Manchester Animation Festival Bans Generative AI Films for 2027 Edition and Announces 2026 Winners

The Manchester Animation Festival has announced a new policy to ban films made with generative AI from its 2027 competition, emphasizing a commitment to human artistry. This decision was revealed alongside the winners of its 2026 competition, where Phuong Mai Nguyen's 'In Waves' took the top feature prize. The festival, which drew nearly 12,000 admissions, also saw Mamuka Tkeshelashvili's 'When the Sea Was Calm' win the Oscar-qualifying short film award.