The Melbourne International Animation Festival is back from 17 to 24 May, marking its 26th year with a sprawling program that once again pushes animation well beyond the expected. Across eight days, the festival delivers 46 sessions and more than 200 films, spanning everything from sharp local shorts to experimental international works that lean into the weird, the abstract and the unforgettable.
Long known for championing animation outside the mainstream, MIAF continues to carve out a space for bold storytelling and unconventional techniques. This year’s program dives deep into surreal visual journeys and character-driven oddities, alongside the return of the Late Night Bizarre sessions, a cult favourite that showcases the medium at its most unhinged.
Opening night sets a distinctly local tone, with the Australian Student Showcase giving emerging animators a national platform before the Australian Showcase highlights the depth and inventiveness of the homegrown scene. It is a strong reminder that some of the most exciting animation talent is being developed right here.
Beyond the screenings, audiences can step inside the creative process through Meet the Filmmakers sessions, offering insight into the craft behind these intricate works and the ideas that drive them.
At the heart of the festival sits the international competition, a rotating lineup of themed screenings spotlighting standout animation from across the globe. Programs like the Abstract Showcase and Character Studies explore the edges of form and storytelling, where animation thrives.
A major highlight this year is a retrospective dedicated to Izabela Plucińska, whose tactile, emotionally rich claymation work will be showcased in a special session on 24 May.
The festival also introduces the Festivals Animation Network European Animation Survey, bringing together selections from partner festivals across Europe for a rare look at the continent’s contemporary animation scene.
Now firmly in its third decade, MIAF continues to prove animation is one of the most inventive art forms on screen.
Find out more and grab tickets at https://miaf.net
