Encounters Film Festival

Encounters Film Festival Encounters Film Festival is the UK’s foremost short film and animation festival Celebrating 30 years in 2025!

Encounters is a globally renowned short film festival that takes place each September on the beautiful harbourside in Bristol, a UNESCO City of Film. Encounters is a qualifying festival for BAFTA, BIFA and the European Film Awards.

Kangding Ray takes the techno score of Sirât and builds something new from it. Dir Óliver Laxe presents unseen footage s...
17/07/2026

Kangding Ray takes the techno score of Sirât and builds something new from it. Dir Óliver Laxe presents unseen footage shot on set.

The world of the film pulled apart and rebuilt for one night only, in a converted torpedo warehouse with a gantry crane above the crowd. Soundsystem culture, spiritual longing, bass that pins you to the floor. Bristol knows.

Sirât won the Jury Prize at Cannes and earned two Oscar nominations. The score won the Cannes Soundtrack Award and a Goya, out now on Invada.

Wed 24 Sep | The Prospect Building

Supported by the BFI Film Audience Network, awarding funds from the National Lottery.

Tickets available to Festival and Industry Passholders, or at the link in our bio. linktr.ee/encounterssff

Team Encounters in Cannes. Here til Monday!
15/05/2026

Team Encounters in Cannes. Here til Monday!

🎬 Calling all film lovers!Join us as a volunteer pre-selector for Encounters Film Festival 2026.Watch 100-250 short film...
21/01/2026

🎬 Calling all film lovers!

Join us as a volunteer pre-selector for Encounters Film Festival 2026.

Watch 100-250 short films (your choice), help shape our BAFTA-qualifying programme, and gain hands-on curation experience.

You'll get:
✨ Film programming experience at a leading UK festival
🎟️ Free pass to Encounters 2026
🌟 Access to our film community

Flexible, remote role (Feb-June 2026). Open worldwide.

⏰ Apply by 5pm, 30 January
🔗 Link in bio

We're in great company this weekend! 🎬Head over to the European Film Academy website and check out 8 curated shorts pro...
05/12/2025

We're in great company this weekend! 🎬

Head over to the European Film Academy website and check out 8 curated shorts programmes - including films from past editions of Encounters and Zinemaldia · Festival Internacional de Cine de Donostia-San Sebastián. We are honoured to be the UK's nominating festival for the EFA's European Short Film - Prix Vimeo 🏆

Call for entries to the 2026 Encounters Film Festival are now open. Read more on our website.

Address

Bristol

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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