Cardiff Animation Festival Industry Day Returns
We're about a month away from this year's Cardiff Animation Festival. For four days, the Welsh capital will become a hotbed of animation in all its forms. And now the festival has confirmed that Industry Day will return on Thursday, April 23 at Chapter. Hosted by director and presenter Hannah Lau‑Walker, the day is intended to bring together studio leaders, freelancers, funders, commissioners, students, graduates and emerging talent for a programme filled with insight, inspiration and future-facing conversation.
This year's programme is themed around Play, exploring the ideas, issues and innovations shaping animation today. Spanning from digital-first content strategies to feature film development to stepping into game development and navigating freelance life.
“CAF’s Industry Day is our chance to come together as a sector, share knowledge, and tackle the most current challenges facing animation," said Festival Director Lauren Orme."We’ve designed the day to be accessible, affordable, and to highlight opportunities – a space where people at every stage of their careers can learn, connect and feel inspired about the future of our industry.”
The day kicks off with a playful keynote from bestselling author, animator, illustrator and crafter Phillipa Rice, who will share her thoughts on creative risk-taking, curiosity and keeping play at the heart of your work.
BAFTA-winning filmmaker Will Anderson and Camilla Deakin, MD and producer at Lupus Films ask the question "What does it really take to develop an animated feature in today’s UK industry?"With more studios exploring long-form storytelling, their candid case studies will unpack the journey from idea to screen, from development funding and pitching to markets, co‑productions and the realities of getting a feature off the ground.
Global Distribution Consultant Laura Taylor-Williams will moderate a panel on reaching audiences through digital platforms, exploring varied models, funding pathways, creator strategies and the different approaches people are taking in this varied landscape.
Cardiff-based Copa Games founder and director Osian Williams will share how a boutique Welsh studio can become a competitor on the world stage, and how local culture can be a key differentiator on the global market.
Cloth Cat's Jon Rennie offers a behind-the-scenes look at The Ghost Of Midwinter. This will include its MOHO pipeline, innovative funding approach, bilingual production in both English and Welsh, and the training module that allowed emerging animators to gain their first broadcast credit.
A practical Freelance Toolkit session, featuring CULT Cymru, will support animation professionals entering the industry and navigating shifting market conditions. A Meet The Commissioners panel will give attendees an opportunity to hear what commissioning opportunities are out there, what broadcasters are looking for right now, and what makes an idea stand out.
In addition to the talks, attendees can take advantage of 1:1 meetings, portfolio reviews, coffee breaks and a relaxed networking lunch. There will be plenty of opportunities to connect and collaborate. An Industry Day Pass gains you access to all talks and panels, bookable 1:1 meetings, hot drinks and lunch.
The ninth Cardiff Animation Festival runs from Thursday, April 23- Sunday April 26. For more information on this year's festival, see our post here.
