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Encounters
Tuesday, 26 September 2023 until Sunday, 01 October 2023
Encounters Film Festival stages one of the world’s leading international competitions for short films. The International Competition is an official gateway to the world’s most prestigious awards: The Academy Awards, BAFTAs, and the European Film Awards.
Our mission is to provide an international platform for new and emerging talent in filmmaking. For over a quarter of a century, Encounters Film Festival has welcomed guests from around the world, connecting filmmakers with the wider industry, our wonderful audiences and, of course, each other.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Films in the competition are presented in thematic programmes including live action, animation, documentary, experimental/artists’ moving image works and judged by an international jury of industry professionals. The films compete for the following awards:
- Brief Encounters Grand Prix for live-action shorts
- Animated Encounters Grand Prix for animated shorts
The winning Brief Encounters and Animated Encounters films are both eligible for Academy Awards nominations and each receives a £2000 cash prize.
The films in the International Competition are also eligible for the International Audience Award.
NATIONAL COMPETITION
The National Competition showcases work from UK-based filmmakers including live action, animation, documentary, and experimental/artists’ moving image works. Films in the competition are judged by a national jury of industry professionals and compete for the UK Award, which carries a cash prize of £1000. Entries submitted here may also be screened in the International Competition.
The films in the National Competition are also eligible for the UK Audience Award.
Films made by UK Student filmmakers are eligible for the UK Student Award, which carries a cash prize of £500.
SOUTHWEST COMPETITION
The Southwest Showcase is Encounters' newly revamped competition to nurture and celebrate local talents. Live action, animation, documentary, and experimental/artists' moving image works from Southwest-based filmmakers are eligible to participate. Films in the competition are judged by a jury of industry professionals and compete for the Southwest Award, which carries a cash prize of £500. In addition to the Southwest Competition, the short films submitted can also qualify for the National or International Competition.
The films in the Southwest Competition are also eligible for the UK Audience Award.