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, sculpture, cut outs, puppets, abstract to some of the more interesting developments in CGI – all of which can be seen at this year’s LIAF.

We’ve emerged from under the pile of 2,700 entries to put together a series of screenings that showcase the best 97 new films from every corner of the world. They can be funny, dramatic, bizarre, subdued, scary or autobiographical. The one thing they have in common is that we think they’re the pick of the crop.

Eight international competition programmes plus our ever-popular British Showcase. Every technique, every genre, every style – this is your annual window into the international indie animation universe.

This programme examines some big life moments as seen by a migrating goose reflecting on how he met his lovely wife, two delightful children speaking freely about their thoughts and fears, a young woman recounting her quest for perfection and happiness, and festival favourite Niki Lindroth von Bahr’s animal-sung songs of existential suffering.

A livestreamed Screen Talk will follow the screening with filmmakers: Bernardo Britto, Patrick Smith & John C Kelley.

Recommended age 15+