Each year we search for the finest panel of judges: educators, independent animators, producers, authors, curators and more. All are experts in their field and all possess an informed and exploratory eye for excellence in the animation world. This year we are honoured to welcome the following judges.
International Competition Programme and British Showcase Judges
Alex Dudok de Wit
Alex is a critic and programmer who has been writing about animation for over a decade. Formerly Deputy Editor at Cartoon Brew, he has also contributed to publications such as Sight & Sound, Little White Lies, Vulture, Blink Blank and the BBC, among others. His book BFI Film Classics: Grave of the Fireflies was published by Bloomsbury in 2021, and his translation of Hayao Miyazaki’s graphic novel Shuna’s Journey (First Second, 2022) became a New York Times bestseller and won an Eisner Award in 2023. He is the animation consultant for the Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes, and writes a Substack newsletter on animation, Move Madly.
Mary Martins
Mary is a British-Nigerian animator from London. Her animations work across the genres of documentary and 16mm experimental film, often combining the two to produce multi layered and mixed media documentaries that focus on socially engaged themes. She has worked with communities in Nigeria, Brazil and the UK, using animation to represent the lived experiences and stories of those from underrepresented groups.
Hannah Lau-Walker
Hannah is an Animation Director with Nexus Studios, and as the founder of She Drew That, is a champion of diversity in the industry, leading initiatives to mentor, support and empower women in animation. Known for her ability to infuse charm, humour, and warmth into her work, she has over fourteen years of experience in the commercial animation industry. Her award-winning short film Yeah, I’m good thanks has featured in 28 international festivals. She has presented at and hosted festivals and been a member of juries including BAFTA Cymru, British Animation Awards, The Young Animator of the Year, and Latin America Design Awards.
Abstract Showcase Competition Judges
Jon Gillie
Jon is an artist living in England and his current practice is focused on experimental animation. His work has been screened around the world in venues such as Moma PS1, Whitechapel Gallery, McEvoy Foundation for the Arts and Krupa Art Foundation. Working with digital and analogue material, his current animation practice focuses on the figure with a particular interest in approaches to abstraction. Jon has been presented with awards from London International Animation Festival and Punto y Raya for his work in animation.
Beth Walker
Beth is a filmmaker, visual artist and researcher. Her work spans short films, projection installations and live visual performance. With a process-led approach, Beth combines material and digital processes to create bold, abstract visuals. She draws on a variety of experimental animation techniques, often working with organic or reactive materials at macroscale. Beth’s work has been shown in galleries, clubs and film festivals in the UK and internationally. She holds an MA in Animation from the Royal College of Art, with her graduation film Beneath premiering at LIAF before being selected for Annecy International Animation Festival. Beth is currently completing a PhD in Lisbon, researching the transformative potential of projected visuals in natural environments.
Late Night Bizarre and Music Video Judges
Conor Kehelly
Conor is a multidisciplinary animator from Belfast, Northern Ireland. As well as an animator, he is a classically trained double-bassist and music producer, usually creating music for his independently funded short films. His latest award winning indie film, The Final Nail In The Coffin (2023) has recently finished the festival circuit after featuring in over 35 festivals, in which he wrote, animated, voiced and scored himself. It also won the Late Night Bizarre award last year at LIAF. He is currently a lead animator for Scriberia in London, having worked there for over five years. His work has been described as playful, dark, textural and scattershot.
Paolo Chianta
Paolo is a Scottish writer and filmmaker based in London. His biro-drawn animated short films have been selected for festivals including Slamdance, London Short Film Festival, Vienna Shorts and DOK Leipzig, and his latest film, The Role, will screen before new features across Scotland in 2024/25 as part of the Shorts in Support programme. He was commissioned to produce animation for the upcoming Arts Council of Ireland-funded feature film Perennial Light, and his original dramas have aired on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4.
Children’s Competition Judge
Lilith Silver
Lilith has been judging the LIAF Children’s films for 12 years and is now a seasoned veteran at the ripe old age of 17. Her current 3 favourite films are: Whale Rider (2002), The Exorcist (1973), Deliverance (1972).
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