With this edition of Figures in Focus, the title ‘Skin Shows’ is a nod to Jack Halberstam’s excellent 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. Come delight at the myriad ways in which these animators lay bare sexuality, queerness and the body on screen.
The screening will be followed with a discussion with a few of the featured filmmakers, including May Kindred Boothby, Lizzie Watts, and Dr Laura-Beth Cowley.
Figures in Focus was devised in 2017 in recognition of the under-representation of female and non-binary animators and their stories within the independent animation sector. The programme spotlights some of the incredible work crafted by contemporary animators, both in the UK and internationally.
This programme will be open captioned including live-captioning for the Screentalk.
Content warning: Nudity, graphic sexual imagery, sexual assault, violence, blood, death, animal cruelty, vomiting, eating disorders, anxiety, needles, flashing imagery.
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Speakers
Abigail Addison
Abigail is a Producer and is co-director of Animate Projects whose mission is to support artists to experiment, collaborate and produce bold animation projects. Her productions include And Granny Would Dance with Maryam Mohajer, whose awards include the Grand Prize for Best Short Animation at Flickers’ Rhode Island IFF, and the Oscar longlisted The Debutante by Elizabeth Hobbs. She has been programming Figures in Focus at the London International Animation Festival since 2017.
May Kindred-Boothby
May is a 2D hand-drawn animation artist and director based in Bristol. She worked as a freelance animator for 8 years before completing her Masters in Animation at the RCA, where she completed her first directorial short The Eating of an Orange. Her new work focuses on surreal explorations of sexuality and convention told through a colourful and painterly hand drawn style.
Laura-Beth Cowley
Laura-Beth is a freelance animator and writer based in Bristol. Her work often centres around misunderstood characters and the people around them. She has worked as a freelance filmmaker, animator, model maker and journalist for several years. She is also Lecturer at UAL: Central Saint Martins MA in Character Animation, as well guest lecturing at other universities. She recently co-authored a book called ‘Intimate Animation’ about the depiction of love, sex and relationships in the animated form.
Lizzie Watts
Lizzie is a director and artist. She studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths College and Directing Animation at the National Film and Television School. Lizzie’s work embraces a unique and expressive style which combines an experimental approach to 3D software and 2D animation. Her films often intersect the mundane with the supernatural and she uses dark comedy as a tool to explore social power dynamics and political themes.
La Fée des Roberts (The Boob Fairy) – Léahn Vivier-Chapas, France
Who will best play her part: the dancing lioness or the little girl we attempt to tame? Only the Boob Fairy will know who is really worthy of her attention.
2021 14’00 min
This film is not included in our online programme
The Eating of an Orange – May Kindred-Boothby, UK
A woman living in a world of strict conformity is given an orange. She has never seen an orange. Through her sensual exploration of the fruit she unlocks a luscious realm of orgasmic juice and copulating slugs. But will she follow her desires, or will convention win?
2024 7’00 min
Hairy Legs – Andrea Dorfman, Canada
Questioning why she “has to” shave her hairy legs launches one 13-year-old girl on a journey of self-discovery.
2024 17’00 min
The Gift – Laura-Beth Cowley, UK
Witchcraft, menstruation and the power we hold within. Influenced by a mix of cultural bad luck tropes associated with menstruation. If we take these superstitions as truths, why can’t they be seen as a form of magic themselves?
2019 3’00 min
This film is not included in our online programme
Gakjil (Persona) – Sujin Moon, South Korea
The process of being encroached by the persona.
2022 6’00 min
This film is not included in our online programme
Summer’s Puke is Winter’s Delight – Sawako Kabuki, Japan
Even painful events from the past eventually become memories with time. But still, we vomit again — and eat again. Life is ecological.
2016 3’00 min
Glazing – Lilli Carré, USA
An animation of the female nude, embodying all of her forms throughout the history of art. Her body twists and gnarls itself into these static poses, but she cannot be contained. In perpetual motion, she is released from her form and allowed to finally stare back at us.
2021 2’00 min
Fried! – Lizzie Watts, UK
As Dev drives home from a mysterious, ageing nuclear facility, he becomes stranded at an isolated emu farm run by old mystic lesbians. Suspicious of their intentions, Dev fears they will sacrifice him at the local stone circle.
2025 9’55 min
This film is not included in our online programme
Y – Matea Kovač, Croatia
An empty paper depicts a struggle between artistic composition and decomposition as the voice of the narrator-protagonist reminisces about her tumultuous relationship with a former girlfriend.
2023 7’00 min
This film is not included in our online programme
upside mimi mimi down – Rachel MacLean, UK
Mimi is a darkly arch character for our generation who invites us into the topsy-turvy world of end-game capitalism; a 21st century fairy-tale about consumerist desire.
2025 7’40 min
Our Funding Partners
With Special Thanks to The Elf Factory, official sponsor of LIAF 2025.
Event supported by Film Hub London, managed by Film London. Proud to be a partner of the BFI Film Audience Network, funded by the National Lottery.
Venue
The Barbican is Europe’s largest multi-arts and conference venue presenting a diverse range of art, music, theatre, dance, film and education events. For more information about The Barbican and how to get there, find out more.
Barbican, Online
