New Roots Animation Commission

CIT (Creative Industries Trafford) and CHFA (Cosgrove Hall Films Archive) are excited to announce a new commission opportunity of £1,500 plus professional development support towards the creation of a new animated short film.

Applications are invited from artists, animators and filmmakers based in the North West who are seeking to produce their first animation short. This opportunity is for all those who have an animation project in development but need additional support to move it forward, including artists using animation and early career animators such as recent graduates and those without formal academic training. We'd love to support an individual or small team with a lot of talent who need guidance and support to elevate their ideas and advance their career. 

While the funding might not necessarily cover a full production, it is intended to help you to create an animatic or short form piece, test your approach, and create a stronger foundation for future funding opportunities and industry development. We’re happy to discuss and support you with future funding bids and to give you additional career advice alongside the opportunity. 

New Roots funding also includes additional opportunities to meet like-minded creatives and to discuss your career with our team, receiving mentoring support relevant to your project needs. 

Alongside the £1,500, the successful project will receive:

  • Meeting our team to discuss your ideas

  • A free place at our Puppet Masters Conference

  • A free place on CIT’s Script School and Meet the Producers event

  • Access to any animation related events and workshops we run.

  • Informal Funding application advice & support

  • Proof-reading your project proposal + timeline

ANIMATION COMMISSION EXPECTED OUTCOMES

We know every animation project develops differently, so we will meet with the selected artist(s) to support you setting your own timeline and time frame to work towards. 

The selected project should expect to produce the following:

  • Set realistic goals, a budget and outcomes with the funding. 

  • Develop a pitch deck (or refine and edit an existing one) that communicates your idea, visual style, production approach, and ambitions for your film.

  • Create your project concept, exploring your story, style, characters, and creative approach.

  • Use the commission funding to create an animatic, pilot sequence, stand alone short film or extract that demonstrates your vision and skillset. 

New Roots is structured so that when you have completed this process we’d like you to utilise your completed work to apply for further funding, opportunities, roles and progression within the animation industry. For this reason we’re going to be meeting the selected artist(s).

DEADLINE to apply is the 4th September 2026 at 5pm.

Please read the eligibility and additional information below before applying.

To apply, please fill out the form on the following page:

Application process has now closed for this opportunity

Waterside Arts