After a mix up with the wrong version of my film screening at a previous festival, I had stepped back from submitting for a while; I also couldn't afford to travel to most festivals and so focused on just making money for a bit! However, after a year I started submitting to festivals again, and attended my first film festival (that my film was screening at) since Manchester! Screening my grad film Dead Red Kite, it was lovely seeing my film screen among such great films (it was honestly a little intimidating!).

Honestly my favourite festival to date. Kate who runs it is amazing, and created a very artist focused space. Felt far more focused on connecting people with a shared love for animation, rather than a networking job fair with a film screening attached (no shade just that's what lots of festivals are). This was different and I loved it. If more festivals were like this, animation would be in a much better place.

I had a wonderful evening in Belfast watching my film Dead Red Kite alongside other young filmmakers! The film To The Brink was especially a highlight, a very weird stop motion film with lots of singing and blood. I think it won Best Animation that night!

Got a chance to grab a drink with some of the other filmmakers afterwards, and got to know some really amazing filmmakers with amazing personal stories within their work.