Ever wonder how your favorite animated worlds begin? Join a crew of brilliant animators as they share how storyboarding sparks their ideas, shapes their stories, and brings their creations to life – one sketch at a time.
LIAF presents the 2025 UK Animation Industry Event – 5 panels giving insider access to some of the hottest topics of the year. We’ve gathered together some of the most passionate, honest and insightful experts from a wide range of different areas and backgrounds who are ready to cover all manner of vital topics to give you much food for thought.
Animation doesn’t stand still; and debates and discussions with animators and creative experts are the best way to get in touch with what’s happening. The panels will be chaired by Saint John Walker, Postgraduate Media Programme Leader, University of Hertfordshire, Julian Scott, animation consultant at Film London and Babak Jani, Head of Skills at Film London.
For anyone currently working in the film and animation industry, thinking of working in the industry or just plain curious, these 5 talks are indispensable. They are free to everyone and take place live and online on our streaming platform over the 2 days of Saturday December 6 and Sunday December 7.
HUGE SAVINGS WITH OUR ONLINE CURATOR AND VIP PASSES!
Panellists
Moderator: Babak Jani, Head of Skills at Film London
Babak Jani known as Babi is a former academic and a cinematographer with experience across film, TV, commercials, animation, and games.
Experienced in the creative industry and passionate about education, Babi is enterprising in equality and diversity programmes. In a time when investing in creative skills is paramount for our industry’s growth, Babi, with a foundation in the film industry, has honed his craft for over 18 years. His journey was augmented with 11 years of experience in Higher and Further education and training programmes, supplementing his understanding of creativity’s elaborateness.
By recognising equality and diversity as the principal of his practice, Babi has led transformative initiatives. He acknowledges that the vibrant tapestry of backgrounds and perspectives fuels innovation. Amidst this pivotal moment, he is committed to fortifying existing efforts and pioneering fresh avenues for inclusive growth.
Babi fosters collaboration and innovations as our creative industries evolve to shape creative skills and cultivate a community that thrives on openness, where creative minds can flourish.
Chris Shepherd
Chris is a multi award-winning director, writer and producer. He is mainly known for combining live action with animation. His work fuses comedy with commentary on the darker side of human nature. He is co-founder of London animation company Slinky Pictures with producer Maria Manton, and has directed short films, commercials and comedy series including a ten-part series for Channel 4 called People’s Britain and his acclaimed shorts Dad’s Dead, Brexicuted and Who I Am and What I Want amongst many others. In 2016 he won Best British Film at LIAF for Johnno’s Dead. He’s recently published his first graphic novel called Anfield Road.
Ellie Land
Ellie Land is a BAFTA long listed Animation Director and Immersive Content Director who creates beautiful narrative driven content that challenges audiences to see the world differently. Creating for film, TV and digital platforms as well as Immersive VR and site specific installation. Her award-winning animated documentary films have screened internationally at over 170 film festivals and exhibitions such as NYC Docs, Fantoche Switzerland, Art Science Daejeon South Korea, Imagine Science Festival New York, Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film, London BFI Film Festival. Her BFI animated Documentary Plunge is currently screening at BAFTA qualifying film festivals and she developing Plunge for VR with TYKE films. Plunge VR was selected for IDFA Forum 2022. Her contributions to the feature film Irene’s Ghost was nominated for a BIFA Award in 2018 and was cited as one of the best films of 2019 by the Guardian. Bathroom Privileges Co- Directed with Rupert Williams, for the BFI won the AHRC Research in Film (Animation) Award 2020.
Rory Waudby-Tolley
Rory is an award-winning writer, director and animator from London. His RCA graduation film Mr Madila won prizes at Palm Springs, Flickerfest, and the Royal Television Society, amongst others. Two new Mr Madila shorts were later commissioned by Adult Swim. His film Powerwash (I Love You) won the best comedy award at the London Short Film Festival 2021 and he has just completed a new short I Have A. As a writer he is repped at B-Side and is developing several projects for TV. He is an associate lecturer of animation at the Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martins.
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.
Online
