Encounters Film Festival

Encounters International Film Festival is the umbrella title for two of the UK's leading film festivals Brief Encounters and Animated Encounters, with a host of cross-over attractions, at venues in and around the Harbourside area of Bristol, UK.

The longest-running festival in the partnership began life in 1995 as Brief Encounters - originally envisioned as a ‘one-off' event, to mark the centenary of cinema. It proved so popular that it is now an annual attraction - expanding year on year and acknowledged internationally as one of the world's most respected celebrations of short film.

In 2001, the short film festival was joined by Animated Encounters - celebrating and showcasing the productions, talent, creativity, technology and skills that make animation such a popular and successful film form worldwide. It too, has enjoyed a rapid rise to global prominence, as is demonstrated by its status as the UK's representative for the prestigious European Cartoon D'Or.

Originally these two festivals were held at separate times of the year, however, in 2006 the two events united under the Encounters Short Film Festival banner to record-breaking effect. This trend continued for the next 3 years with the festival growing from strength to strength with each annual event.

Highlights from the most recent edition of the festival included a Q&A with directors Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank), Tom Harper (The Scouting Book for Boys) and Eran Creevy (Shifty) discussing their progression from Shorts to Features, a Cinematography Masterclass with Gary Shaw (Moon) and a Late Lounge with live Poo-eoke!
Special guests at the festival included Jeremy Brock, John Coates, Paddy Considine, Mark Kermode, Richard Eyre, Henry LaBounta, Peter Lord, Phill Jupitus and Frank Cottrell Boyce.

This year sees the return of Animated Encounters with the competition programmes being divided into Brief Encounters (all short film, including animation) and Animated Encounters (animation only), accepting films completed from 1 Jan 2009 and less than 30 minutes in length of every genre: animation, live action drama, documentary, experimental and music video and does NOT have a premiere policy.

Encounters Festivals Ltd is a limited company and registered charity, managed by a board of trustees.

Encounters Board of Directors

David Sproxton (Chair), Aardman Animations

Simon Cooper, CSR Consultancy

John Adams, Consultant

Paul Appleby, Digital Media Consultant

Peter Carlton, Warp Films

Steven Coombe, Smith and Williamson (advisor)

Claire Spencer-Cook, BBC Film Network, One Dot Zero

Abigail Davies, University of the West of England, Freelance Producer

Maggie Ellis, Film London

Eileen Elsey, Freelance Script Writer

Gina Fucci, Films At 59 (advisor)

Sarah-Jane Meredith, South West Screen (advisor)

Simon Perry, Irish Film Board