– Scotland has lately been establishing itself as a premier spot for cinema.
– A host of animation-focused events and festivals are slated to take place across the country in February.
– These include the Manipulate Festival (12 – 15 February, in Edinburgh), MOVE SUMMIT (19 – 21 February, also in Edinburgh), and offerings at the Glasgow Film Theatre.
– These events reflect an increased recognition and celebration of animation in Scotland.
Brace Yourselves: Scotland’s Animation Invasion is Here
February Flicks: A Celebration of Cinematic Creativity
Scotland has always been known for its kilts, bagpipes, haggis, and now – brace yourselves – 3D animation! Looks like the bigwigs at Pixar might have to move over – there’s a wee new player in the animation game. Throughout February, the Scots are taking a break from tossing cabers and honing their William Wallace impressions to host a lineup of flipping-awesome animation-heavy festivals.
Happening Highlights: The Best of Scottish Animation in February
Starting with the Manipulate Festival, where reality is manipulated quicker than a politician’s promise during elections. Then switching gear to the MOVE SUMMIT, which promises to be more exciting and awe-inspiring than a surprise haggis meal at your fav Edinburgh pub. Let’s not forget the Glasgow Film Theatre, which will be showcasing animated films so good, they’ll make you exclaim “Nae bad!” in true Scottish style.
In conclusion, grab your tartan blankets and buckle up, because February promises a wild ride through the illustrious landscape of Scottish animation. And indeed, the post-festival water-cooler conversations will be anything but “dreich”. Keep a close eye on Scotland; they might just be putting the “aye” in animation before you know it!
February is set to be a fantastic month in the world of animation, with exciting events taking place across Scotland such as the eagerly-awaited Manipulate Festival (12 – 15 February, Edinburgh), MOVE SUMMIT (19 – 21 February, Edinburgh), Glasgow Film Theatre and Glasgow Film Festival (26 February – 9 March, Glasgow). Additionally, various animation-related affairs are happening at Dundee Contemporary Arts and Skye Community Cinema.
Spotlight on Manipulate Festival
Kicking off its 18th season, the Manipulate Festival — an annual tribute to exemplary international and UK animations, puppetry, and visual theatre — will dominate Edinburgh’s art scene with an impressive lineup of short films, feature films, Open Studios, live works and installations, and workshops. All these from February 12th to the 15th, across some of the city’s beloved arts venues.
The animation segment of the festival boasts an array of screenings including the inaugural stop-motion animation showcased in the Cannes Film Festival back in 2009 – “A Town Called Panic”. Plus, three specially curated international shorts, fittingly themed “La Fantasmagorie” to the Future, On the Edge, and Queer Stories. Of course, the fan favorite “One Bum Cinema Club” will be making its glorious comeback this year in an eight-week tour of Edinburgh libraries.
The MOVE Summit: A Must-Attend Event
Alongside the Manipulate Festival comes the MOVE Summit 2025. Occurring from February 19th to the 21st at The Pleasance in Edinburgh, this summit is a must for anyone vested in the UK’s animation/CGI industry. Spanning multiple sectors from 2D & 3D artistry to VFX and AR / VR while covering various media like film, television, advertising, and games.
Glasgow Film Theatre: A Tour de Force of Animation
For lovers of independent cinema, the Glasgow Film Theatre has got you covered with two of Adam Elliot’s Oscar-winning animations. They’re playing from February 14th up until February 20th. The critically acclaimed “Memoir of a Snail” —a darling in the 2025 Oscar’s Best Animated Feature Film category— is one of the features.
The Glasgow Film Festival Showcases Local Talent
Running from February 26th to March 9th, the Glasgow Film Festival is set to spark intrigue with its talent development scheme, “Animatic”. It’s a core industry initiative that offers support to Scotland-based creatives and studios in efforts to cultivate their animation ideas towards targeting an international audience.
Animation Excellence in Dundee and Skye
Apart from the big cities, Dundee’s Contemporary Arts and the Skye Community Cinema in the Isle of Skye will also take part in this animation celebration. Here, award-winning animations will be screened for audiences of all ages. This just goes to show Scotland’s film industry is thriving from one corner to another.
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/scotland-february-events/