The London International Animation Festival (LIAF) returns this month to share a wide variety of animation films from all over the world. Supported by Film London, the 9th LIAF will showcase films from 30 different countries and take place from 25 October- 4 November at The Barbican, the Horse Hospital, and Rio Cinema. Tickets are on sale now www.liaf.org.uk.

The largest festival of its kind in the UK, LIAF will screen the best new animation to London audiences with 280 films, plus a packed programme of events and feature 10 competitive programmes along with sessions focused on specific areas of animation.

LIAF is supported by Film London's Cultural Film Exhibition Fund (CFEF), which funds projects that aim to increase audiences of British and world cinema and provide non-mainstream cinematic experiences in the capital.

Highlights at this year's Festival include a special screening of For No Good Reason, an intimate documentary featuring Johnny Depp exploring the work of Ralph Steadman, who most famously illustrated the writing of Hunter S Thompson and Midori-Ko, a paranoid fairy tale directed by Japan's Keita Kurosaka.

A number of international guests who are globally recognized for their skill in animation will be in London attend the LIAF, such as Oscar®-nominated Koji Yamamura, arguably the greatest short-form animator who has been awarded more than 60 international prizes, and Patrick Jenkins, the award-wining, animator and documentary film-maker.

Among the impressive feature films, shorts and special guests, there are also programmes such as the international competition which include top selected titles from over 2000 entries.

The Festival closes with the Best of the Festival on Sunday afternoon with a collection of films chosen by panels of judges and audience votes.