Top Events for Industry Professionals at MAF 2025!
5th November 2025
A huge Mancunian hiya to you all. I’m Angela Russell, a TV Producer who has produced animated series like Go Jetters and JoJo & Gran Gran and mixed media series like Magic Door (where green screen filming immerses live action talent into animated worlds). I grew up here in Manchester and Salford, so it’s a joy to work in the creative industries in this music and art filled city I call home.
To me, MAF is inspiring, insightful and full of creativity. It’s great welcoming so many animation professionals and enthusiasts to our city throughout Manchester Animation Festival. It’s a huge draw (no pun intended) and 2025’s Festival Programme is jam packed, so here are my tips on what to pick as an industry professional.
Pick 1: The Animation Mixtape
The Animation Mixtape screenings are excellent for anyone working in the industry. They give easy access to an array of animation styles and techniques. The short films selected for the Mixtapes come from all over the world, so it’s fascinating to spot global trends in animated storytelling. And the best bit? They’re each playing in competition with one another, so the winner here at MAF will be eligible for consideration for an Academy Award®! Like any good mixtape there are two sides, so two separate screenings repeat throughout the festival.
Screenings from Mon 10 Nov, at 10:30am, HOME Cinema 1.
Pick 2: Sneak Peek Screening of Rafi the Wishing Wizard
I’m very excited for the Sneak Peak screening of Rafi the Wishing Wizard. It’s always useful hearing professionals talk about the process of making a brand new series and there is a great panel of creatives taking to the stage as part of this screening: Creator & Exec – Tom Cousins, Commissioning Editor – Beth Gardiner, Animation Director – Sean McKormak and Presenter & Podcaster – Emma Goswell. All this AND it’s your chance to see our gorgeous city in full animated glory! That’s right, Rafi and family live right here in Manchester (please don’t call it Manny). See you there!
Screenings on Tue 11 Nov 12:30 at Home Cinema 2.
Sneak Peek/ Rafi the Wishing Wizard
Pick 3: The Square
My final screening recommendation is The Square. Set in North Korea, this film is about a secret romance between a Swedish diplomat and a local traffic officer. This thriller sounds like it will be a stunning debut feature from director Kim-Bo Sol. Winning the Contrechamp Jury Award at Annecy International Animation Film Festival never goes unnoticed, so it’s a great chance to see a brand new feature that could keep on winning the world over.
Screenings on Tue 11 Nov 14.30 / Thu 14 Nov 20.40 at HOME Cinema 2.
Pick 4: The Animation Forum
The hottest event ticket around is more than one event really, as it’s the Animation Nation Forum. This is an ENTIRE DAY of industry focussed sessions about the key topics impacting animation in the UK and internationally. I’ll be there to hear the conversations that innovate animation and to meet businesses, experts and freelancers (if you’re a freelancer make the most of the discounted freelancer rate!) over coffees, lunch and drinks.
ANF takes place on Wed 12 Nov at Bridgewater Hall, from 08.30.
Pick 5: Keeping Things Creative in an AI world
The talk at the top of my go to list is Keeping Things Creative in an AI World. I feel I need to absorb as much information as I can on this rapidly changing area of our industry. There is a great panel of professionals discussing the ethics and morals of AI integration to workflows. How do we keep creatives at the centre of this massive evolution? This is a talk I can’t miss.
Keeping Things Creative in an AI world is taking place on Thu 13 Nov 12.30, Anthony Burgess Foundation.
Keeping Things Creative in an AI World
Have a brilliant festival everyone and I hope I’ll get to meet you there – maybe even over a great Northern pint or cuppa.
Thanks to our lovely volunteer Angela Russell for writing this article. Thanks, Angela!
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