Canterbury Anifest Young Animator of the Year

Canterbury Anifest is an annual animation festival in Canterbury, UK, run in partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University. As part of the festival, it hosts the **Young Animator of the Year** competition, which invites pupils from schools and colleges to create and submit their own short animated films. The event typically includes screenings, talks, and workshops led by animation professionals. The competition is aimed at young people (generally secondary school and college age) who are interested in animation and filmmaking. Entrants submit short animated films that are judged by industry professionals, with finalists’ work screened as part of the festival and awards presented in different age or school categories. Taking part helps students build a portfolio piece, gain feedback from experts, and experience a professional film festival environment, which can be valuable for applications to creative courses or careers in animation.