What to see at MAF 2025 for Animation Students!
5th November 2025
As the UK’s largest Animation Festival, Manchester Animation Festival is the perfect opportunity for Animation Students to come see leading animation from across the world and take their first steps into networking. However, with such a packed programme, and so many chances to hear from the industry’s finest, it can be a little overwhelming to sort through the programme and pick events.
Luckily, as a fellow Animation Student, I’ve put together a little list of MAF events perfect for us. With a mix of networking, early career advice and of course, fantastic animation to see, here are my pointers for five great events (and one surprise!) to attend at Manchester Animation Festival 2025, as an Animation Student.
Pick 1: New Animated Voices (15)
Running on both Monday 12 and Wednesday 15, New Animated Voices is MAF’s showcase of the best of Student Films from around the world. Compromising solely of films crafted in an academic environment, this is your chance to see the best of what your contemporaries are animating and feel inspired to make your own short!
It’s quite easy to feel quite overwhelmed going to screenings as a student, especially if you are neurodiverse, or it’s your first time attending MAF – so the Relaxed Screening of New Animated Voices (15) (10:40 @HOME – Marina’s Cinema) may be a perfect event for you. You can expect low lights to remain on, and the sound to be lowered. You’ll also be free to move about, with the screening attendance limited to 50% capacity.
Mon 10 Nov – 12:10 – HOME – Cinema 1
Wed 12 Nov – 10:40 – HOME – Cinema 2
Wed 12 Nov – 10:40 – Relaxed Screening – HOME – Marina’s Cinema
Pick 2: Animation Mixtape 1 / Animation Mixtape 2
MAF is the only animation-dedicated festival in the UK; the winner of the MAF Short Film Award will be Oscar® and BAFTA-qualifying without a standard theatrical run. Running from Monday to Thursday, Animation Mixtape 1 and 2 is MAF’s two-part showcase of incredible animated shorts which compete for this amazing award! As a student, this is your chance to witness the best of animated shorts globally – with a relaxed screening available for both part 1 and 2.
Animation Mixtape 1 (15) Mon 10 Nov – 10:30, HOME – Cinema 1
Relaxed Screening/Animation Mixtape 1 (15) Mon 10 Nov – 10:30, HOME – Marina’s Cinema
Animation Mixtape 2 (15) Tue 11 Nov – 10:30, HOME – Cinema 1
Relaxed Screening/Animation Mixtape 2 (15) Tue 11 Nov – 10:30, HOME – Marina’s Cinema
Animation Mixtape 1 (15) Wed 12 Nov – 20:30, HOME – Cinema 2
Animation Mixtape 2 (15) Thu 13 Nov – 19:15, HOME – Cinema 2
Pick 3: Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (PG)
Winner of the 2025 Audience Award at Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain is a PG animated feature film. Showing both Monday and Wednesday, this feature is a visual treat stuffed with incredible colour and story – amazing for expanding your visual horizons.
Monday 10 Nov 2025 – 18:30, HOME – Cinema 2
Wednesday 12 Nov 2025 – 10:30, HOME – Cinema 1
Pick 4: Networking Warm Up
This free Workshop is a fantastic chance to learn the soft skill of networking! Networking shouldn’t be scary – but it’s not a skill taught in school and one that can feel particularly nerve-wracking for students. Taking place just before Northwestivus at 6pm, you’ll be delivered an informal primer on how to network ran by Jen & Isabelle from MAF. You can apply your learnings right after at Northwestivus!
Wednesday 12 Nov 2025 – 16:00, HOME – Event Space
Pick 5: Animated Answers: Kick Start Your Animation Career
Especially near the end of your course, the question of how to break into the animation industry can become a scary one. Luckily, this panel comprising of early-career professionals can share the answers they found out with you. In this panel, they will discuss and share with honesty their early career journeys, obstacles and advice on navigating the industry, giving you guidance on how to approach your early career.
Monday 10 Nov 2025 – 10:30, Anthony Burgess Foundation
Bonus Pick! The MAF Marketplace
MAF is a fantastic and welcoming festival for all students, packed with events, screenings and workshops built to open your horizons and ignite your love of animation. For students with portfolios ready and companies in mind, there is one event still worth mentioning – the MAF Marketplace! If you’ve been business card and portfolio ready, but waiting for that perfect opportunity to meet recruiters in person (and if you have a pass – ready to apply for a portfolio review) this may be your chance!
To all the Students attending MAF 2025, I wish you a fantastic festival and hope you make the most of a wonderful programme!
Thank you to our lovely volunteer Bryony Smith for writing this article. Thanks, Bryony!
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