This year’s Manchester Animation Festival ran from 10-14 November. From insightful panels to engaging networking events, take a look back as we recap the Animation Nation Forum.
Animation UK recently travelled up to Manchester to celebrate the Manchester Animation Festival (MAF), where we held our monthly members’ meeting, bringing together familiar faces both in-person and online, and where we were delighted to sponsor the MAF 2024 industry day, Animation Nation Forum (ANF).
ANF took place at the Bridgewater Hall on Thursday, 14 November, and was curated to debate, discuss and inform the industry on the landscape of animation. The day consisted of intriguing talks, a marketplace, a new B2B meeting event, a welcome breakfast sponsored by Animation UK, networking opportunities, and celebratory drinks to round off the festival.
Image by Chris Payne 
Image by Chris Payne 
Image by Chris Payne 
Image by Chris Payne
We started off the day by hosting the Welcome Breakfast, where members and fellow ANF attendees mingled over some coffee, tea and pastries. Kate O’Connor, Executive Chair of Animation UK, delivered a short introduction, highlighting how the ANF has become a cornerstone event in the industry’s annual calendar – a time to celebrate achievements and reflect on the ways forward. She acknowledged the challenges of a tough year, but emphasised emerging signs of optimism. Kate also shared her enthusiasm about the positive impact of the newly introduced tax reliefs, which are already making a tangible difference in the sector and that Animation UK will continue to pursue all avenues to ensure continue to produce, own, and grow our content and businesses.
Following the breakfast, 9 Story Media Group’s Senior Vice President of Distribution & Acquisitions Alix Wiseman delivered this year’s Animation Keynote. The keynote touched upon international distribution, content partnerships, and the opportunities in animation today, especially in the evolving digital-first landscape.
This topic was further explored in the following panel “In the Frame: New Opportunities in Animation”, featuring Jiella Esmat (8 Lions), Richard Chaney (Piranha Bar), Jon Mason (Jollywise) in conversation with Jo Redfern. The panel explored how animation is finding homes on a diverse range of platforms, from streaming sites to online applications, and how we can embrace this to unlock fresh possibilities beyond the traditional routes.
We also participated in the newly introduced ANF Connect. ANF delegates had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the Animation UK team to learn more about the work we do and to ask any questions. It was great to meet many new faces!
In the afternoon, we shifted our focus towards a more global outlook in the panel “Collaborating Across Continents: The Future of International Co-production”. Iván Agenjo (Peekaboo Animation), Sean Henry (Warner Bros.) and Denitsa Yordanova (British Film Institute – BFI) chatted with Chris Rose about what international co-production entails, sharing insights and useful resources.
The BFI launched ScreenUK earlier this year, and which represents the UK screen sector’s national and regional agencies at key international festivals and markets. On its website, there are useful directories – including a list of UK producers interested in co-production, and a list of UK broadcasters – as well as details on how to co-produce with the UK. See the “Working with the UK” section for further details and information on how to be listed in the directories.
Image by Chris Payne
In the final session of ANF, Charlotte Bavasso (Nexus Studios), Kate O’Connor (Animation UK), Sueann Rochester (Wild Child Animation), Tanya J Scott and Mark Taynton (Warner Bros.) answered hard-hitting questions about the current industry landscape in the “State of the Animation Nation” panel. Debated statements included:
- Survive to 25 mentality is damaging to industry;
- UK needs to take animated advantage of its adult comedy heritage;
- Hurdles within the industry are higher than ever;
- Reliance on public funding is creating a postcode lottery for productions;
- Cultural power of UK animation cannot compete with generous tax incentives offered worldwide;
- Opportunities for optimism.
Image by Chris Payne 
Image by Chris Payne
The winners of the 2024 MAF Awards were announced later that evening at the awards ceremony, hosted by comedian Alasdair Beckett-King. Congratulations to all the winners! See the full list here.
Image by Chris Payne 
Image by Chris Payne
We wrapped up our day of great discussions at the ANF Drinks Reception, sponsored by King Banana TV, and celebrated even more at the AfterMAF.
Thank you to Manchester Animation Festival for your hospitality and for hosting such intriguing panels and events. It was a lovely experience and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year!
