Our next edition of ORIGINS presents Drawn From Life, a programme of animated short films rooted in lived experience. These films draw from memory, testimony, observation, and personal histories, using animation as a way to explore intimacy, identity, loss, care, and resilience.
Join us on Thursday 19th March 2026 at COLONY Silk St, Manchester, for an evening of carefully curated short films from emerging and established filmmakers. The programme brings together works that blur the boundaries between documentary and animation, where drawn worlds become a means of telling stories that are difficult, tender, or impossible to capture through live action alone.
Alongside the Drawn From Life selection, we are delighted to screen the BAFTA-longlisted Two Black Boys in Paradise, a powerful and poetic short that reflects on Black queer intimacy, memory, and belonging. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Director Baz Sells and Producer Ben Jackson, offering audiences the opportunity to hear directly about the film’s making, themes, and journey.
ORIGINS is more than a screening. It is a welcoming space for filmmakers, artists, and creatives to meet, share ideas, and connect with others working across film, animation, and visual storytelling. Whether you are a director, animator, producer, designer, or simply curious about how stories are made, ORIGINS is designed to be accessible, social, and supportive.
Drinks and snacks are on us. Just bring your curiosity, and perhaps a friend.
All profits from ticket sales are reinvested directly into future ORIGINS events. We believe financial barriers should never prevent people from engaging with cinema, so lower-cost and free tickets are available. Your presence matters more than the price.
Full programme details will be shared on Instagram in the lead-up to the event.
This special compilation of short animated documentary, and semi-autobiographical works, is presented by MediaActive Projects in partnership with Animate Projects and Film Hub Midlands.
Special thanks go to the community curators, and to Dr Sally Pearce and the BFI's Animation Curator Jez Stewart, who offered additional advice on the selection.
PLEASE NOTE: a number of the works deal with challenging moments in life. These experiences are represented with care and consideration towards the contributors and audiences - details are outlined per film in the text below. We consider this programme is suitable for those aged 15 years and over.