Manchester Animation Festival (MAF), the UK’s only Oscar and BAFTA-qualifying animation festival, has announced the line up for the return of the Animation Nation Forum (ANF), a one-day summit packed with industry-focussed panels and discussions dedicated to the UK’s animation industry.
Taking place on Wednesday 12 November 2025 at Bridgewater Hall, ANF brings together leading voices from across the sector to explore the cutting edge conversations shaping the animation sector internationally.
The day will begin with a welcome breakfast hosted by Liquid Violet, offering attendees a chance to connect before diving into a full programme of panels and discussions. The opening address will set the stage with a look at regional animation activity and its growing influence on national and international markets.
Throughout the day, sessions will tackle the most pressing issues facing the industry. A panel on co-producing for global audiences, Unlocking International Success, will explore how UK studios are forging international partnerships to reach wider markets with speakers Sarah Muller (Senior Head of Commissioning 7+, BBC) and Marc Du Pontavice (CEO and Founder, Xilam Animation).
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In the Frame: The Future Normal, featuring panelists Darran Garnham (Founder, Toikido) James Cameron (Creative Director, Imaginakery) and Rob Doherty (Kids Content Specialist and Exec Producer) examines how shifts in technology and audience behaviour are reshaping production and sustainability.
Independent animated features take centre stage in Features of the Future, sponsored by Locksmith Animation, where filmmaker Andrew Baker (CEO/Founder Cantilever Media, Kazoo Films, Moonshot Films) and Liz Warren (Fund Manager, BFI Filmmaking Funds) discuss how smaller productions are making waves at the box office.
The day wraps with State of the Animation Nation, a candid conversation between Andrew Ruhemann (Founder, Passion Pictures) Camilla Deakin (Joint MD, Lupus Films), Julio Bonet (Director of Animated Series, Netflix), Kate O’Connor (Executive Chair, Animation UK) and Oli Hyatt (MD, Blue Zoo) about the challenges and opportunities ahead for UK animation.
Festival director Steve Henderson said: “We’re thrilled to welcome the industry back to The Bridgewater Hall for this year’s Animation Nation Forum as it continues to evolve into a key gathering point for the entire animation sector. At a time of significant change across the global content landscape, the ANF provides a space to connect, collaborate and chart a course for the future aWe highlight the expert voices that are guiding those changes through our informative panels, meeting opportunities and networking. Animation remains the world’s greatest storytelling medium, but it is also a vital driver for economic and cultural growth. This year’s unmissable ANF will showcase what the future has in store for our industry.”
Alongside the summit, MAF will also host the festival’s annual industry marketplace at Bridgewater Hall – a free-to-attend event designed to foster networking between studios, recruiters, and animation professionals. Companies attending the marketplace include Animation Associates, Autodesk, BenQ, Blue Zoo, Cloth Cat, HUE, Industrial Light & Magic, Marks & Clerk, Skydance Animation, Toom Boom, University of Salford and Wacom.
ANF Connect, the flagship B2B meeting event of the Animation Nation Forum, offers curated 15-minute one-on-one sessions with leading animation professionals – giving attendees the chance to pitch ideas, forge partnerships, and grow their business. The Forum concludes with a drinks reception at Bridgewater Hall sponsored by Animation UK, giving attendees a relaxed space to reflect and network.
Outside of ANF, the festival will feature talks, presentations, and showcases from industry experts representing leading international companies, including Aardman, Adult Swim, Cartoon Saloon, DNEG Animation, dock10, Epic Games, Festival Formula, Flow Creative, Golden Wolf, Magic Light Pictures, Moho Animation Software, Netflix, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and YouTube, the annual Industry Excellence Awards, and the annual For Scriptwriting and Character Design threads.
Manchester Animation Festival is presented with the support of Higher Education Partner University of Salford, Festival Partner HOME and Festival Patrons Adult Swim, BBC Children’s & Education, BBC Studios Kids & Family, Blue Zoo Animation Studio, Bridge AI, Epic Games, Industrial Light & Magic, Innovate UK, Toon Boom and Moho Animation Software.
ANF passes and further details are available on the Manchester Animation Festival website.
