News Story
Yesterday (25 March 2025), artists selected as part of Film London’s FLAMIN Animations programme showcased new work in progress at The New Black Film Collective’s (TNBFC) XPO at Rich Mix, London.
This special showcase presented work in progress developed through the scheme by artists Faye Craig, Aliyah Harfoot, Caroline James and Jess Stephens. This year’s projects include a vision of Notting Hill Carnival 100 years in the future, a dystopian mockumentary about a city curfew, and poetic celebrations of womanhood and female friendship.
After the screening, Aliyah Harfoot and Jess Stephens were joined in conversation with Bart Yates, Founder and Executive Producer, Blinkink and Nathan Geyer, Programme Coordinator, Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network (FLAMIN).
Aliyah Harfoot - Anam Cara Soul Friend 2025 production still
It’s been really nice to be able to be in the creative space and getting feedback on our work has been really helpful. I love traditional animation. I’m a hands on person and love to feel the texture of things, and you can feel it on the screen also. It might just be paper or fabric but you project so much on to that. It’s magical.Aliyah Harfoot
Jess Stephens - His Lens (2025) production still
My work is informed by poetry and it was very interesting to have the freedom to interpret the poem in this way. It’s been a really fun experience being able to experiment and having the support to develop my ideas. Finding out from artists further along in their careers how they got to where they are now has been so helpful.Jess Stephens
FLAMIN Animations is a commissioning programme for early-career animators living in the UK. The scheme is run in partnership with the award-winning animation studio Blinkink and supported by Arts Council England. Previous FLAMIN Animations have been selected for festivals including London International Animation Festival, Annecy International Animation Festival, and Edinburgh International Film Festival, and work has also showcased at venues including BFI Southbank, South London Gallery, FORMA, and Humber Street Gallery.
Applications for the fifth round of FLAMIN Animations will open on Monday 31 March 2025 to artists from Global Majority backgrounds. Successful applicants will receive £3,500 in funding to create a 3 minute animation, with one-to-one mentorship and a programme of masterclasses with animation professionals. The programme comes as part of Film London’s ongoing commitment to respond to the underrepresentation of Global Majority artists within the art, film, and animation industries.
FLAMIN Animations demonstrates the importance of supporting emerging artists from underrepresented backgrounds in the UK, and the vast potential of next-generation creative talent that we must continue to develop. I’m delighted to see new commissions premiere at the TNB XPO again this year and Film London is proud to be a principal partner of this event. Faye, Aliyah, Caroline and Jess are another talented cohort of Black artist animators who have produced captivating work. Now entering its fifth year, FLAMIN Animations is building a track record of discovering and developing early-career artists. Alumni have gone on to screen work at local and international festivals, receive awards, and secure jobs in the industry following completion of the programme. I am excited to see what is in store for the 2024 cohort, and encourage interested early-career artists to consider applying for this year’s programme.Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London
Film London participated in a variety of other panels, discussions and showcases during the XPO, including a showcase of work from a collaboration with Renaissance Studios and London’s Screen Archives (LSA). Film London shared updates on Undocumented, a programme led by LSA in collaboration with TNBFC, which through research, digitisation and community events is unearthing films in screen archives, cataloguing new material and re-interpreting collections. Presentations came to a close with Pitch ‘n’ Mix, where a selection of filmmakers pitched their work and received feedback from a panel of industry professionals including Maggie Ellis, Film London, Paul Tester, Paramount and Christopher Kenna (GenB TV).