Working across traditional 2D animation, shadow puppetry, 3D and digital techniques and an ink-on-paper approach inspired by Chinese calligraphy, the artists’ work highlights the breadth of talent, technique and storytelling ambition to be found across the UK. The selected artists are:

• Ann Dinh
• Cole Morris
• Titash Sen
• Hannah Wu

Clockwise from top left to bottom right:
Ann Dinh, courtship.com (2025)
Hannah Wu, 走 (zǒu) (2025)
Titash Sen, An Archaeology of Hope (2026)
Cole Morris, My Shoes for the Blacks (2026)

As well as £3,500 in production funding, each artist will receive a carefully-tailored package of support, mentoring and guidance worth an estimated £20,000 as they work towards creating a new three-minute animation. Previous FLAMIN Animations have screened at film festivals around the world, including Annecy International Animation Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival, DOK Leipzig, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Fest Anča, Animator Poznan and the London International Animation Festival.

Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London, said:

We received more applications than ever for the fifth edition of FLAMIN Animations, and the calibre of the submissions really does showcase the startling power and imagination of the UK’s artist animators.
The selected artists’ work is fresh, exciting and thought-provoking, and we can’t wait to see where they take these new commissions.

FLAMIN Animations is run in partnership with Blinkink and Major Tom and supported by Arts Council England. The programme comes as part of Film London’s ongoing commitment to respond to the underrepresentation of Global Majority artists within the art, film, and animation industries.

*Global Majority refers to people of African, Asian, indigenous, Latin American, or mixed-heritage backgrounds

Clockwise from top left to bottom right:
Ann Dinh, Titash Sen, Hannah Wu, Cole Morris (Images courtesy of Film London)

About this year’s FLAMIN Animations cohort

Ann Dinh

Ann Dinh is a Vietnamese British illustrator and animator, currently based near London. She graduated from Manchester School of Art in 2025.

She’s drawn to stories about people and emotional pain, working through a watercolour-to-digital process that emphasises texture and atmosphere. Her practice finds the humorous and offbeat in environments, characters and their relationships, twisting the everyday into something slightly surreal.

Ann’s graduation film courtship.com (2025) has been screened internationally across festivals such as Annecy International Animation Festival, Fest Anča and the North Western Royal Television Society.

Ann’s FLAMIN Animations commission Waterproof focuses on two young Vietnamese women whose relationship becomes intimate at a swimming pool. Rather than a film about swimming, the animation explores youth, sexuality and first heartbreaks, using water and the swimming pool as motifs to navigate the emotional lives of the gay protagonists.

Cole Morris

Cole Morris is a 25-year-old neuro-diverse multi-media artist of Caribbean and British descent living in Sheffield. He uses shadow puppetry, film, illustration, sound, photography and animation to explore the black British experience through myth, histories and archive materials. Cole creates otherworldly stories from the familiar materials of paper, found objects, sound, and photography. His creative practice is rooted in experimentation and pushing the limits of these materials, driven by a fascination with early pioneers of cinema.

Cole’s recent three-channel video installation My Shoes for the Blacks (2026) was commissioned by Wentworth Woodhouse, Rotherham. His film Hunter 77: The Joe Phillips Story (2025) received the Director’s Award, Liverpool Migration Matters Festival, following its presentation at the Dig Where You Stand Biennial 2024 in Sheffield.

Cole’s FLAMIN Animations commission We meet duppies down there is based on his Jamaican grandmother’s childhood encounter with The Rolling Calf, a shapeshifting spirit that takes the form of a monstrous, chain-covered bull with fire for eyes. The film will explore the idea of hauntings as a manifestation of the collective inherited memory of the trauma of Jamaica’s violent past. Cole will create “lost” archival footage and use real first-person accounts alongside experimental shadow puppetry.

Titash Sen

Titash Sen is a multidisciplinary artist and animator with a background in journalism. Her practice is research-led, examining historical, colonial, algorithmic, or environmental systems and their effect on individual lived experiences and realities. She enjoys combining analogue with digital processes and allowing the medium to become a metaphor.

She created the visuals and animated The Big Up (2023-2025), an short film series that recovered the stories of global majority figures forgotten in British history, produced by The Big House Theatre Company. The series won two Lovie Awards for Best Film & Video (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) in 2024. Titash was a Venice Biennale Fellow in 2022.

Titash’s FLAMIN Animations commission Breather is an animated documentary about the alarmingly toxic levels of smog in Delhi every winter and the colossal failure of governance that perpetuates this crisis year after year. Illustrating a day in the life of daily wage workers, the film will present the persistence of life in unliveable conditions, as particulate matter in the city rises beyond measurable limits.

Hannah Wu

Hannah Wu is an artist and animator from London. Her work explores the cross-cultural possibilities of animation, investigating ideas around language and identity through tactile analogue processes. She is drawn to materials like ink that resist control, inviting experimentation and imperfection, whilst engaging with East Asian art traditions.

She holds an MA in Animation from the Royal College of Art. Her graduate film 走 (zǒu) has screened at festivals including Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film, Anibar International Animation Festival and Tricky Women / Tricky Realities. In March 2026, she was awarded an artist residency at MuseumsQuartier, Vienna.

For her FLAMIN Animations commission, Hannah draws on the process of writing out and learning Chinese characters to explore the role of repetition, memory and transformation across animation and language learning, working with ink on paper and analogue film.

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Film London

Helena continues to oversee film and TV inward investment into London, running landmark projects like the Production Finance Market (PFM) and overseeing the provision of locations and logistical support to major film and high-end TV projects filming in the capital.

Helena’s new role brings Film London’s talent development work within her remit, including short film and early feature development (under the BFI NETWORK aegis, which is made possible through National Lottery funding), the organisation’s series of filmmaker-focused Labs and the ongoing development of Film London’s innovative IP showcase, Upstream. This year, for the first time, PFM attendees will have full access to Upstream, offering a unique opportunity to connect with creators across film, TV, games, theatre, podcasting and publishing.

Rose will lead the Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network (FLAMIN) team, overseeing a wide range of initiatives that identify, support and raise the profile of the UK’s most exciting and innovative artist filmmakers. Her remit includes major funding and development schemes such as FLAMIN Productions, FLAMIN Animations and the FLAMIN Fellowship, as well as the annual Jarman Award – an important fixture in the contemporary art calendar. The nominees for the 2026 edition were recently announced, with Sadia Pineda Hameed, Ilona Sagar, Rhea Storr and Alia Syed all in the running for the prestigious £10,000 prize.

Maggie Ellis, the former head of FLAMIN and a Film London staffer of more than 20 years, will continue to work with Film London in a part-time, freelance capacity, providing her expertise to our various schemes. Similarly, Jordan McGarry, Film London’s former Head of Talent Development and Production for almost a decade, is now serving as Senior Creative Advisor for PFM New Talent & Upstream.

While the worlds in which they operate are admittedly very different, both Helena and Rose provide similarly vital support to their respective sectors: whether they’re working with producers on big-budget projects or helping artists develop their creative practice their expertise hinges on identifying, supporting and platforming people with great ideas who are looking to get them onto screen, and helping them overcome the challenges they meet along the way.

As well as congratulating Helena and Rose, I’d like to thank Jordan McGarry and Maggie Ellis for their hard work and dedication over the years. As the outgoing heads of Talent Development and Production and FLAMIN, Jordan and Maggie have a achieved a tremendous amount over the years, and I’m delighted that they will remain within Film London orbit on a consultancy basis.

Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London

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Geared towards early-career artists, the scheme will see successful applicants receiving £3,500 in funding to create a three-minute animation. The selected artists will also benefit from one-to-one mentorship and a series of animation masterclasses, supported by award-winning animation studio Blinkink. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 25th May 2026.

Previous FLAMIN Animations have screened at film festivals around the world, including the Annecy International Animation Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival, DOK Leipzig, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Fest Anča, Animator Poznan and the London International Animation Festival. The programme has also served as an important career stepping stone, with previous FLAMIN animators now working across a range of UK animation studios.

While the latest round of FLAMIN Animations gears up, alumni from other FLAMIN schemes will soon be showcasing their work at the London Games Festival, as part of the perennially popular event’s New Game Plus strand. Ama Dogbe, Calum Bowden, David Blandy and Clifford Sage are among the artists whose experimental, visually-arresting works encourage players to explore striking new worlds that have been thoughtfully crafted outside the realm of mainstream game design. New Game Plus runs from 16-17 April at Exhibition White City – find out more here.

Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London, said:

Every year, FLAMIN Animations snapshots some of the UK’s most exciting emerging artists working with creative approaches to animation. Whether addressing issues that are local, global or deeply personal, the stories they tell are always entirely captivating.

The scheme also highlights the reach and power of artist filmmaking. Between them, FLAMIN Animations alumni have gone on to work for animation studios and have their work exhibited internationally. This diverse range of achievements neatly demonstrates how such work can serve to inspire, challenge and provoke debate whether we enjoy it in our living rooms or a major gallery space.

FLAMIN Animations is run in partnership with Blinkink and supported by Arts Council England. The programme comes as part of Film London’s ongoing commitment to respond to the underrepresentation of Global Majority artists within the art, film, and animation industries.

Find out more and apply at filmlondon.org.uk

*people of African, Asian, indigenous, Latin American, or mixed-heritage backgrounds

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Stills via Film London

FLAMIN Animations is a commissioning programme for early-career Black and global majority* artists working with animation, organised by Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network (FLAMIN). Now in its fifth year, the programme aims to support artists as they take their first steps into a career working with the moving image, with development support and funding for a new work.

The selected FLAMIN Animators 2025-26 are:

• David Adeyemi
• Jasmine Hewitt
• Brandon Saunders
• Lysander Wong

FLAMIN Animations is run by Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network (FLAMIN), which supports artist animators as they develop a career working with the moving image. The programme responds to the underrepresentation of global majority artists within the art, film, and animation industries, and is part of Film London’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.

Clockwise from top left: Lysander Wong, David Adeyemi, Jasmine Hewitt Brandon Saunders (Images via Film London)

Blinkink is an award-winning production studio which creates shortform video content with partners in the advertising, music, gaming, fashion, and broadcast industries. Alongside the FLAMIN team, the studio will provide focused support to the selected animators through the development and production process, equipping them with the skills to develop a career in the industry.

Previous FLAMIN Animations have shown at festivals including Annecy International Animation Festival, DOK Leipzig, Edinburgh International Film Festival, London International Animation Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival, and work has also been showcased at venues including BFI Southbank, South London Gallery, FORMA, and Humber Street Gallery. Alumni from the scheme have received accolades including the prestigious Margaret Tait Commission from LUX Scotland, and had work showcased as part of the CIRCA Prize on public screens around the world. Each year, the new commissions have been showcased in London in partnership with The New Black Film Collective at TNB XPO, an event celebrating Black excellence in the screen industries.

Faye Craig, FLAMIN Animator 2024, said:

FLAMIN Animations has been a wonderful opportunity for me to enhance my practice. From the animation workshops facilitated by industry professionals to the weekly development meetings, the scheme has been nothing but supportive. It’s because of FLAMIN that I now have a mentor, connections to many studio professionals and an enriched portfolio. I’m so grateful for the guidance and direction I’ve received over the past year.

Yasmine Djedje-Fisher-Azoume, FLAMIN Animator 2023, said:

Being part of FLAMIN Animations gave me the incredible opportunity to create Dédé (Ancestor), a short experimental animated film exploring my Bété ancestry and diasporic female identity. The programme allowed me to experiment and push creative boundaries, resulting in a film that has screened at festivals around the world. This program not only facilitated the creation of this work but also affirmed the importance of supporting underrepresented voices in the animation industry. It has been instrumental in my growth as an artist and in bringing my cultural narratives to the forefront of contemporary animation.

Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London, said:

We’re delighted to announce the artists selected for this year’s FLAMIN Animations. Now in its fifth year, the programme continues to champion exciting new animators, with alumni receiving accolades and screening work at festivals and events in London and beyond. We’re pleased to continue our partnership with Blinkink, supporting emerging Black and global majority artists to build a foundation for a career in the industry, and I look forward to seeing this year’s commissions develop.

To find out more about FLAMIN Animations, visit filmlondon.org.uk

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Image via Film London

FLAMIN Animations is a commissioning programme for early-career Black and global majority* artists working with animation, organised by Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network (FLAMIN). Now in its fifth year, the programme aims to support artists as they take their first steps into a career working with the moving image, with development support and funding for a new work.

FLAMIN Animations is presented in partnership with the award winning London-based animation studio Blinkink, who will be providing focused support to the selected animators throughout the development and production process alongside the FLAMIN team.

The programme offers each artist animator:

• £3,500 to create a new 3 minute animation (includes £500 fee for additional support with animation, e.g. colour, compositing etc.)
• Development and production support and advice from the FLAMIN team
• Dedicated one-to-one mentorship from Blinkink’s roster of animation directors
• Masterclasses with animation professionals and artists organised by FLAMIN and Blinkink
• Guidance on distribution of the completed work and ongoing support as FLAMIN alumni

Previous FLAMIN Animations have been selected for festivals including London International Animation Festival, Annecy International Animation Festival, and Edinburgh International Film Festival, and work has also showcased at venues including BFI Southbank, South London Gallery, FORMA, and Humber Street Gallery. The new commissions have been showcased in partnership with The New Black Film Collective at TNB XPO, an event celebrating Black excellence in the screen industries.

The programme responds to the underrepresentation of global majority artists within the art, film, and animation industries, and is part of Film London’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

More info is available at filmlondon.org.uk/ (deadline 27 May)

*people of African, Asian, indigenous, Latin American, or mixed-heritage backgrounds

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L to R 1st row: Caroline James, Aliyah Harfoot, 2nd row: Jess Stephens, Faye Craig (Image: Film London)

The selected FLAMIN Animators 2024-25 are:

• Faye Craig
• Aliyah Harfoot
• Caroline James
• Jess Stephens

FLAMIN Animations is run by Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network (FLAMIN), which supports artist animators as they develop a career working with the moving image. The programme responds to the underrepresentation of Black artists within the art, film, and animation industries, and is part of Film London’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.

Blinkink is an award-winning production studio that creates short-form video content for the advertising, music, gaming, and fashion industries. They have worked with some of the world’s biggest commercial brands, including Loewe, Nike, Amazon Music, and Spotify, as well as musical artists like Elton John, Dua Lipa, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Drake, and Iron Maiden. Their long-form division has also produced content for major platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max. Alongside the FLAMIN team, the studio will provide focused support to selected animators through the development and production process, equipping them with the skills to develop a career in the industry.

Previous FLAMIN Animators have shown work at festivals including London International Animation Festival, B3 Biennial of the Moving Image (Frankfurt), and Edinburgh International Film Festival. Alumni from the scheme have received accolades including the prestigious Margaret Tait Commission from LUX Scotland, and had work showcased as part of the CIRCA Prize on public screens around the world. Each year, the new commissions have been showcased in London in partnership with The New Black Film Collective at TNB XPO, an event celebrating Black excellence in the screen industries.

Gisela Mulindwa, FLAMIN Animator 2023, said:

FLAMIN Animations has enabled me to deeply explore themes that are important to me without judgement. I was free to experiment while refining the techniques that excite me in animation, and support from FLAMIN gave me the opportunity to work with archives, which was a really interesting new experience for me. Having the space to discuss my ideas with the FLAMIN team helped me to push the film further and develop my practice – I am excited to see where I can take it next!

As well as receiving £3,000 to create a new 2-3 minute animation, each artist will participate in a bespoke workshop programme with Film London’s FLAMIN Team, Blinkink and animation professionals in the art and film industries.

Adrian Wootton, OBE, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said:

We’re thrilled to announce the artists selected for this year’s FLAMIN Animations programme. The scheme is continuing to champion underrepresented talent with an exciting new group of animators, who this year will receive the inspirational support of Blinkink to realise their creative visions and build the foundations for a career in the industry. We’re more excited than ever to see this year’s commissions develop, and hope that FLAMIN Animations will continue to support a network of emerging Black artists in the animation sector.

Josef Byrne, Executive Producer, Blinkink, said:

We’re incredibly proud of the opportunity to contribute to FLAMIN Animations, an outstanding Film London initiative that champions diversity and equity within the animation industry. We can’t wait to see the finished films from this year’s cohort.

To find out more about FLAMIN Animations, visit filmlondon.org.uk

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L-R: Yasmine Djedje-Fisher-Azoume, Gisela Mulindwa, Folake Fadojutimi, Duncan Senkumba (Image courtesy of Film London)

The selected FLAMIN Animators 2023-24 are:

Yasmine Djedje-Fisher-Azoume

Yasmine Djedje-Fisher-Azoume is a freelance animator based in London, currently working as a producer at an independent animation studio. Her animation work is typically a blend of digitally drawn 2D animation, traditional paper animation and analogue techniques, and draws thematic and aesthetic influences principally from her West African (Ivorian) heritage. African wood carvings, bronze sculptures and ceremonial relics, the textures and colours of textiles and traditional dress are all foundational sources that have informed the evolving direction of her practice.

Djedje-Fisher-Azoume recently developed a short animated film as part of RAFTS (2023), a collaboration with the Turner Prize shortlisted artist Rory Pilgrim. In 2021, she was commissioned by the V&A to produce a new animation as part of the Alice: Curioser and Curioser exhibition.

Inspired by research on my work ‘Untitled’ my project will explore themes of femininity in Ivorian tribal fertility carvings and sculptures. Reinterpreted through both modern and traditional methods, I would like to use a range of approaches, including charcoal, screen printing and linocut. The work will incorporate references to traditional bronze statues by drawing and scratching into copper sheets.

Folake Fadojutimi

Folake Fadojutimi is an artist and animator based in East London, who creates meticulously hand-drawn digital worlds that explore urgent issues around the effect of media and technology on our contemporary world. During her Master’s degree in Digital Media Image Making at Goldsmiths University of London, she explored the cultural history of ‘rubber-hose’ animation and its entanglement with the exploitation and misrepresentation of the Black body.

This research informed her short film Paper Boat on the Orchestra’s Plight (2022). Her most recent work, Hive Mentality (2022), is a dystopian exploration of the ways by which social media has constricted the possibility of independent thought.

Entitled Feed me and I will be the better you, this animation will explore AI and the fear of its potential, the fear of not knowing and yet wanting to know more of what AI is capable of. Despite all, the progression of development into AI continues.

Gisela Mulindwa

Gisela Mulindwa is an experimental animator and visual artist based in London. A graduate in Animation from Edinburgh College of Art, her practice takes an experimental mixed media approach to animation, working between stop motion, collage, paint and analogue film to create dense and complex textures. She challenges social expectations around identity to unravel the relationship between self, other and the unconscious, revealing a world shaped by magical realism.

Mulindwa’s work has screened at festivals including the Edinburgh International Film Festival and Tricky Women Animation Festival, and she was commissioned to produce animations for the AKO Caine Prize for African Writing in 2021 and 2022. Committed to challenging audience expectations of what animation can be, her work as an animator has led to theatre commissions, developing moving image alongside theatre design in projects at Theatre Peckham and Vault Festival.

Using real conversation taken from interviews with local people, this experimental animated documentary will explore how everyday spaces affect our subconscious. Growing up and living in South London, I have seen upsetting and fast changes. The people who built these communities have been pushed out and ignored. Working experimentally, I would like to use animation as a way to create a constantly changing space, while we go on a journey through these different stories.

Duncan Senkumba

Duncan Senkumba is inspired by the African art he grew up with in the urban environment of Kampala. His work is characterised by fluid motion, with silhouettes that morph and shift through colourful landscapes. His work documents what he describes as ‘the African experience’ to explore identity, family and cultural taboos. Since graduating with an MA in Animation from the Royal College of Art, his work has been shown at festivals including the London International Animation Festival, the Africa International Film Festival (Lagos) and Encounters Festival (Bristol), and he has received commercial commissions from clients including the BBC and the University of California Press.

This short film dives into what it means to be part of a diaspora. It will explore the conflicting feelings of peace and disconnect when you visit your homeland; not knowing your own language; and the experience of being caught between two cultures.

FLAMIN Animations is run by Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network (FLAMIN), which supports artist animators as they develop a career working with the moving image. The programme responds to the underrepresentation of Black artists within the art, film, and animation industries, and is part of Film London’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.

Previous FLAMIN Animators have gone on to showcase their work on the Piccadilly Lights as part of the CIRCA x Dazed Class of 2022, in Frankfurt at the B3 Biennial of the Moving Image, at the London International Animation Festival and at London’s Picturehouse Central and Rich Mix as part of the New Black Film Collective’s TNB XPO.

Lamide Olusegun, FLAMIN Animator 2022, said:

Being on the FLAMIN Animations programme helped me push myself to produce my most ambitious film to date, encouraging me to experiment with my animation style and push my work to the next level. It was also fantastic to be able to network with other creatives/animators who took an interest in my work. The experience has helped me to forge new connections and find work in Film and TV.

As well as receiving £3,000 to create a new 2-3 minute animation, each artist will be offered bespoke mentoring and development support from Film London’s FLAMIN Team and animation professionals in the art and film industries.

Adrian Wootton, OBE, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said:

We’re thrilled to announce the animators selected for this year’s FLAMIN Animations programme. Chosen from a high calibre of applications, each artist has a distinctive approach to the medium, including digital drawing, stop motion, and hand painted frame-by-frame animation. We’re excited to see this year’s commissions come to life and hope that FLAMIN Animations will continue to support Black practitioners within the art, film and animation industries by creating a network of emerging artists and professionals.’

*Artists and Creatives of African or Caribbean Descent, Black African, Caribbean, Afro-Latinx and African-American heritage, including those of mixed-Black heritage who identify as such.

To find out more about FLAMIN Animations, visit filmlondon.org.uk/flamin/flamin-animations

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Top left to bottom right: Isabel Barfod, Ruby Stoyle [ADORABAEL], Lamide Olusegun, Laina Deene (Image courtesy of Film London)

Part of FLAMIN (Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network), FLAMIN Animations is a commissioning programme for early-career black-identifying* artist animators living in the UK. The programme comes as part of Film London’s ongoing commitment to diversity and equality.

Isabel Barfod, Laina Deene, Lamide Olusegun and Ruby Stoyle screened their new films after receiving funding, development support and bespoke mentoring during the second round of FLAMIN Animations. Also including work by Toby Cato from the inaugural commissioning year, the animation showcase is part of an ongoing partnership established in 2021 with TNB XPO, an event that celebrates black excellence in the screen industries. It follows on from the success of FLAMIN Animations’ previous commissions which have screened at festivals and events including the B3 Biennial of the Moving Image, Frankfurt and at London International Animation Film Festival.

Applications for the third round of FLAMIN Animations are now open until 22 May 2023. The programme will support selected artist animators with a £3,000 funding award to create a 2–3 minute animation, as well as advice and bespoke mentoring opportunities from the FLAMIN team and a series of workshops led by animation specialists such as artists Osbert Parker, Maybelle Peters and Edwin Rostron; Clive Olamiju, Head of Business Development, Commercials & Gaming at Blinkink; and Director of Animate Projects, Abigail Addison.

Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said:

I’m delighted to see FLAMIN Animations continue to champion emerging black-identifying artist animators and support their visionary ideas and approaches to animation. It’s great to see the work of Isabel, Laina, Lamide, Ruby and Toby showcased at this year’s TNB XPO. Their commissioned animations demonstrate the exciting potential of next-generation creative talent in the UK, further emphasising why we must maintain our support for emerging artists creating such innovative work.

We can’t wait to see this cohort of FLAMIN animators continue to find success working with the moving image, and we are thrilled to announce a third round of the programme to reach more new talent. I would like to thank Arts Council England for their invaluable support for the programme.

The artist animators showcasing their work at today’s TNB XPO were selected from a high calibre of applicants. Ranging from claymation and modelling, to hand-drawn and digital animation, these new films use both traditional and non-traditional animation techniques to tell stories that celebrate the expressive possibilities of the medium.

Isabel Barfod’s A Float explores subtle modes of refusal as a Black Queer swimmer in a hostile environment. Set in a Victorian-era public swimming pool, A Float follows our protagonist as they access alternate realities, speculated futures and enact small acts of revenge. Earlier this month, Isabel was announced as the recipient of the 2023 Margaret Tait Commission from LUX Scotland. With this £20,000 funding award, Isabel will build on themes explored through her FLAMIN Animations commission.

Isabel Barfod said:

The FLAMIN Animations program has offered great mentorship both internally as well as externally with guest animator workshops. The visibility of this award has been a catalyst for other opportunities for me. It has also just been excellent to connect and get to know other Black animators throughout this process.

Laina Deene’s FLAMIN Animations commission creates a digitally animated and hand-drawn portrait of the desert-like landscape of Dungeness, on the east coast of Kent. Tender Wasteland uses frame-by-frame animation techniques to capture the area’s natural ecology and industrial past.

Lamide Olusegun’s Cereal Box is a surreal animation of a young boy who dives into the magical world of a cereal box, which comes to life through stop-motion claymation, creative set design and modelling. Lamide produced Cereal Box with the support of the award-winning animation studio Blinkink, with whom he has developed a strong working relationship.

Ruby Stoyle – aka ADORABAEL – has developed her CGI-based practice with the support of FLAMIN Animations to create Mixed Signals. Through a series of evocative images, the film transports us into the interior world of a female protagonist who grapples with her overwhelming feelings and emotions when she receives an ambiguous text from an ex-partner.

*Artists and Creatives of African or Caribbean descent, Black African, Caribbean, Afro-Latinx and African-American heritage, including those of mixed-Black heritage who identify as such.

To find out more about FLAMIN Animations, the 2022-23 artists and watch clips of the commissioned animations visit https://filmlondon.org.uk/flamin/flamin-animations/flamin-animations-2022-2023

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Part of FLAMIN (Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network), and as part of Film London’s increased commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, the programme aims to support artist animators aged 18-25 as they take their first steps into a career working with the moving image, providing development support, bespoke mentoring and £2,500 to create a new 1-3 minute animation.

L-R: Work by Toby Cato, Mothy Muyobo, Ezra Myers and Zainab Sanyang

Chosen from a high calibre of applications, the selected artists follow both non-traditional and traditional animation routes to making work, using and combining techniques ranging across photography, hand-drawn, collage and digital to explore identity and heritage, social structure and lived experience. Past works have included the creation of dream-like realities, fusing animation with experimental music, reflecting upon historical events and simply capturing the everyday world around us.

The four artist animators selected for FLAMIN Animations are:

• Toby Cato
• Mothy Muyobo
• Ezra Myers
• Zainab Sanyang

The four new animation commissions will premiere on the Film London website in winter 2021 and the artist animators will receive support in gaining further exposure for their work.

L-R: Work by Toby Cato, Zainab Sanyang, Ezra Myers and Mothy Muyobo

We’re delighted to announce the four artist animators selected for the first-ever FLAMIN Animations programme. Toby, Mothy, Ezra and Zainab brilliantly explore crucial issues through bold and innovative work, and we look forward to showcasing the content they create later this year. This programme is a considered acknowledgement of the underrepresentation of black-identifying artists within the art, film, and animation industries and we hope that it creates a network of next-generation artists – not only for those commissioned, but for all who applied – spotlighting the incredible skills the country has to offer within the ever-growing animation sector.

-Adrian Wootton, OBE (Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission)

*Artists and Creatives of African or Caribbean Descent
Black African, Caribbean, Afro-Latinx and African-American heritage, including those of mixed-Black heritage who identify as such.

To find out more about FLAMIN Animations, visit https://filmlondon.org.uk and see artist bios below.

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