The London International Animation Festival proudly showcases the whole spectrum of independent creative animation, showing that animation is for everyone.

Founded in 2003, LIAF aims to dispel the popular misconception that animation is just cartoons for kids by screening the broadest possible range of intelligent, entertaining and provocative current films on offer from all around the world as well as retrospectives and specialised sessions from countries and animators who don't normally elicit such attention.

Our annual 10-day Festival includes gala premieres, retrospectives, Q&A's with renowned filmmakers, workshops, audience voting, and the Best of the Festival screening. LIAF has grown to become much more than an annual Festival – we are programming more events, tours, screenings and masterclasses all year-round to as many cities and countries that invite us.

Best International Film - cash award/prize
Best British Film - cash award/prize
Best Childrens Films - 2 x cash awards/2 x prizes
Best abstract film - prize
Best Sound Design - prize
Best music score - prize
Best Late Night Bizarre film - prize
Best music video - prize

The London International Animation Festival is one of the largest animation festivals in the world. We usually screen around 300 films each year in competitive, student, curated and retrospective programmes. LIAF also generates a smaller touring programme around the UK. When you enter your film to LIAF it is automatically considered for the tour as well, although we will send you separate invitations if we wish to screen your film outside of the festival.

There is a small administrative fee of £10 per film (if entered by May 31) or £15 (if entered after June 1). Payment can be made via PayPal to info@liaf.org.uk. If you do not have a PayPal account, signing up is easy via the Paypal website.

To be considered eligible for selection in LIAF 2024, your film should have been completed AFTER 1 January 2023. The Festival Director reserves the right to grant exceptions to this criteria in exceptional circumstances.

To be accepted for selection, your entry must arrive in a format that can be viewed by pre-selectors and the jury members. Please load your film to Vimeo or YouTube and provide a link and (if applicable) password.

Pre-selection decisions regarding all entries are made by the Festival Director, relevant advisors and a pre-selection committee. The selection process will be made by October 2024. All selected films will receive a formal invitation from the Festival Director. All unsuccessful films will receive notification via email.

The screening order of each programme and the programme in which each film is screened will be at the sole discretion of the Festival Director. All submission materials will be retained by LIAF for use in our archive – for reference in programming other screenings and events.

LIAF prefers to screen from DCP, H264 or Apple ProRes digital files. Please email a TESTED copy of your film to info@liaf.org.uk via WeTransfer or another file transferring programme.

If your film exists on DCP we are happy to screen from this format but we require a HD quality (at least 720p) digital back-up copy as well. All DCPs should be open and NOT require a KDM.

LIAF does not generally screen 16mm or 35mm film prints in competition however the Festival Director reserves the right to grant exemptions in exceptional circumstances and these will be considered on a case by case basis as part of the formal invitation process. Please advise the Festival Director at that time if screening from a 35mm print is an option.
All screening material must be in London by 1 October 2024.

Overall Rating
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Value
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Hospitality
Networking
  • Anna Tőkés

    I really enjoyed attending LIAF in person! It was a dream come true! I enjoyed the screenings very much and think that the curation of the programmes are very clever. I love that they use themes for every programme. I am also very thankful my film had a spot in the "Being Humans" screening! The organizers and the volunteers were super-super welcoming and all the venues are beautiful and special.

    December 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for your kind words Anna. We loved having you as a guest and screening your wonderful film to our audience.

  • Toni Mitjanit

    Very happy my abstract film Dawn & Dusk was part of this amazing festival.

    December 2024
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Toni. It was a pleasure for us to be able to screen your film.

  • It's been a few years that i've had work at LIAF and i always love it. I went to it as a student and now as a film maker and i always enjoy the atmosphere and the curation of the films. Great team and a good time!

    December 2023
  • I attended London International Film Festival virtually (we had intended to travel to London, but had an illness in the family prevented the trip). I felt that my film looked great in the lineup, and the curation was excellent. The festival organizer did an awesome job with communication leading up to the event, and my partner and I hosted a nice screening from home. I hope to travel to London for this festival someday, as it seemed like everyone in attendance was having a great time! -Anne Beal, director, 'Sixteen Kings' Daughters'

    June 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks Anne and we hope to see you in person one day at one of our future festivals - Nag (Director, LIAF)

  • Brilliant Festival with a lovely community spirit. So pleased I got to be a part of it!

    May 2023