Bristol becomes the centre of the short film industry next week when the city plays host to the 21st Short Film & Animation Festival.
Europe’s leading short film event combines film screenings, special events, industry masterclasses and workshops in a jam-packed six-day programme of activity mainly taking place at Watershed.
The International Competition screenings include 219 short and animated films chosen from more than 2,200 film submissions. The 21 competition programmes each feature between five and 15 short films, from genres including live action, animation, music video, experimental, documentary and comedy.
The festival runs from 15-20 September. 
Festival highlights include:
HOW FILM CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT MUSIC – AN AUDIENCE WITH HUEY MORGAN
TUESDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER, 21:00, £8 / £7 conc
Join revered musician and DJ Huey Morgan in this exclusive event as he explores a selection of films, using music as a focus and examining how some films just would not be complete without it.
TERRY JONES PRESENTS BOOM BUST BOOM
WEDNESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 2015 AT 19:00, £8 / £7 CONC
In association with Bristol Festival of Ideas, Encounters will see Monty Python’s Terry Jones present his new documentary, a mix of live action, animation, puppetry and song, walking us through the history of economic crashes.
Crashes have been happening throughout history for centuries, from Tulip Mania in 1637 to the Wall Street crash of 1929. The 2008 economic crash shocked the world, but how did experts not see it coming? Are we able to recognise a bubble when we are in one? Will the cycle of boom and bust devastate us again in years to come? It argues that in order to change the economic system, we must start with education. Followed by a discussion with Terry Jones.
MUSIC AND SOUND IN THE FILMMAKING PROCESS WITH URSULA MEIR & JOHN PARISH
SATURDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER, 19:15, £8 / £7 CONC
Creative relationships are key to any successful film and perhaps none more so central but least discussed is that between moving image and music. In this special event we are delighted to welcome Swiss filmmaker Ursula Meier who worked with Bristol based musician John Parish on her award winning feature film Sister (2012) to discuss the process of their collaboration and to share thoughts on the importance of music and sound in the filmmaking process.
DESERT ISLAND FLICKS WITH CAROL MORLEY
THURSDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER, 20:30 – 22:00, £8 / £7 CONC
With the recent publication of her semi-autobiographical novel 7 Miles Out, Carol Morley once again reveals why she is one of the most daring, honest and exciting talents to have emerged in the past decade in the UK. Her restless creative enquiry and experimentation are infectious and inspiring. In this special event Carol will talk about and show clips from films which have inspired her alongside clips from her own film work and will read from her novel 7 Miles Out.
This event will be followed by a book signing
Presented by Watershed as part of Onwards and Outwards, a UK-wide programme examining female representation in the film industry made possible with support from the BFI, awarding funds from the National Lottery
SEE THE STARS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW IN ACTION
Head to one of our competition screenings to catch some established stars or spot a filmmaker big name of the future. Just choose a genre and expect the unexpected!
MUSIC VIDEO (15)
THURSDAY 17th SEPTEMBER, 22:00, £5 / £4.50 CONC
Back by popular demand, this collection of Music Videos offers audiences dazzling visual art, wild stories and animated adventures in sound, music and image, showcasing the best and most innovative examples in this ground-breaking genre of the short form from new and emerging talent.
COMEDY: WHY THE SHORT FACE? (15)
WEDNESDAY 16th SEPTEMBER – 19:45, FRIDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER – 20:00, £5 / £4.50
Presented here for the audience’s delight is a fantastic mix of films, each with a funny take on life. There’s a strong dose of dark humour thrown in for good measure. The first of two programmes is guaranteed to bring a smile, and a cringe, to your face. The second offers up a plate of humour and comedy, from a cartoon dog desperate for walkies to a dinner party that goes disastrously wrong.
LOVE IN ALL ITS FORMS
PRO CREATIONS (15): WEDNESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER: 21:45 – 23:15, £5 / £4.50 CONC
PILLOW TALK (15): THURSDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER: 20:00 – 21:30, £5 / £4.50 CONC
Encounters this year will feature two loved-up film offerings. These shorts have stories about relationships and the making and breaking of them, showcasing the bravery and skill to produce a piece on delicate and often painful subject matters. Pro Creations is a collection of raunchy films that will discover there are many euphemisms for sex and love. Pillow Talk celebrates films which excel with either gentle humour or artistic sensitivity.
LATE LOUNGE (18)
FRIDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER, 22:00, SATURDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER, 21:00: £5 / £4.50
Bring a bucket, sit back and try to make yourself comfortable for one helluva rollercoaster ride! Behold the annual grungefest of outrageous sick and twisted shorts. From salty seafood getting it on, to deluded God-botherers and their twisted sense of duty, each of these films pushes the boundaries of taste, decency and humour. You have been warned – this is not for the faint-hearted or easily offended!
DAYTIME INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SCREENINGS AT THE FESTIVAL
The International Competition screenings also run throughout the day, every day between Wed 15 – Fri 17 September. These themed film programmes explore everything from migration, mystery, daring documentaries to family ties and being pushed too close to the edge, it’s a dazzling selection of more than 200 short and animated films for you to feast your eyes.
From ‘tipping the velvet’ to ‘whispering sweet nothings’ …there are many euphemisms for sex and love, and so we discover there are some rather good films on the subjects as well. In the first of two collections of shorts you will find they all have one or two things on their mind.
ANIMATION: CARTOON D’OR
WED 16 SEPT WATERSHED CINEMA 3 11:00 £5 / £4.50
An hour of animation not to be missed, the award for the best European animated short film, Cartoon d’Or rewards the best of the best. This programme will feature the winners from this year’s competition in September, chosen by a jury of international experts.
Launched in 1991, the first Cartoon d’Or went to British director Nick Park, still unknown at the time, for his film “Creature Comforts”.
A CELEBRATION OF HALAS AND BACHELOR FEATURING ANIMAL FARM (U)
SAT 19 SEPTEMBER / 16:00 WATERSHED CINEMA 3 £5/£4.50 CONC
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the creation of what was once the UK’s biggest and important animation company Halas and Batchelor, Encounters is delighted to present a digitally re-mastered version of the classic ‘Animal Farm’.
SEE THE AWARD WINNING FILMS
Once we’ve selected the award winners for 2015, we put them on in special Sunday screenings so you can see the best of the best in one go. For the time starved among us to get their short film fix!
SUNDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER: 12:00 & 17:00, £5 / £4.50 CONC
WOMEN IN FILM
WIDENING THE LENS
PANEL
WATERSHED CINEMA 3 13:00 – 14:30 £5/ £4.50 CONC INCLUDED IN INDUSTRY FORUM PASS OR BUY SINGLE TICKETS 1hr 30mins
A panel discussion hosted by filmmaker Joanna Coates, and in collaboration with Film Fatales, addressing the frequent contemporary stereotypes we often encounter on screen. Discussing what audiences, and the industry, can gain from a greater inclusion of more diverse voices and experiences on screen alongside how under-represented filmmakers are collaborating with one another to gain support and strength, and demonstrating how the mainstream model as it stands often falls short.
SHORT FILM 9 – ABOUT A GIRL (15)
SCREENING WATERSHED CINEMA 1 16:00 – 17:30 £5 / £4.50 CONC INCLUDED IN INDUSTRY FORUM PASS OR BUY SINGLE TICKETS 1hr 30
Dir: Various
Tired of seeing one-dimensional ‘feisty, kick-ass, strong female characters’ as a misguided response to the damsel in distress cliché? To tie in with this year’s focus on female representation in film, this programme aims to draw on the depth, insight and creativity of the short film form to react to this trend as we celebrate a variety of fascinating and multi-faceted female characters reflecting the intricacies of being human. Unrestrained by stereotypes and caught at different moments in their life, we believe that these compelling women are convincing examples of female representation on screen. The debate is open.
SISTER (15)
SCREENING WATERSHED CINEMA 3 18:15 – 20:15 £5 / £4.50 CONC 2hr
Dir: Ursula Meier
Ursula Meier’s follow up her 2008 debut Home is another drama about the growing gap between rich and poor featuring a great soundtrack by John Parish. Twelve year old Simon (Kacey Mottet Klein) lives with his twenty-something volatile sister (Léa Seydoux) in a housing complex below a luxury Swiss ski resort. With his sister jobless and pretty much useless, Simon takes on the responsibility of providing for the two of them, escaping to the opulent ski world above to steal from rich tourists. He is able to keep them afloat, but when Simon partners with a crooked British seasonal worker, he begins to lose his boundaries, thrusting him into dark, dangerous territory
Ursula Meier Retrospective
SAT 19 SEPT 11:30 £5 / £4.50
As part of the 2015 Swiss Film Focus, a retrospective of work from leading Swiss Director Ursula Meier with an introduction from the Director before the screening:
Le songe d’Isaac (1994)
Des heures sans sommeil (1998)
Tous à table (2001)
DROP IN TO SEE SHORT FILMS FOR FREE
Encounters 2015 will feature specially curated short film programmes from the leading UK and International organisations. Explore a selection of contemporary and historical works from the aesthetic and political to the visual and sublime, for FREE in these drop-in screening.
SHORT MATTERS
WEDNESDAY 16TH, THURSDAY 17TH & FRIDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER 2015 FROM 19:00, FREE
The European Film Academy and EFA Productions are proud to present the 2014 short film nominations. At each of the 15 participating film festivals, an independent jury presented one European short film in competition with a nomination in the short film category of the European Film Awards.
Screened in three short film programmes on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Encounters this is your chance to watch all of the 2014 Nominees in these free drop in screenings.
BRING THE KIDS FOR FREE!
PETITE PERPETUAL CINEMA
SATURDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 2015 FROM 10:00, FREE, DROP IN SCREENING
This year the 2015 Encounters Perpetual Cinema is turned over to the family audience and offers free, drop in viewing of a selection of top short and animated films which have been screened in the competition during the festival week. Watch a few or watch them all, it’s up to you! Content is suitable for all ages.
NINA NEEDS TO DRAW KIDS WORKSHOP WITH DISNEY JUNIOR
SATURDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER 2015 11:00 AND 12:30 AM, FREE, BOOKING ESSENTIAL
Encourage your children’s imaginations and pencils to run wild with an illustration workshop presented by ArthurCox, the producers of popular Disney Junior animation Nina Needs to Go.
This illustration masterclass invites children aged 4-8 to watch and gain inspiration from episodes of Nina Needs to Go, before learning how to draw their own family members and superheroes.
Producers from ArthurCox will provide expert advice and explain how the use of their imaginations led to the creation of Nina Needs to Go, the preschool series which follows four year old Nina who often ‘needs to go’ at the most inopportune moments, and must use her initiative to overcome the obstacles between her and the nearest bathroom.
FOCUS ON ROMANIA
If you are interested in this amazing country and the films in recent history that have helped shape the ‘New Romanian Wave’, make sure you catch these filmmakers and events.
ENCOUNTERS WITH ROMANIAN SHORTS
FRI 18 SEPT 13:00 – 14:00 and 15:00 – 16:00 £5 / £4.50 CONC
A country focus produced in partnership with Arkadia Shortfest, we are glad to present a selection of the most rewarded Romanian short films in recent history that have helped shape the ‘New Romanian Wave’.
INDUSTRY FORUM: Wednesday 16th – Friday 18th September
For those who filmmaking is part of your job, whether it’s marketing, film, communications or animation, then the industry forum is well worth a look. There are high-level masterclasses, workshops and events for industry professionals and new & emerging filmmakers.
The Industry Forum offers an informal, social and friendly environment for professional exchange, learning and conversation. The Encounters Festival Industry Forum is curated around a theme each day.
INDUSTRY FORUM PASS: £50
INDUSTRY FORUM DAY PASS: £20
WEDNESDAY
Wednesday kicks off the three day Industry Forum with exclusive Industry Screenings including the first UK showcase of the 2014 Cartoon D’or nominees and the NAHEMI Award Winners screening, showcasing work produced by film and animation students from around the country.
Panel discussions will be led by the BBC and Rich Pickings. Meet the Future of filmmaking with events including a talk from Nexus director Felix Massie, presenting an exclusive preview of animated comedy Rain or Shine and a new interactive 360° short film for Google Spotlight Stories.
THURSDAY
The second day of the Forum opens with a Breakfast session for informal networking.
Workshops will be conducted with Nth Screen – a revolutionary social video platform for group filming and watching among others. A Panel discussion will address stereotypes on screen, while NextGen will present a session about Careers in Animation with a panel of animation experts talking about their personal experiences. The evening reception will be hosted by Random Acts and the night continues in the Café / Bar.
FRIDAY
The third day of the forum will include a look at Comedy Writing on Screen with some of the finest screenwriters and (writing) Directors in the business to discuss how to write good comedy for animation. Panel members include Rob Sprackling and Johnny Smith (Gnomeo &Juliet, Mike Bassett: England Manager, Dennis and Gnasher…amongst others), Mark Burton (Chicken Run, Madagascar, Curse of the Were-rabbit, Shaun the Sheep) and Darren Walsh (Angry Kid, the Meerkat and Sony Bravia ads and many more).
Next Gen will present a panel about The Role of Animation in Games and VFX, looking at the transferable nature of animation skills.
FESTIVAL NIGHTS
Watershed, Every night from 8.30pm.
Each night at Encounters the bar will become the Festival Nights venue with bands and DJs each night to compliment the film programme. Check the Encounters website for full listings and come along and party like a filmmaker.
CINEMATOGRAPHY AT ENCOUNTERS IN 2015
The 2015 festival will also include a dedicated cinematography strand, presenting a number of masterclasses and screenings throughout the festival week. Leading international cinematographers will present and share the secrets of their success and the challenges in the rapidly evolving landscape of image capture and display. These events are presented by the Bristol Festival of Cinematography and will be in partnership with the Centre for Moving Image Research at the University of the West of England.
