Introduction to the Encounters Film Festival

The Encounters Film Festival is Bristol’s annual celebration of short films and animation, and this year marks its 30th anniversary. The festival will run from Wednesday to Sunday, taking place at various venues including Watershed, Arnolfini, and Bristol Beacon. Over the course of five days, the festival will showcase more than 100 films from local and international talent.

A Celebration of Independent Film

The festival was founded in 1995 and has since become a prominent platform for independent filmmakers to showcase their work. This year’s lineup includes a range of exciting films, including the psychological thriller Blockhead, which features Joe Sims from BBC Radio Bristol. The film is a narrative debut from Matt Harlock and was produced in Bristol.

Special Guests and Events

The opening evening of the festival will feature a special reunion of Oscar-winning filmmaker Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry, who will present a demonstration of their celebrated film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The duo will also showcase their latest works, which will be premiered at the event. Other big names attending the festival include actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Clare Foy, and Domhnall Gleeson.

Showcasing Local Talent

The festival will also highlight the work of local filmmakers through the "Go West" program, which features films from over 50 countries. One of the films showcased is Thea Gajic’s real-life story about a harmonica player named Vlad, who escaped conflict in Yugoslavia and became part of the thriving music scene in the 1990s.

Film Previews and Competitions

In addition to the range of independent short and feature films, the festival will also include a competition for super-short films of less than 90 seconds. There will also be a number of masterclasses and short films for children. A film preview of Big Jeff the Musical will also be shown, which tells the story of Jeff Johns, a well-known Bristol musician and filmmaker who suffered severe burns in a house fire in 2022.

Inclusive Programming

The festival will also feature presentations of works created with people with dementia, learning differences, and neurodiverse filmmakers. Jeff Johns, also known as Big Jeff, wanted to tell a story about his life and thought, "Why not make a musical?" He hopes that his story will inspire others to overcome their own barriers and achieve their goals. The festival promises to be an exciting and inclusive celebration of film and animation, with something for everyone to enjoy.