Animation Festival has shared its 2022 program, offering audiences a chance to experience some of the world’s best-animated content with over 100 events. Screenings, panels, workshops, masterclasses, and studio talks will take place at citywide venues, with the festival running November 13-18 - additional information is available here.

Headline Events:

Making Of Aardman’s animated series Lloyd of The Flies - The original series follows the comedy adventures of housefly Lloyd B Fly and his insect friends as they explore the strange world beyond the confines of the compost bin.

Behind the scenes of the Netflix animation series Dead End Paranormal Park – Creator Hamish Steele and series producer Jen Coatsworth will discuss the making of the series.

Manchester Animation Festival 2022 Fellowship Awards:

Camilla Deakin and Ruth Fielding of Lupus Films (The Snowman and the Snowdog, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, The Tiger Who Came to Tea) – Deakin and Fielding share the story of their studio and look back on some of their favorite films. They will also give audiences a sneak preview of what is next for Lupus.

Celebrating 30 years - Mackinnon & Saunders:  Ian Mackinnon and Peter Saunders will give audiences a look at their work in features Fantastic Mr. Fox, Corpse Bride, and children’s series Postman Pat, Bob the Builder, and Rastamouse.

MAF’s Family Day:

Workshop - Children’s series Hey Duggee designer Ross Phillips reveals the secrets behind creating the show's characters and will teach children how to draw some of the series characters, create their own Squirrel Club member and earn a Character Workshop Badge.

Preview Screening - The new animated family film from Sky, The Amazing Maurice, is based on the popular Discworld novels.

The Official Feature Film Selection (all descriptions provided by MAF):

  • Unicorn Wars - Blending animated classic Bambi with anti-war epic Apocalypse Now, Unicorn Wars follows a group of inexperienced teddy bear recruits who are sent on a dangerous mission to save the Magic Forest from unicorns in a dark comedy that uses animated fantasy to ponder the origin of evil.
  • The Island - With a hypnotic soundtrack and colorful, surreal visuals, The Island is an animated musical that tips the Robinson Crusoe story on its head. After saving Friday, the only survivor of an illegal refugee boat, Robinson confronts current affairs through visual poetry and symbolism in a world where everybody looks for their own paradise. (UK Premiere)
  • My Love Affair with Marriage - My Love Affair with Marriage follows lovelorn Zelma. Still, the more she tries to conform, the more her body resists in this story about acceptance and inner female rebellion.
  • Nayola - Following three generations of women in a 25-year-long civil war in Angola, Nayola sees the past and present interlace. The mother searches for her missing husband at the height of the war and doesn’t return. Her daughter has become a subversive rapper while her grandmother tries to contain her for fear of the police coming to arrest her.
  • No Dogs Or Italians Allowed - Set in the early 20th century and chronicling the lives of the Ughetto family in Northern Italy, the Ughettos dream of a better life abroad. His grandson travels back in time through the magic of animation to revisit his family history. (UK Premiere)

Manchester Animation Festival’s Industry Day:

State of Animation Panel:

Panelists will discuss issues facing the animation industry.

  • Patricia Hidalgo, Director of Children’s industry at BBC
  • Kate O’Connor, CEO of Animation UK
  • Michael Rose, MD of Magic Light Pictures
  • Tom Box, MD of Blue Zoo
  • Sean Clarke, Managing Director of Aardman Studios
  • Caroline Roberts-Cherry, co-founder of Saffron Cherry

Making it in Manchester:

The session will focus on games – highlighting the region’s array of games companies.

Other sessions include an interactive Meet the Puppets event with both the Cosgrove Hall Films Archive and Mackinnon and Saunders; a BBC boxset screening featuring family favorites from CBeebies and CBBC; a sculpting social with Jim Parkyn; an online sneak peek at Chris Garbutt and Rikke Asbjoern’s upcoming Netflix interactive special We Lost Our Human; and an Industry Insiders panel where experts from the world of animation will cover a wide range of topics.

Festival Director Steve Henderson said, “We’re delighted to be bringing Pinocchio to MAF and celebrating Mackinnon & Saunders - Manchester’s very own Geppetto's workshop where some of the puppets for the feature were made. With over 100 events, this is our biggest and most exciting edition yet, and we can’t wait to welcome audiences to Manchester in November for a selection of the best features, shorts, and masterclasses from the world of animation.”

Get information, programming, and ticketing here.

Source: Manchester Animation Festival

Debbie Diamond Sarto's picture

Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.