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Melbourne International Animation Festival

Melbourne International Animation Festival
LocationMelbourne, Australia
Founded2001; 24 years ago (2001)
Websitemiaf.net

The Melbourne International Animation Festival (MIAF) is an independent, not-for-profit annual animation festival held in Melbourne, Australia, since 2001.[1][2] Recognised as the largest animation-dedicated event in the country, MIAF showcases a diverse array of animated works from around the world, with a typical program screening over 200 films from more than 30 countries. The festival has historically included international competitions, retrospectives, student showcases, and guest appearances by prominent animators and industry professionals.

Originally supported by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Screen Australia, and the City of Melbourne, MIAF moved its screenings to the Treasury Theatre in 2019 due to ACMI's temporary closure for renovations. In 2022, the festival was cancelled following the withdrawal of key public funding, including support from Screen Australia, significantly impacting its operations and long-term viability.[3]

History

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The Melbourne International Animation Festival (MIAF) was established in 2001 as a platform to celebrate and promote the art of animation in Australia. Over the years, the festival has grown to become the country's largest animation event, featuring a diverse selection of films from both local and international filmmakers.[4][5]

An aerial view of Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne

In its early years, MIAF was supported by the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), the Australian Film Commission (now Screen Australia), and the City of Melbourne. The festival was initially held at ACMI, providing a central location for screenings and events. However, in 2019, due to ACMI's temporary closure for large-scale renovations, MIAF relocated its screenings to the Treasury Theatre. This move allowed the festival to continue its operations without interruption.

In 2022, the festival faced significant challenges when Screen Australia decided not to continue its funding support. This decision, coupled with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, led to the cancellation of MIAF 2022. The organisers expressed their regret, stating, "The ability to run the Melbourne International Animation Festival has always required significant funding... But together this has made it possible to run our festival." They further noted that "the decision in 2022 by Screen Australia to not continue funding us changed the DNA of our festival".[6]

Festival programming

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MIAF has been renowned for its diverse and inclusive programming, showcasing a wide range of animated works from around the globe. The festival typically features over 200 films selected from thousands of submissions, encompassing various genres and styles. Programs include international competitions, student showcases, and curated sessions focusing on specific themes or techniques. Notable sessions have included "Digital Extremes," "Masters & Returnees," and "Hi-Fi Design," each highlighting different aspects of the animation industry.

The festival has also been a platform for retrospectives, celebrating the works of influential animators and studios. These retrospectives have provided audiences with an opportunity to explore the evolution of animation and its impact on culture and society.

List of festivals by year

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Year Length Dates Location Notes
2001 6 days 26 June 2001 to 1 July 2001[7] Treasury Theatre[8] Inaugural festival
2002 6 days 25 June 2002 to 30 June 2002[9] Treasury Theatre[10]
2003 6 days 24 June 2003 to 29 June 2003[11] Australian Centre for the Moving Image[12] First year at ACMI
2004 6 days 22 June 2004 to 27 June 2004[13] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2005 6 days 21 June 2005 to 26 June 2005[14] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2006 6 days 20 June 2006 to 25 June 2006[15] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2007 6 days 19 June 2007 to 24 June 2007[16] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2008 7 days 16 June 2008 to 22 June 2008[17] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2009 7 days 22 June 2009 to 28 June 2009[18] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2010 9 days 19 June 2010 to 27 June 2010[19] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2011 8 days 19 June 2011 to 26 June 2011[20] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2012 8 days 17 June 2012 to 24 June 2012[21] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2013 11 days 20 June 2013 to 30 June 2013[22] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2014 11 days 19 June 2014 to 29 June 2014[23] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2015 8 days 21 June 2015 to 28 June 2015[24] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2016 8 days 19 June 2016 to 26 June 2016[25] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2017 8 days 18 June 2017 25 June 2017[26] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2018 10 days June 14, 2018 to June 23, 2018[27] Australian Centre for the Moving Image
2019 10 days July 12 to July 21, 2019[28] Treasury Theatre[29]
2020 4 days May 13 to May 16, 2021[30] Australian Centre for the Moving Image Re-Animated program with virtual engagements due to COVID-19
2021 4 days May 19 to May 22, 2022[31] Australian Centre for the Moving Image Re-Animated program with virtual engagements due to COVID-19
2022 Cancelled Lack of funding
2023 8 days May 7 to May 14, 2023[32] Treasury Theatre & The Backlot Studios
2024 8 days May 5 to May 14, 2024[33] Treasury Theatre & The Backlot Studios
2025 8 days May 18 to May 25, 2025[34] Treasury Theatre & The Backlot Studios

Results

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Year Best of the Fest Best Australian Film Best International Student Film Best Australian Student Film
2016 Velodrool - Sander Joon (Estonia) Hound by Georgia Kriss (Australia) Switch Man - Hsun-Chun Chuang, Shao-Kuei Tung (Taiwan) The Good, The Bad & The Noodley - Essington College (Australia)[35]
2017 N/A N/A N/A N/A
2018 After All – Michael Cusack (Australia) After All – Michael Cusack (Australia)

Lost Property Office – Daniel Agdag (Australia)

The Potion Controversy – Oscar Stockdale (UK) Welcome To Shmeven 11 – Dru Shaw (Australia)[36]
2019 Per Tutta La Vita – Roberto Catani (France) Sohrab And Rustum – Lee Whitmore (Australia)

Lost And Found – Andrew Goldsmith, Bradley Slabe and Lucy Hayes (Australia)

Strawberry Bums: Invasion Of The Snubgrubs – Jeremy Sullivan (USA) Olga's Self Insert Fanfiction – Ella Sanderson, Georgette Stefoulis (Australia)[37]
2020 Metamorphosis – Carla Pereira, Juan Fran Jacinto (Spain) Meanwhile, At The Abandoned Factory… – Michael Cusack (Australia) N/A N/A
2021 Nocturne – Alexander Dupuis (USA) Two Little People – Xin Li (Australia) N/A N/A
2022 Cancelled
2023 11 – Vuk Jevremovic The Pioneers – Simon Cottee N/A Hollow – Shirin Shakhesi
2024 Lack – Paweł Prewencki (Poland) My Jumper, It Roars! – Isabella Spagnolo N/A Shoot Me In The Grocery Line – Yunlin Bai, Tori Huynh – RMIT
2025 Trash – Gregory Bouzid, Maxime Crancon, Robin Delaporte, Matteo Durand, Romain Fleischer, Alexis Le Ral, Margaux Lutz, Fanny Vecchie (France) Plumpin – Ivan Dixon NRUT – Sophia Schonborn (Germany) Carrion – Gabriella Lee Sudyatmiko

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival". Events Calendar, June 2013. State Government of Victoria. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Win Tickets To Melbourne International Animation Festival". What's on in Melbourne. My247. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  3. ^ Buckley, Nick (18 April 2019). "ACMI Is Closing for a $40 Million Update". Broadsheet. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  4. ^ "MIAF history". MIAF. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival". Festagent. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  6. ^ miaf (26 June 2022). "MIAF 2022 cancelled". MIAF. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival,2001". Event, 2001. IMDb. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  8. ^ "MIAF at the Crossroads: A Report on the 2003 Melbourne International Animation Festival". Festival Report. sense of cinima. July 2003. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival,2002". Event, 2002. IMDb. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  10. ^ "MIAF at the Crossroads: A Report on the 2003 Melbourne International Animation Festival". Festival Report. sense of cinima. July 2003. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  11. ^ "MIAF 2003 : Lindsay Cox + Victor Holder Interview". skynoise.net. Sky noise. 20 June 2003. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  12. ^ "MIAF at the Crossroads: A Report on the 2003 Melbourne International Animation Festival". Festival Report. sense of cinima. July 2003. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  13. ^ "CGTalk - Melbourne International Animation Festival - 22–27 June @ ACMI, Melbourne". CGSociety, Society of Digital Artists. Dejavont. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  14. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 2005 (MIAF)". Melbourne International Animation Festival. MIAF. Archived from the original on 17 February 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  15. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 2006 (MIAF)". Melbourne International Animation Festival. MIAF. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  16. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 2006 (MIAF)". Melbourne International Animation Festival. MIAF. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  17. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 16-22 June 2008". Submit your film. MIAF. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  18. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 22-28 June 2009". Melbourne International Animation Festival. MIAF. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  19. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 19-27 June 2010, celebrating 10 years!". Submit your film. MIAF. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  20. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 19-26 June 2011". welcome to the 11th edition of miaf. MIAF. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  21. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 17-24 June 2012". welcome to the 12th edition of miaf. MIAF. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  22. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 20-30 June 2013". GREETINGS!. MIAF. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  23. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 19-29 June 2014". GREETINGS!. MIAF. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  24. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 2015". Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  25. ^ "10 days until MIAF 2016!". Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  26. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 2017". Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  27. ^ "MIAF 2018 - EVENT - Ozanimate". Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  28. ^ "Melbourne International Animation Festival 2019". Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  29. ^ "MIAF 2019 - EVENT - Ozanimate". Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  30. ^ "MIAF 2020 Re-Animated". Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  31. ^ "MIAF 2021 Re-Animated". Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  32. ^ "MIAF 2023". Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  33. ^ "MIAF 2024". Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  34. ^ "MIAF 2025". Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  35. ^ "Winners of the Melbourne International Animation Festival 2016". 27 June 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  36. ^ "MIAF Winners 2018". Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  37. ^ "MIAF Winners 2019". Retrieved 26 May 2020.
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