Manipulate festival returns to Edinburgh’s cobbled streets for its 18th edition, taking a different approach to previous years. The festival remains focused on animated film and visual theatre, however, works to address artist development and the challenges faced by many in the industry of Scottish arts and culture.
The festival runs from Wednesday 12th to Saturday 15th February, and will feature 15 live works and installations by artists practicing in Scotland, 3 short film programmes, 2 feature films, 2 open studios and 6 public and industry workshops. Indeed, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Keeping in line with previous Manipulate Festivals, there is still a focus on accessibility, with the following performances, accessible for d/Deaf viewers:
BSL Interpretation at the Festival:
- Snapshots- English BSL interpretation will accompany the performances. There will be a chance after the performance to meet performers and an interpreter.
- International Shorts: On the Edge: There will be English-BSL interpretation during the Q&A.
- Film
Closed Captioning (CC) at the festival:
- International Shorts: On the Edge.
- Film
- International Shorts: Queer Stories.
- International Shorts: From ‘La Fantasmagorie’ to the Future.
- A Town Called Panic (Panique au Village)
- These Things Aren’t Mine.
Over four days, audiences will have the opportunity to engage deeply with the intricacies of visual performance which captures themes of play and degrowth in the current arts industry. The cultural sector faces ongoing challenges, which the festival hopes to spark conversations about. The festival’s performances invites audiences to join a community of artists in rediscovering the magic of live performance.
Dawn Taylor, Artistic Director & CEO of Manipulate Arts explained: “Given the extraordinary moment we are currently facing in the Scottish arts sector, with stagnating funding levels, spiralling costs, and many Scottish artists struggling to make ends meet, it felt critical to take a different approach to our festival in 2025. We are proud to be investing this year in Scottish artists and in the future of our creative community and are excited to welcome our audiences back to rediscover with us the joy and elemental magic of these visual artforms.
“We look forward to inspiring conversation throughout this festival, which takes a serious look at new and sustainable ways of working together, while still transporting audiences to new and exciting worlds through the magic of animation, puppetry, and visual theatre. Manipulate Festival will ask fundamental questions about the world that we inhabit together, in light of the moment we find ourselves in.”
To find tickets for the 2025 festival, follow this link: https://www.manipulatearts.co.uk
