They’re some of the biggest names in the world of visual effects – and they’re heading to Bournemouth next week.

Students, film fans, gamers and anyone who likes to create their own animations will be able to get top tips from the professionals behind some of the biggest films, TV series and games at Bournemouth’s BFX festival.

Now in its tenth year, the festival has become the largest visual effects festival in the UK.

Experts from more than 35 studios and institutions from around the visual effects industry will gather at Bournemouth University to share their insights and experience with the local community.

They include the creators behind ‘Star Wars: Andor’ and ‘Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’.

Experts who worked on Marvel’s ‘Moon Knight’, Disney’s latest animation ‘Strange World’ and Netflix’s ‘Sandman’ are also due to attend.

Dr Oleg Fryazinov, Principal Academic in Computer Animation at Bournemouth University and BFX Director, said: “The line-up this year covers all the hottest TV shows, films as well as the latest trends in animation, games, and visual effects.

“Anyone attending the BFX Festival will find talks and masterclasses for them – whether they are aiming for a career in special effects, want to create material at home for their own enjoyment or just want to know how the films and games they love get made.”

Highlights will include speakers Mat Irvine, Visual Effects Designer for many classic BBC shows including Doctor Who and Visual Effects Supervisor Scott Pritchard from Industrial Light and Magic, who worked on the recent TV show Andor set in the Star Wars universe.

Other speakers include Elizabeth Rega from Western University of Health Sciences, an experienced consultant in the film industry who recently worked on Disney’s Strange World.

The festival’s speaker series programme also includes talks from people who helped create recent TV series and films, including Marvel’s Moon Knight, Netflix’s Sandman and Amazon’s The Rings of Power.

Further speaker highlights include the director’s team from the Emmy-nominated movie ‘The House’ and a panel focused on art direction in video games led by BAFTA-winning Art Director Kevin McDowell.

Celebrating diversity in animation and VFX, the festival will also host a panel of five industry names to discuss the issues around diversity and how to attract people from all backgrounds into the sector.

Additional speaker highlights include Andrew Robertson from DNEG and speakers from Milk VFX and Blue Zoo sharing insight into their work with the BBC in celebration of their centenary milestone.

Many Bournemouth University alumni will be returning to campus to talk about what they have gone on to achieve.

They include Tara Saunders at PlayStation, Tom Box from Blue Zoo and Rikki Trembath, Matt Traynar, and Tom Minor of Technicolor Creative Studios.

The festival takes place from November 8 to 13.

Over the years BFX has become established as an international event that inspires both current and future generations of artists, technicians and engineers, and that celebrates all aspects of VFX, animation and games’ unique mix of technical and creative practices.

To find out more on the festival line up, and book tickets, head to the BFX website