ABOUT CARDIFF ANIMATION FESTIVAL



Founded in 2014 and since our first festival in 2018, Cardiff Animation Festival has been about bringing people together around a love of animation. From industry professionals and emerging artists to audiences and workshop participants that represent the whole population of Cardiff, our ethos is unique among UK animation festivals - we aim to present a truly
inclusive festival, with a welcoming, community atmosphere.
We create space for people of all ages and backgrounds to meet, learn and share the enjoyment of watching and participating in animation and filmmaking.​​​
We facilitate workshops that bring people together to build skills and confidence and also offer valuable insight to
industry magic through expert masterclasses that inspire creativity.
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CARDIFF ANIMATION NIGHTS (CAN)
Separate from the main festival and now running for 10+ years, the evening events comprise free monthly screenings of amazing animation curated from around the world. Taking place at The Underdog in Cardiff, from the humble beginnings of a small group, we now welcome 150+ people as in-person attendees! We also host online versions, with interactive chat function, live on our YouTube channel.
Through submissions and curation, we screen some of the best animated short films from the global animation festival circuit, giving people in Cardiff the opportunity to watch independent animation on the big screen and also meet like-minded people and new contacts. ​Find out more and see when the next event is here!
CAF ON TOUR
On a yearly basis, the Cardiff Animation Festival (CAF) team travel across Wales with a brand new touring programme of animated short films, providing the opportunity for under-served communities to view and participate with animation.
In 2025, the CAF on Tour screenings were followed by a recorded Q+A with filmmakers, plus audiences were given the chance to get involved and contribute to a collaborative animation. See all our past and present touring programmes here.
CARDIFF QUICK DRAW
Quick Draw is a free-entry, all ability 48hr animation challenge. We set a theme and teams then have a weekend to make and submit a film!
A live stream of the films is presented online so that teams from all over the world can participate. The films also receive a further screening at Chapter Arts Centre as part of Cardiff Animation Festival! See all the past creations here!
MEET THE CARDIFF ANIMATION FESTIVAL TEAM

LAUREN ORME
Festival Director
festival@cardiffanimation.com
Lauren is an award-winning animator and director based in Cardiff. She is the Festival Director of Cardiff Animation Festival. Lauren studied animation at the University of Wales, Newport, and has been based in Cardiff since 2010.
In 2014, Lauren founded Cardiff Animation Nights, showcasing animated short films from the international festival circuit to a thriving audience in Cardiff, before co-founding Cardiff Animation Festival in 2018.
Lauren is also Creative Director of Picl Animation, an animation studio in Cardiff which she co-founded in 2018. Picl is one of the first animation companies in the UK to become a certified B Corporation.

ELLYS DONOVAN
Festival Producer
festival@cardiffanimation.com
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Ellys is the Producer at Cardiff Animation Festival and has been a member of the CAF team since she volunteered at the first festival in 2018. Ellys also organises and programmes regular in-person and online screenings for Cardiff Animation Nights.​
Ellys has previously worked with the British Animation Awards as their Awards Administrator, Puppetry at The Pop-Up Palladium as their Technical Coordinator and has worked in multiple cinemas for over 9 years.
Alongside her work she also studied for a BA Hons degree in Video Production at Swansea Metropolitan University, a Masters Degree in Film and a PGCE in Further Education Training both at USW. ​​

CHRIS JAMES
Photographer & Videographer
heywildtrack.com
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CJ is the Videographer and Photographer for Cardiff Animation Festival and has been a member of the CAF team since the early days in 2016.
A Creative Brand & Content Lead, CJ has worked freelance and full-time on everything from large productions to not-for-profits, national to international, with various clients and companies. A selection of his work can be found here - heywildtrack.com
In his own time he builds Lego and is a dog-dad.
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CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT
Director of Operations
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Christopher Wright is the Director of Operations for Cardiff Animation Festival and has been helping to run Cardiff Animation events since 2015.
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Christopher went from specialising in animation at Norwich University of the Arts to working as a freelance animator in London and Toronto, before moving to Cardiff in 2014, where he has worked on over 300 episodes of children's television including, The Rubbish World of Dave Spud, Peppa Pig, Daisy & Ollie and Luo Bao Bei.

LAURA WELSMAN
Development and Placements Manager
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Laura is an award-winning Artist, Educator and Arts Management consultant who has been working with Cardiff Animation Festival since 2019.
She is a recognised researcher at Transtechnology Research at the University of Plymouth, interested in how digital technologies mediate our experience of the world. Her work in arts events and exhibitions has led to international collaborations across the UK, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, USA, and South Africa.
Laura's artwork can be found here.​