London International Animation Festival (LIAF 2025) Returns for Its 22nd Year
The London International Animation Festival (LIAF 2025), the UK’s largest, longest-running and most eclectic animation festival, returns for its 22nd year celebrating the whole spectrum of animation with a mammoth 27 programmes showcasing every style, technique and genre within animation. All indie and all spotlighting talent from impressively sparkling newbies right through to established veterans of our beloved artform. A 10-day feast of 240 of the best animated shorts from 30 countries around the world, with many of the filmmakers present to introduce their films in person.
Be prepared to feast your eyes on a sumptuous banquet of the world’s best, wildest and most awe-inspiring animated films.
We are excited to be back screening for our live audiences at 5 London venues – the Barbican, The Garden Cinema, The Horse Hospital, The Puppet Theatre Barge and Close Up Cinema.
For those unable to travel to London, virtually the whole festival will also be available worldwide to view online on our streaming platform, bringing the best independent animation directly into people’s homes. Everything our audience loves about LIAF is being transformed into a virtual version: screenings, free industry panels, audience voting and insightful and entertaining talks.
Screenings will be available daily from 28 November to 7 December, running alongside live and pre-recorded panel discussions with many of the world’s leading animators and industry players.
As ever, this year’s uncompromising programme promises to inspire, delight and challenge the notion that animation is merely a 3D CGI blockbuster genre or cute cartoons for kids. Independent animation is an art form that continues to thrive and develop as a breathtaking medley of styles, materials, techniques and production – from hand drawn, paint on glass, collage, pixilation, cut outs, puppets, abstract, sand and everything in-between to some of the more interesting developments in CGI – all of which can be seen at this year’s LIAF.
A Snapshot of LIAF 2025
Opening Night Special Screening: A Tribute to Emma Calder (fierce and independent to the end) – Barbican Cinema
LIAF 2025’s opening night is dedicated to the late Emma Calder, a trailblazing force in independent animation. For over 40 years, Emma shaped the animation landscape through film, books, design, and teaching, fiercely advocating for independent voices and new funding opportunities. In 2024, at the height of her career, she began work on House of Love before being diagnosed with a rare, aggressive cancer. Though she couldn’t complete the film herself, she left detailed notes and direction, allowing her team to bring it to completion. Tonight marks its world premiere. The programme also features a near-complete retrospective of her work – films that channel a punk spirit and continually redefine the possibilities of animation. Following the screening, friends and collaborators will gather onstage for a panel discussion on Emma’s enduring legacy.
8 International Competition Screenings – The Garden Cinema, The Puppet Theatre Barge and The Horse Hospital
Including From Absurd to Zany (humorous shorts), Into The Dark (scary shorts), Animated Documentaries, the Abstract Showcase and the Stop-Motion Panorama. 77 films of every technique, genre and style from the international indie animation universe and the world’s most creative talents showing that animation is alive and well and thriving. Many of the filmmakers from the UK and around the world will join us in cinemas and onstage for post-screening talks and introductions.
The British Showcase – Barbican Cinema
A snapshot of what’s happening now in British animation. Independent British animated films have carved out a unique niche in the cinematic landscape, characterised by their distinct artistic styles and innovative storytelling. These films frequently explore themes of identity, culture, and social issues, reflecting the diverse experiences of contemporary Britain. Before the screening there is a chance to meet many of the animators and hear them talk about their films as they take to the stage to introduce them.
Figures in Focus – Skin Shows: Barbican Cinema
A programme of contemporary animations in recognition of the under-representation of female and non-binary animators and their stories within independent animation. The title ‘Skin Shows’ is a nod to Jack Halberstam’s book of the same name; a work that explores gothic horror, monstrousness, corporeality, otherness, and its representation in contemporary film. In this programme the female body is viewed as grotesque, abject, and perverse. These films show that getting under the skin of this conceit can be empowering rather than horrifying. The screening will be followed by a discussion with filmmakers May Kindred Boothby, Lizzie Watts, and Dr Laura-Beth Cowley.
Disrupting the Narrative – The Beauty of Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Barbican Cinema
This programme takes viewers on unexpected journeys across London, India, DR Congo, Nigeria, Belgium, France, Germany and beyond with 11 films that portray characters who confront societal pressures, whether it’s environmental destruction, discrimination, or personal identity struggles that tell stories about the urgency of sustainable living. Several of the filmmakers will join programmer Osbert Parker for a post-screening discussion.
Lesbian Space Princess (Feature Film): The Garden Cinema
Heartbreak. Kidnapping. Gay-pop idols. And one impossibly needy space princess blasting through the cosmos. Buckle up your glitter belts: Lesbian Space Princess has officially landed at LIAF after snatching the coveted Teddy Award at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival. Part space opera, part rom-com, part glitter-fuelled fever dream, Lesbian Space Princess is a love letter to queer resilience and messy, magical relationships – with enough camp to fuel a rocket.
Are You OK? Destigmatising Mental Health: The Horse Hospital
Animated shorts are a powerful medium for addressing mental health issues, offering a unique and often visually compelling way to explore complex emotions and inner struggles. This special programme vividly depicts experiences like anxiety, depression, trauma and personal growth. Several of the filmmakers will be present for a panel discussion after the screening.
Queer Shorts: The Horse Hospital
A programme of short animated films that celebrate queer lives, loves, and imaginations. Animation lets us bend reality, dream big, and tell stories in ways words alone can’t. These films remind us that animation is not just entertainment, but a medium for visibility, resistance, and imagination.
40 Years of RCA Animation: The Horse Hospital
40 years ago, the Royal College of Art launched its animation programme. This LIAF selection from over 1000 archived student films includes early work by key figures in UK animation and internationally acclaimed shorts that have stood the test of time.
Animation at War: Barbican Cinema
How do filmmakers use the expressive potential of animation to address ever-relevant themes of war and conflict? These films range from abstract to activist, tracing the scars of trauma and meditating on the nature of war.
Late Night Bizarre: The Horse Hospital
A programme of the weirdest, wildest and most demented films submitted to LIAF this year featuring a bunch of anti-classics guaranteed to be as far away from Disney as possible.
Music Video Programme: The Horse Hospital
The world’s best music clips made by the world’s most inventive animators. Featuring Wet Leg, Aphex Twin and Black Country New Road alongside several others.
The Best of the Next: The Horse Hospital
The 33 best student films from the world’s best film schools made in the last 18 months. The first step on the animation ladder for these talented filmmakers.
Two Programmes for Children Aged 0–7 and 8–15: Barbican Cinema
Several short animated films, full of joy from all around the world containing cheeky, loveable humans and animals in all sorts of mad adventures.
The Best of the Fest: Barbican Cinema
A roundup of LIAF 2025, where the best films as chosen by audience and industry judges are announced, awarded prizes and re-screened one final time.
Free Online Panel Discussions
LIAF presents the 2025 UK Animation Industry Event – 5 panels giving insider access to some of the hottest topics of the year. Chaired by Julian Scott, Babak Jani and Saint John Walker, with discussions covering accessibility in animation, funding, mental health, and innovation in storytelling.
Full Programme Online
View full programme online at liaf.org.uk
Tickets for in-venue screenings available from cinema box-offices.
Buy passes for online screenings
VIP PASS – £79 (access to 23 screenings and 5 talks)
CURATOR PASS – £39 (access to 8 screenings of your choice)
Single tickets for online screenings – £5