This is shaping up to be a highlight of the small press year! More details on Caption Comic Festival below.
2025 sees the return of a vintage classic of the comic creative’s calendar- Oxford’s Caption.
We’re happy to finally announce the venue for the relaunched Caption Comic Festival, taking place August 16th and 17th 2025 at Seacourt Hall, 3 Church Way, Botley, Oxford OX2 9TH. Seacourt Hall is a community centre based in West Oxford and we’re happy to be able to support the local neighbourhood with Caption. As per usual accompanied children under 16 get into Caption free. We can reserve parking on site for attendees with disabilities and ask that if you need this to please get in touch. For those who need to bring a primary carer along, the carer gets in free. Seacourt Hall is all one level with accessible toilets and changing rooms for parents with young ones. If you have any special requirement the committee would love to hear from you as soon as possible as to how we can help out.
We continue to pull together our schedule of panels, which currently include:
Broken Frontier’s Six To Watch – hosted by Broken Frontier’s own Andy Oliver, we will welcome to the stage: Cara Brown (creator of Everything’s Fine), Mike Armstrong (Rose Thornhill and the Troll Bridge), Dominique Duong (The Dog & The Cat), and Shane Melisse (They’re Coming Down The Stairs).
The Long And Short Of It – A panel discussing the creation of long and short form comics with guests Beck Kubrick (Dead Girls), Paul Rainey (There’s No Time Like The Present) and Lucy Sullivan (Barking), hosted by Barry Renshaw (Engine Comics).
True Tales- The Stories We Tell – An exploration of autobiographical comics with creators Chris Shepherd (Anfield Road); Lucy Sullivan (Barking); Cara Brown (Everything’s Fine) and Zara Slattery (Coma) published by Myriad Editions. The panel will be hosted by Barry Renshaw (Engine Comics).
More panelists to be added in the coming months.
This year’s Caption is taking an educational direction by giving attendees opportunities to speak directly to established creators for guidance and advice on their own projects. We are looking to highlight the way established creators can help up and coming creators, whether in a practical way like storytelling or printing, to more promotional activities with marketing, exhibiting at conventions, and dealing with social media. So for Caption 2025- Rebirth, alongside the panels mentioned above and valuable networking opportunities with other creators, we are introducing a limited number portfolio reviews with our volunteer guests.
These will be 20 minute slots throughout the day, with one on one discussions with established creators who have been exactly where you are and have continued to succeed in their own unique ways. The review is informal, without promise of employment, nor bias or agenda- we’re there to help in whatever ways you’re looking for. To that end, they are FREE with a valid ticket for the festival. This is an unique opportunity to spend quality time with professionals. We expect these portfolio reviews to go quickly, so creators can go to https://caption.sumupstore.
