Welcome to Frame Fest 2026

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Irelands 1st

Stop Motion Festival

Saturday

Sunday

Designed by Christian Spurling

Welcome to Frame Fest 2026

29-30 August, 2026

Ireland's First Stop-Motion Festival
Hosted by Stiúideo Fia
Lettermore, Connemara, Co. Galway

Frame Fest is Ireland’s first festival dedicated to the craft of stop-motion animation, taking place over two days in the dramatic landscape of Connemara on Ireland’s Atlantic coast.

Hosted by Stiúideo Fia, this free bilingual festival (Irish and English) brings together international artists, filmmakers, and emerging animators for a weekend of film screenings, talks, workshops, and creative events exploring the craft of handmade cinema.

Artists connected to leading studios including Aardman, MacKinnon & Saunders, Telegael, Nexus Studios, and Elk Studios will share insights into the making of some of the world’s most distinctive animated films.

Frame Fest brings together community, craft, and international animation practice, creating a space where artists and audiences can connect and where stories come to life frame by frame.

This is a free event, but registration is required as places are limited.

Designed by Christian Spurling

Festival Highlights

Special stop-motion film screenings, including work connected to Captain Morten and the Spider Queen
Artist talks and behind-the-scenes insights from international stop-motion professionals
Hands-on workshops exploring puppet making, animation and storytelling
Irish-language stop-motion screening for children
The Best Irish-Language Stop-Motion Award, supported by TG4
The Pota Café Stop-Motion Challenge for emerging animators
Sketch & Walk in the Connemara landscape with artists
Optional early morning Atlantic sea swim for festival participants

Join us!

Join us for a weekend that inspires creativity and develops skills for aspiring animators and artists.

Secure your spot today - tickets are free, but spaces are limited.

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Programme

Discover the art of stop-motion animation with our hands-on workshops designed for all skill levels. From model making to puppetry, you'll gain valuable insights and practical experience.

Saturday
Programme

The Saturday programme features stop-motion animation screenings, guest talks and Q&As with animation practitioners, and puppet, set and process demonstrations.

Programme is subject to change.

10:30-11:00

Arrival & Welcome
Registration

11:00-11:15

Welcome & Introduction to Frame Fest
Overview of Programme

11:15-12:30

Curated Stop-Motion Screening

Irish and international stop-motion shorts

12:30-13:00

Practitioner Q&A

Conversation with Irish animations practitioners

13:00-14:00

Lunch Break / Open Studio Viewing

Informal access to puppets, sets & works-in-progress

14:00-15:00

Professional Talk: Performance & Character in Stop-Motion

Seamus Malone (Aardman)

15:00-15:45

Audience Q&A / Discussion

15:45-16:45

Tea & Dinner Break

Indie Pizza Trailer outside the Studio

17:00-18:20

Film Screening
Captain Morten and the Spider Queen

18:20-19:00

Professional Talk: Inside Stop-Motion Practice

Henry, Ragnor (Nuku), Paul

19:30

Pub Gathering

10:30-11:00
Stiúideo Fia
Arrival & Registration
Festival guests arrive at Stiúideo Fia for registration and welcome.
Collect festival information, meet fellow attendees, and prepare for the opening of Frame Fest.
11:00-11:15
Hall
Festival Opening

A welcome and introduction to Frame Fest, outlining the programme and events across the weekend. Opening speaker TBC.
11:15-12:30
Hall
Curated Stop-Motion Screening

A curated programme of professional stop-motion short films selected through FilmFreeway, featuring Irish and international filmmakers. The screening showcases the diversity of contemporary stop-motion practice, highlighting different animation techniques and creative approaches. Films in this programme are eligible for the Frame Fest Awards.
12:30-13:00
Hall
Practitioner Q&A

A conversation with Irish animation practitioners featured in the programme, discussing their creative process, production methods, and experiences working in stop-motion.
13:00-14:00
Lunch Break / Open Studio Viewing

Visitors are invited to explore Stiúideo Fia during this informal open studio session. See examples of puppets, miniature sets, and works-in-progress, and discover the craft behind stop-motion animation.
14:00-15:00
Hall
Key Talk: Performance & Character in Stop-Motion with Seamus Malone (Aardman Animations)
Animator and director Seamus Malone shares insights into the art of character performance in stop-motion animation. Drawing on work from productions including Shaun the Sheep, this talk explores how animators bring personality, humour, and emotion to life frame by frame.
15:00-15:45
Hall
Audience Q&A / Discussion
An open discussion with festival speakers exploring craft, careers, and storytelling in stop-motion animation.
15:45-16:45
Break

Food and refreshments available from the Indie Pizza Trailer outside Stiúideo Fia.
17:00-18:20
Hall
Feature Screening: Captain Morten and the Spider Queen

A screening of the stop-motion feature Captain Morten and the Spider Queen, a visually rich adventure following a young boy transported into a miniature world of insects and imagination.
18:20-19:00
Hall
Professional Talk: Inside Stop-Motion Practice

A discussion with Henry Nicholson, Ragnar (NUKU Studio) and Paul McDonnell (Stiúideo Fia) exploring the craft and international collaboration behind the making of Captain Morten and the Spider Queen. Followed by an audience Q&A.
19:30
Local Pub
Frame Fest After Hours

An informal gathering for festival guests, speakers, and attendees to relax, connect, and continue the conversation.
8:00-9:00
Trá Bhán Early Morning Swim

Optional early morning swim in the Atlantic for festival participants. Bus departs from Stiúideo Fia.
9:00-10:00
Sketch & Walk: Tír Fhia

A guided walk with Christian Spurling through the Connemara landscape surrounding Stiúideo Fia. Participants are invited to observe and sketch the textures and shapes of the natural environment.
10:00-11:00
Stiúideo Fia
Stiúideo Fia Open House

Explore the studio space and discover stop-motion puppets, miniature sets, and materials used in animation production. Includes demonstrations and opportunities to try simple stop-motion techniques.
11:00-12:00

Hall
Family Screening (Irish Language) hosted by Máire Treasa Ní Dhubhghaill ((Raidió na Gaeltachta – Pé Scéal É)
A special Irish-language stop-motion screening for children and families, featuring short animated films and work created by participants from the teen stop-motion course.
11:00-13:00
Stiúideo Fia
Workshop: How to Bring Life to Your Puppet with Henry Nicholson (Aardman Animations)

A hands-on workshop exploring how animators create performance and emotion through puppet movement.
11:00-12:00
Breakout Talk
Room 1
How It's Made: Stop-Motion Puppets with Gemma Byrne (Mackinon & Saunders)
A behind-the-scenes look at how professional animation puppets are designed and fabricated.
11:00-12:00
Breakout Talk
Room 2
Stop-Motion in Commercials with Conor Finnegan (Nexus Studios)

Award-winning director Conor Finnegan explores the use of stop-motion in advertising and branded storytelling.
12:00-13:00
Breakout Talk
Room 1
Tips & tricks of Costume Making with Emily Nicholson

Techniques and practical approaches to creating costumes for miniature stop-motion characters.
12:00-13:00
Breakout Talk
Room 2
Mixing 2D and Stop-Motion with Andrew Hamilton (Elk Studios)
A look at hybrid animation techniques combining hand-drawn animation with stop-motion.
13:00-14:00
Stiúideo Fia
Lunch Break / Community Open Studio

Visitors are invited to explore the studio space and see examples of stop-motion work in progress.
14:00-15:00
Hall
Key Talk: Meet the Puppet Maker with Richard Pickersgil

Master puppet maker Richard Pickersgill shares stories from his career creating puppets for major stop-motion productions including Pinocchio.
16:00-16:30
Hall
Audience Q&A
An opportunity to ask questions and continue the conversation with festival speakers.
16:30-17:00
Frame Fest Awards

Awards presented include:

TG4 Award: Best Irish-Language Stop-Motion

Frame Fest Award: Best Stop-Motion Short

Craft & Fabrication Award

Audience Award

Call for Films

Frame Fest invites submissions of stop-motion and frame-by-frame animated short films from established and emerging filmmakers, students, independent artists, and studios.

We welcome films that explore the creative possibilities of stop-motion, including puppet animation, model animation, cut-outs, mixed media, and experimental or hybrid approaches. Narrative, experimental, documentary, and process-led works are all encouraged.

Selected films will be screened at Frame Fest and will be eligible for the Frame Fest Awards, celebrating excellence in stop-motion storytelling, craft, and creativity.

Apply on Film Freeway

Key Details

Film length: Up to 10 minutes
Completion date: Within the last 5 years
Languages: All languages welcome (English subtitles required)
Submission fee: Free to submit