Nominations 2026

And the
nominees are…

This year, we had more competition entries than ever, and our judges were very impressed with the creativity and skill shown by all the teenage animators who entered.

Our industry judges have been scoring the entries, which they've found extremely difficult when all the films have strong, unique qualities. But the judging has completed, resulting in this final selection of films.

The winning films will be shown on the big screen at Manchester Animation Festival on Sunday 8th November, and the winners of each category will be announced.

Congratulations to all of the nominees!

2026

Stop-Motion, Age 11-14

Sponsored by Hue
Preview of Addison's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Addison, 11
Manchester
Preview of Caitlin's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Caitlin, 12
Rossendale
Preview of Eli's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Eli, 13
London
Preview of Finn's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Finn, 13
Invergordon
Preview of Sophie's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Sophie, 13
Sheffield
2026

2D Animation, Age 11-14

Preview of Alisa's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Alisa, 13
Glasgow
Preview of Haps's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Haps, 14
Milton Keynes
Preview of Jayden's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Jayden, 14
Bristol
Preview of Leo's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Leo, 13
London
Preview of Nelson's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Nelson, 14
Heywood
Preview of Wyatt's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Wyatt, 14
Redditch
2026

Stop-Motion, Age 15-18

Sponsored by Hue
Preview of adam's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
adam, 18
slough
Preview of Aeddan's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Aeddan, 16
Llangollen
Preview of Faye's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Faye, 16
Leeds
Preview of Judah's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Judah, 16
South Shields
Preview of Ptolemy's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Ptolemy, 17
Exeter
Preview of Rory's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Rory, 17
Durham
2026

2D Animation, Age 15-18

Preview of Arlo's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Arlo, 17
Eastbourne
Preview of Charlotte's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Charlotte, 18
Leeds
Preview of Lauren's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Lauren, 17
Swindon
Preview of Nadia's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Nadia, 16
Crowborough
Preview of Nicholas's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Nicholas, 18
Edinburgh
Preview of Rafferty's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Rafferty, 17
Sissinghurst
2026

3D Animation, Age 15-18

Sponsored by Wacom Europe
Preview of Ali's film
2026 3D
Nominated
Ali, 17
Tonbridge
Preview of Arjun's film
2026 3D
Nominated
Arjun, 18
Hatfield
Preview of Ethan's film
2026 3D
Nominated
Ethan, 18
Sutton
Preview of Ezra's film
2026 3D
Nominated
Ezra, 17
Harrow
Preview of Ryan's film
2026 3D
Nominated
Ryan, 18
London
Preview of William's film
2026 3D
Nominated
William, 17
Malvern
2026

Stop-Motion, Age 19-22

Sponsored by Hue
Preview of Aemilia's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Aemilia, 20
Kew, Richmond
Preview of Andrew's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Andrew, 21
Tayport
Preview of Ben's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Ben, 22
Swindon
Preview of Kareem's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Kareem, 21
Ipswich
Preview of Kat's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Kat, 21
Bedford
Preview of Vika's film
2026 Stop-motion
Nominated
Vika, 22
London
2026

2D Animation, Age 19-22

Preview of Chloe's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Chloe, 21
Newport
Preview of Elise's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Elise, 21
Aberdeenshire
Preview of Izzy's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Izzy, 20
London
Preview of Maddie's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Maddie, 20
Basingstoke
Preview of Shaun's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Shaun, 21
Dorset, Bournemouth
Preview of Tom's film
2026 2D
Nominated
Tom, 21
Bristol
2026

3D Animation, Age 19-22

Sponsored by Wacom Europe
Preview of Alfie's film
2026 3D
Nominated
Alfie, 19
Shrewsbury
Preview of Benjamin's film
2026 3D
Nominated
Benjamin, 20
London
Preview of Django's film
2026 3D
Nominated
Django, 20
Warrington
Preview of Jamie's film
2026 3D
Nominated
Jamie, 21
Winsford
Preview of Morgan's film
2026 3D
Nominated
Morgan, 19
Bournemouth
Preview of Nimisha's film
2026 3D
Nominated
Nimisha, 22
London, United Kingdon
2026

Best Group Project

Preview of Cara & Team's film
2026 Group project
Nominated
Cara & Team, 20
Bournemouth
Preview of Charlie & Team's film
2026 Group project
Nominated
Charlie & Team, 20
Bideford
Preview of Evelyn & Team's film
2026 Group project
Nominated
Evelyn & Team, 21
Hatfield
Preview of Gemma and Jodie's film
2026 Group project
Nominated
Gemma and Jodie, 22
Sevenoaks
Preview of Joseph & Team's film
2026 Group project
Nominated
Joseph & Team, 21
Lowetoft
Preview of Kitty & Team's film
2026 Group project
Nominated
Kitty & Team, 22
London
The ceremony

Watch the winners at MAF

The winning films will be shown on the big screen at the Manchester Animation Festival awards ceremony on Sunday 8th November, where the winner of each category will be announced.

If your film is nominated, you'll be emailed two complimentary tickets to the ceremony. Anyone can buy a “YAY Bundle” on the MAF website, which gets you into the awards ceremony and special Young Animator talks from experts at Aardman and Blue Zoo.

Visit MAF Website