Countdown begins to Encounters filmfest 08

PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 02, 2008 – The countdown to Bristol’s 14th annual international Encounters Short Film Festival is now underway with the publication of this year’s programme of screenings, awards, celebrity visitors, skills events and industry debates and the launch of a new online bookings service at www.encounters-festival.org.uk.

BAFTA-award-winning actor and director, Paddy Considine; triple Oscar winner, Richard Williams, and Clare Kitson, the former Channel 4 commissioner credited with rejuvenating Britain’s animation industry, are among the guests confirmed for the five day celebration of short film and animation which takes place in Bristol, UK, from Tuesday 18 to Sunday 23 November.

Talks by them will be complemented by screenings of around 300 shorts and animations, from 30 countries, including newly-rediscovered early animations by Alexander Shiryaev, new BBC comedies, the finalists for the 2008 DepicT! 90-sec film challenge, a new film by 2007’s International winner, Radu Jude (Romania), the debut short by Turner Art Prize nominee, Sam Taylor Wood, and COME HERE TODAY, starring by Rhys Ifans and produced by Sadie Frost.

The festival will also offer a Film School, on editing; explorations of new digital developments and pervasive media, a cinematography masterclass, guest screenings from Ireland, Poland, Russia, Scotland, UK film schools and UK-based minority filmmakers; a birthday tribute to the music videos of Bristol’s Collision Films, three new BBC music shorts, the regional premiere of WALTZ WITH BASHIR, and screenings and hands-on events for young people.

Managing Director Liz Harkman says: “It’s a terrific programme and fully reflects why Encounters is one of Britain’s best known and best liked short film festivals, and why it commands such strong local, national and international support.”


She adds: “The credit crunch makes these challenging times for cultural events everywhere but we feel that the industry, film students and general public won’t want to miss the rich variety of experiences we will be offering – whether their interest is in watching a visual feast, hearing fresh stories,  clocking new talent, networking, learning from  experts, hearing insider accounts or exploring new ideas or new technology.”

As a new service to festival-goers, the Encounters Short Film Festival website has been revamped so that it now offers an online bookings service as well as programme details, regular updates, special offers and useful links.

Tickets are also available from the festival’s main venue, Watershed, 1 Canons Road, Harbourside Bristol, BS1 5TX, telephone 0117 927 5100 (or +44 117 927 5100 for calls from outside the UK), email: info@watershed.co.uk or online via
www.watershed.co.uk.  

[Please see  doc for main listings or visit www.encounters-festival.org.uk]

The Encounters Short Film Festival is an Encounters Festivals Ltd event. Chief funders are  Bristol City Council (www.bristol.gov.uk), South West Screen (www.swscreen.co.uk) and the South West Regional Development Agency (www.southwestrda.org.uk).