News / 24 Nov 2023
Students visit Manchester Animation Festival
BA (Hons) Animation
BA (Hons) Animation students have been picking up tips and networking with experts at Manchester Animation Festival 2023, an annual celebration of the animated art form supported by Leeds Arts University.
Manchester Animation Festival is the UK’s largest Animation Festival, hosted at HOME in Manchester 12 – 17 November and online from 18 – 30 November 2023.
Students and staff attended the event where they had the opportunity to network with fellow filmmakers and people in the industry, and attend masterclasses.
BA (Hons) Animation Course Leader Michael Smith was invited to speak at the Animated Connections Conference, which aims to demolish the barriers between education, training and industry by bringing together key figures from the sector. Michael took part in a panel discussion entitled ‘Industry Skills or Academic Excellence?’ alongside industry speakers Jon Rennie, Tim Searle and Shelley Page.
"I’m proud to have been invited to speak at this panel because it's so important that educators and industry talk to each other and build relationships with each other. We need to understand the issues and complexities our respective sectors collectively face, look at how we can both support students to progress into the UK animation and creative industries; not just in the short term, but to have productive long-lasting careers."
Michael Smith, Course Leader, BA (Hons) Animation