The inaugural Philly Animation Festival aims to connect local artists and artists from around the world when the event officially kicks off in November. The festival will celebrate artistic expression through animation during a three-day festival which will include film screenings, animation workshops, and family-friendly events.
“Moore College [of Art & Design] has generously offered to sponsor us, and they have been like a gift from the heavens, because they are offering us exhibition space and screening space,” says festival co-director Amy Lee Ketchum. “We plan to have a lot of different things for in-person experiences, and I’m hoping to have a family kind of experience because I know what it’s like to be an artist who wants to go to events but feels intimidated by bringing their child.”
Local animators, including members of the Philly Animation Ensemble, created this festival with the goal of forming a community for animation enthusiasts, creators, and industry professionals to meet in a space that fosters collaboration and inspiration among all participants. The Philly Animation Ensemble has no prerequisites for joining; for some people, it’s their first time animating. “Animation lends itself to being,” says festival co-director Ava Haitz. “Animators are so excited about what we do that we just want other people to get involved. So I think at least within our collective, I’ve noticed a lot of us are so willing to share this skill and invite other people to do what we’re doing.”
During the pandemic, the Philly Animation Ensemble artists found each other and formed the group to provide support and encouragement to one another. “Everyone still remembers how ridiculously isolating [the pandemic] was, and there was a deep need to connect with people, even if it was virtually,” says Lee Ketchum. “I’m a person who loves community and loves being in community with other artists.”
While many things still feel bleak in the world, the Ensemble artists are bringing some positivity to Philly. “I think the creative spaces have been a beacon of hope for a lot of people, and a way to build community and connect and share our stories,” says Haitz. “And also, a lot of art spaces in Philly are inaccessible because you have to [pay] tuition or [have] a membership. With the Ensemble there is no membership, and it’s kind of come as you are.”
The creation of the Philly Animation Festival specifically was also born out of a difficult time for many local artists with the closures of University of the Arts and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts’ (PAFA) degree program. Lee Ketchum acknowledges that these closures created a massive void in the city. “A lot of people in Philly have said, ‘I want there to be an animation festival,’” she says. “There’s a lot of desire for it, and it’s kind of confusing why Philly has never had one.”
Calls for submissions for the festival opened on June 13 with deadlines spaced out throughout the summer and early fall. Artists submitted their animation works exclusively through FilmFreeway. “It’s incredible the submissions we’ve gotten, and we’re still going,” says festival co-director Meaghan Dunn. “There’s so many films we have to still screen from all over the world.”
The festival directors have been impressed with the range of films they’ve received, which includes different types of artists at every level, from students to industry professionals. “I feel really excited about the selection we are sharing because it represents the breadth of animation as a medium for storytelling,” says Haitz.
“The work in the official selections really shows off the diversity of talent and aesthetics we have in the Philadelphia animation community,” adds Lee Ketchum. “There is humor, fantasy, darkness, and light. I am really excited to celebrate the creativity of Philadelphia and see the work in conversation with animations from around the world.”
Artists in the festival have an opportunity to win awards and cash prizes for six different categories: an audience award, best narrative short, best experimental animated short, best student animated short, best music video, and best Philadelphia filmmaker short. “I’m proud of Philly for embracing this,” says Dunn. “I hope this becomes a big annual event.”
While the deadline for submissions has passed for this year’s festival, Dunn encourages anyone who is interested to come out to the event. “I just say everybody should come meet other people,” says Dunn. “You could come just to see one movie or one screening of some short films. And you just never know who you’re going to meet and what you could take away from this.” She also shares that festivalgoers will have chances to attend events with accomplished creatives who will share their insights into the craft and industry.
Moore College has an annual panel called “Game Changers” where they invite women, nonbinary, trans, and gender nonconforming artists to come in and speak about their work. “This year we’ve been invited to choose the speakers, so we’re excited about that,” says Lee Ketchum. “And I just want people to know how much animation can be and what it can offer. That it’s fine art, it’s experimental, it’s commercial, it’s all of these things.”
The festival directors are eager for the festival to officially get underway. “I hope that we’re able to take this excitement and this desire that people have for a festival to exist and channel it into a physical space where people can talk to each other and share their ideas,” says Haitz.
The festival directors are also thrilled to put a spotlight on Philly. “These are the types of events that bring artists together, and we need this,” says Dunn. “I want to shine a light on the talent in Philadelphia. It’s so critically important because I don’t want people to overlook Philly. Like, Philly is a vibrant city. It’s a really tight community, and there’s so many amazing creatives here.”
The Philly Animation Festival will run from November 21-23, 2025 and tickets can be purchased here.
*Featured Image: Still from Philly Life, an animation collaboration of the Philly Animation Ensemble. Artwork by Gigi Bennett.
Andre Cherry’s love of storytelling compels him to create art. He is a former cinéSPEAK Philly Beat Fellow, SAG actor, and writer. His screenplays have placed within the Austin Film Festival and Stowe Story Labs. Andre is also an avid sports fan and hosts a college football podcast called The Cherry Pickin’ Podcast.
