The Cardiff Animation Festival (CAF) has unveiled the details of its 2026 edition, which will take place from April 23 to 26. The event combines screenings, video games, and live performances. It highlights its short film competition, with 98 selected works, and a collaboration with the Kotatsu Festival from Japan. Director Lauren Orme presents this program as the most playful and comprehensive to date.🎬
Technical expansion: from the screen to video game development🎮
The CAF video games section expands its presence with technical sessions from award-winning teams and an interactive exhibition. This area serves as a meeting point to discuss production pipelines, development tools, and interactive narrative. The professional day, with panels and advice, is aimed at new talents seeking to integrate into the industry, showcasing the technical aspects behind contemporary animation.
Mario Kart as a cultural event: the academy wouldn't understand it😏
In a twist that would surely raise an eyebrow among cinema purists, the festival places Mario Kart matches and speed drawing competitions at the heart of its identity. It seems the motto is that, between short and short, you have to prove who dominates the Rainbow Road circuit or who can draw a character with one hand while holding a drink with the other. A way to remember that, sometimes, animation is also about not taking everything so seriously.