Flatworld and Friends: From Brixton Flat to Underground Animation Showcase | Returns This September
Flatworld and Friends 2024
September 5th marks the return of the beloved independent animation showcase: Flatworld and Friends! If you haven’t already heard of it, we played catch up with the creators and curators, Sol Triffitt and Sofia Negri, to discover the origins of Flatworld, how it’s come to celebrate the best in underground animation!
Flatworld and Friends isn’t just a screening of shorts. There are artist stalls, with prints and handmade items, a reel of curated loops making up the late-night visualiser. The night also includes live music and DJs so you might want to hang around until late. For the main event itself, a first-time experience plays out something like an evening on your friend’s sofa. Somebody is flipping channels, somebody is playing selector and has created the best playlist of animated gems; funny, absurd and experimental, maybe some sad ones too. The evening rolls into music and resembles a house party, all in all, a wicked blend of creativity!
Daniel Kehelly’s bumper
Short films are book-ended by animated idents. Imagine a parallel MTV reality, made to expand the cartoon universe that Sol has created with its iconic cast of characters. But why is Flatworld flat? And how do I become flat too?
You can grab yourself a ticket for the 5th September event at AMP studios, Old Kent Road and find out what it’s all about. Flatworld and Friends is officially in its fourth edition, though it’s changed quite a lot since its very first showing.
Sol describes how it all began with a simple idea of bringing people together. From the confines of a small Brixton flat, Sol invited other animators from uni, sharing each other’s work on a small screen. That was back in 2018 but it’s perhaps what makes Flatworld different to other events. Having this point of origin has given it a different kind of identity. It really does feel like a community of friends. Sol and Sofia are keen to keep it this way, and they find themselves straying from a traditional film festival experience that might involve Q&As, awards and formalized networking. Sofia joined forces with Sol in 2023, and they moved the event to a bigger venue in Deptford. With her experience in putting on events and parties which combined visual art and live music, she already knew she was drawn to this kind of work- and together they are stronger!
Sofia and Sol at the Flatworld and Friends All Star edition
The London event remains the Flatworld and Friends flagship, however Sofia and Sol have also
organized showcases in Bristol and Folkestone in the past- so keep an eye on their socials and
anticipate more to come!
You can stay up to date with future events on Flatworld and Friends’ Instagram page, view past event photos & films here, or get your tickets for the 5th September event here.