An animated return
Cardiff Animation Festival returns to Chapter in the capital for its fifth edition this month, offering a host of live and online screenings. Its organisers told Jenny White what’s in store
BACK in 2014, a group of Cardiff-based animators and animation fans started running free animation screenings with the aim of building a community around animation. By 2014, their Cardiff Animation Nights (which still run today) had spawned Cardiff Animation Festival – an international festival, and the first of its kind in Wales.
“With Wales’ thriving animation industry, great courses for students and rich animation history, we couldn’t believe there wasn’t an international animation festival here – so we decided to start one,” says festival director Lauren Orme.
“We’ve always tried to create a community around animation. We want the festival to be really welcoming and inclusive, to platform animated art from all different backgrounds and communities around the world, and to be a space where people can meet each other.”
Back this year for its fifth edition, the festival includes screenings of 96 short films made in 23 countries around the world, as well as three major, animated feature films, some of the world’s leading animation artists sharing their expertise and an opportunity to make your own film to be screened at the festival (provided you can create it in 48 hours).
To make the events as accessible and enjoyable as possible, the festival includes baby-friendly screenings, almost all its events are captioned or BSL interpreted, and the team put on meals so people can sit down over food and talk about what they’ve just seen.
“Whether you’re an animator, an avid animation fan, or you’ve never really thought about animation before, we want Cardiff Animation Festival to be a space for you,” says Lauren. “We’ve got seven different themed selections of brand new short films, which are a brilliant taster if you’re new to animation.
“The masterclasses give people a chance to hear how their favourite films, shows and games were made – from Peppa Pig for pre-schoolers to Cuphead for gamers, and Doctor Who for all the family. And if you want to try your hand at animation for the first time or develop your skills, we’ve got workshops and drop-ins suitable for all ages.”
This year’s festival features short films from all around the world – from British documentary and Danish comedy to a Ukrainian fantasy, a Mexican love story and a dreamy Hong Kong thriller. Some are already multi-award-winners, and some are international premieres, so you can see them at before they are shown elsewhere.
The festival includes a family programme, running on the Saturday and Sunday mornings, enabling children aged seven and above to experience independent animation in the cinema for the first time. Other special offerings include a programme of some of the best new short films from Wales, called Home Grown, which takes place on Friday, April 26, at 11am.
To be considered for inclusion in the festival, filmmakers from around the world submit their short films between June and November.
“We have a big team of pre-selectors who spend the autumn watching all the films and reviewing them,” says Lauren. “Then we get together in the winter with blankets and snacks and argue about which films should be shown. Some films are really easy to decide on, while others are much more divisive – but the divisive ones often end up being audience favourites.”
Screenings are just one element of the festival. If you’re a night owl, there are socials and parties each night where you can meet other animation fans. Or if you’re a morning person, you can meet filmmakers and hear them talk about their process over coffee and pastries each morning at 10am.
“The workshop programme is great this year – you can try your hand at animation, model making, 16mm film and dog life drawing (bring along a furry friend or draw someone else’s) – and contribute a frame to our community animation which we’ll be making all weekend,” adds Lauren.
Another element she’s especially excited about is the late-night short films.
“They are always really fun, and there’s some really tasty dark comedy in there this year,” she says. “You can catch those in the Midnight Feast programme on Friday, April 26, at 9pm. We’re also excited to collaborate with Kotatsu Japanese Animation Festival to bring BLUE GIANT and Lonely Castle in the Mirror to the big screen.”
Festival producer Ellys Donovan adds that this year’s masterclasses will bring together a host of world-leading animation talent.
“We’re excited to welcome a whole host of brilliantly talented speakers to CAF24, with talks from Emmy-nominated studio Golden Wolf, a look behind-the-scenes of Cuphead with Tina Nawrocki, and a celebration of 20 years of Peppa Pig,” she says. “Josh Elwell and Eliot Gibbins highlight the puppeteering magic of Doctor Who, and there’s a special screening of Kensuke’s Kingdom followed by a Q+A with the team.”
The festival also welcomes back One Bum Cinema Club – a mini cinema screen that fits just one audience member at a time.
“For 2024, there will be a playful selection of shorts by the fantastic 3D animator AJ Jefferies to view in the wooden shed-like cinema at the touch of a button,” says Ellys.
Those with a professional interest in animation can enjoy talks, screenings and networking at the Industry Day on Thursday, April 25. It includes My Career Journey, where you can learn about the various paths into the animation industry, a keynote with guest speakers from Hanna-barbera Studios Europe and Lucid Games, a talk on funding opportunities and the chance to sign up for Screenskills: Open Doors to gain insight into what jobs are available and help you build connections with industry professionals.
The masterclasses give people a chance to hear how their favourite films, shows and games were made
New for this year’s festival is the drawing and animation tour, which allows participants to explore the local area around Chapter in Canton, take in the sights with talented Briar White, sketch local architecture and park life, and stop at local cafes and bakeries.
Another treat is the Quick Draw Challenge, which started in 2018 as part of the first Cardiff Animation Festival, challenging teams and individuals to create an animated short in just 48 hours, inspired by a new prompt every time.
“There are now on average around 70 teams per event, with animators entering from all over the world to see what they can achieve under the constraints of a weekend,” says Ellys. “All of the completed films will be screened as part of the festival on Friday, April 26.”
She adds that the whole team are looking forward to delivering this year’s festival, which promises to be the biggest and best yet.
“There’s so much work that goes into bringing the festival to life and it is truly a team effort – we are all extremely proud to have created something which showcases global creativity in Cardiff as well as making a friendly and welcoming environment to enjoy animation together.
“We’re looking forward to seeing familiar faces, making new friends and sharing the fantastic selection of animated shorts across our many screenings at Chapter and online.”
The fifth Cardiff Animation Festival (CAF) runs from April 25-28 at Chapter, Cardiff, with online events continuing to May 12. The monthly Cardiff Animation Nights run online and in-person throughout the year.
www.cardiffanimation.com