Aberdeen Animates Brings Local Talent Into Frame
ZestMag welcomes a chat with Aleksandra Clunas and Zara Weston about launching Aberdeen Animates and how it feels to set the creative scene in motion as it yearns for more opportunities.
On Monday, 17th November 2025, Aberdeen Animates announced that submissions are now open for their animation showcase in April. All the details are available at the bottom of this article.
On a surprisingly blue Saturday morning, as the last stubborn patches of snow finally start to lift, I found myself ducking into the cosy Gaelic Lane café to meet the two women behind Aberdeen Animates. An apt meeting spot for the conversation to follow, the former place of Second Home (an open studio, café and creative community space) where creative writers, life-drawers and countless workshops would converge, creating an inclusive hub for creativity to blossom in the community. The old studio may be gone, but the energy still radiates through the building.
The warmth hit immediately. Not just from the coffee, but from Aleksandra Clunas and Zara (Zee) Weston themselves, the duo beaming from the launch of Aberdeen’s “brand-new micro-animation festival”. The idea for Aberdeen Animates didn’t start as a business opportunity. Aleks was inspired to fill the space because she saw what was missing and knew exactly who to ask for help. Zee, her former student, had the organisational skills and drive to turn an idea into a fully fledged micro-festival. Aleks needed someone who could bring her vision to life, and Zee was the perfect person for the job. Zee currently runs SZN Media, alongside her partner, providing small businesses in Aberdeen with a range of media, from podcast space hire to drone footage and service showreels.
The purpose of Aberdeen Animates exists outside of seeking financial gain. It’s solely for the upliftment of the community. As a lecturer at NESCOL, Aleks sees it happen every year. Students graduate and jump ship to other cities, convinced they’ll have more success in more competitive areas. The consensus among young graduates appears to be that Aberdeen lacks a creative community and viable opportunities, so they try to find success elsewhere. Aberdeen Animates wants to give them a reason to stay. It’s something I’ve experienced too, watching my own graduating class scatter. Many people don’t want to stay in Aberdeen, or can’t find the reasons to. Opportunities like these are essential, and there’s certainly a demand for them.
“People will go out and spend two hours watching a film in the cinema, so why not this?” Aleks said. It’s a question that cuts to the heart of what they’re building. The feedback they’ve received from friends, local businesses, and people outside the industry has been overwhelmingly positive. There’s a genuine hunger in Aberdeen for arts and cultural experiences beyond the typical gallery visit or night down the pub. For Aleks and Zee, the goal isn’t just to screen animations. It’s to prove Aberdeen has more to offer, and creatives worth celebrating.
What strikes me most is the spirit behind it. There’s no territorialism here, no sense of carving out exclusive space. They’ve had nothing but encouragement from existing animation festivals elsewhere, who are excited to see something like this take root in Aberdeen. Zee made a brilliant point about what the event really offers beyond the screenings themselves. It’s a place for people to get to know each other and make connections, meet the people whose work you’ve just watched and strike up conversations that could lead to future collaborations. In projects, animators rarely work in isolation, so collaboration is essential. Animators need musicians, voice actors, illustrators, and designers. They need people from all kinds of creative disciplines, but often don’t know where to find them. Aberdeen Animates extends an open invitation to anyone interested, not just animators. It’s all about bringing different creative worlds together in one room. This ethos is already baked into the project itself. Aleks and Zee are collaborating with a designer from NESCOL, currently studying Visual Communication at the college, to create the brand collateral for the event. Leading by example, they are reaching into their own network and offering opportunities to real people who want to grow in their field.
Submissions are now open!
Aberdeen Animates is seeking original animations between 1-3 minutes in length, of any style or format, including hand-drawn, stop-motion, 3D or experimental works. Submissions are open to anyone in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, whether you’re an emerging creative or an established animator. The deadline is 28 February 2026, and the screening will take place on 10 April 2026 at The Blue Lamp. Prizes are also to be won, as animators from local studios will be judging submissions across three categories: Best Animation, Best Story, and Best Visual Style. The open call format is intentionally inclusive. You don’t need industry credentials or expensive software; you just need to have made something and want to share it. This year, the focus is on exposure. Getting the word out, letting people know that come spring, there’s an event where animation takes centre stage. Be sure to follow them on Instagram for updates!
Got an animation you want to share? You can submit your work here.
If you’re an animator in the North East, this is your chance to be part of forging something new in our creative scene. And if you’re not an animator? Come along! Because Aberdeen Animates isn’t just for the people making the work. It’s for anyone who wants to see what this city is capable of when our creatives stop waiting and start building.
See you in April ♡
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