Ⅰ. Introduction
A few months ago, I submitted my one-minute short film Toast to several animation festivals. Fortunately, the film was selected for the Brighton International Animation Festival, so I travelled to Brighton in late April to attend the event.
This was the first time I had formally participated in a film festival as a filmmaker. Because of this experience, I began thinking more seriously about my future career direction and my relationship with independent filmmaking.
Ⅱ. Preparing and Submitting
I searched for festivals through FilmFreeway and carefully checked the submission requirements before selecting the ones that suited my film. After that, I created a poster for the project, wrote a short statement, and completed the submissions.
At first, I did not expect much from it. However, a few months later, I received an email from the Brighton International Animation Festival informing me that Toast had been selected for the New Generation Program and nominated for the Best Student Film Award. This came as a real surprise to me, and it felt like recognition of my work.
Ⅲ. Attending
Brighton is very close to London, and the festival took place over the weekend, so I decided to attend in person.
I mainly watched the films included in the New Generation Program. Seeing my own film on a cinema screen, watching it together with audiences, and hearing people laugh and applaud gave me a strong sense of happiness and achievement.
A lot of the films were not technically perfect. However, many of them felt highly personal in both perspective and emotion. It made me realise that independent animation may not require highly polished techniques or a unified style. What matters more is emotional connection and honest expression. It allows filmmakers to create work that feels personal and individual.
During the festival, I also had conversations with several animators. People introduced the kinds of animation they make, the themes they are interested in, and their creative ideas.
Ⅳ. Reflection
After this experience, I started thinking more seriously about the possibility of becoming an independent animation director.
To be honest, it is an idealistic career path. Independent animation allows creators to express highly personal ideas and emotions without needing to prioritise commercial expectations. Artists can create deeply personal work without constantly considering audience preferences or market demands. It is a form of self-expression and a way of communicating one’s own voice, which I find very meaningful.
At the same time, I also realised that creators from different cultures and backgrounds often face similar challenges. Questions about financial stability, freelance income, and maintaining a sustainable career are common concerns after graduation. Independent animation itself has a relatively limited audience, and without active promotion and self-management, it can be difficult to survive solely as an independent filmmaker.
Because of this, I hope to continue creating independent films and participating in festivals in the future. However, I do not see it as my main profession. Instead, I hope to work primarily within the animation industry while continuing independent filmmaking as a personal creative practice alongside it.
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