Cardiff Animation Festival: Four days of pure imagination

Mar 30
2 min read

Cardiff Animation Festival returns to Chapter Arts this April with its most ambitious programme yet, celebrating bold new voices, Welsh creativity and a vibrant mix of films, games and events.

We caught up with Lauren Orme, director of the Cardiff Animation Festival, who tells us what to expect from this year’s event.

For anyone who hasn’t been before, what is Cardiff Animation Festival and what makes it special?

Cardiff Animation Festival is a joyful celebration of animation in all its forms, films, games, workshops, talks, socials, and more.

What can people expect from this year’s festival - any standout moments or surprises?

We’ve got some amazing special guests this year, like Julia Pott (Adventure Time) over from LA. Plus live music, karaoke, dog life drawing, and our chaotic drawing gameshow Sketch Showdown!

The festival has a real community feel. How would you describe the atmosphere across the four days?

We’ve always tried to make the festival really welcoming and inclusive. You don’t need to know anything about animation to feel at home. We try to really look after people, we even put on free lunch for ticket-holders each day.

Animation is such a broad artform. What kinds of films and experiences will audiences discover this year?

We’ve got short films from around the world covering everything from offbeat comedy to intimate personal stories to horror! Plus brilliant Japanese and French feature films rarely seen in UK cinemas.

Cardiff Animation Festival is known for being welcoming to all ages. What’s on offer for families and younger audiences?

Families can try animation together in hands-on workshops, from flipbook-making to modelling their own Shaun the Sheep. And watch short films from around the world for kids, a perfect first cinema experience.

For someone coming along for the first time, what’s your top tip for making the most of the festival?

Follow your curiosity! Some of the best moments at the festival come from wandering into something unexpected.

For more details visit www.cardiffanimation.com