Encounters 2014 tickets now on sale
Skwigly
Tickets are on sale now for the 20th edition of the Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival taking place in Bristol from 16th to 21st September 2014. The calendar highlight features a must-visit three-day Industry Forum to network, discover and gather insight from industry leaders.
Encounters Festival Industry Forum
The festival will look to explore the dissolving boundaries between film, media and art through an Industry Forum including an Interactive Cinema, Hybrid Playground and cutting edge HDR Moving Image research lab as well as a special programme of industry screenings including first features, the World Premier of IShorts and artist film shorts and panel debates on the business of convergence and The hyper short film. Industry leaders presenting events include: NFTS; BAFTA; LFA; CMIR, Creative England; British Council, Nexus (Interactive); Rovio; LUX; the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen; and Touch (Music).
Reflecting the industry trend towards multi platform working, the Industry Forum takes place within a wider 20th anniversary programme which will give delegates the chance to celebrate, reflect on and explore the past, present and future of short film. The Industry Forum will present an intensive three-day forum at the Watershed, offering high-level networking opportunities designed to connect filmmakers to the industry. Masterclasses will be taking place at each day of the Industry Forum with the likes of Dean Humphries & Fernando Coimbra.
Each day is structured around a theme: Fusion (Wednesday), Festivals (Thursday) and Form (Friday), appealing to filmmakers, animators and professionals. For the first time there is a choice of a one-day pass or three-day pass. This informal, social and friendly environment enables a mixture of professional to exchange, learn and discuss the future of the industry and emerging trends.
Encounters Festival 2014 will mark two decades of festival history and reflect the era that saw the change from analogue to digital. The celebration will look back to look forward, connecting the past to the future. The festival’s signature project setting an international benchmark for the industry is the Encounters Retrospective
The Festival will present an Encounters Retrospective of 20 specially selected films from 20 years that showcase the creativity, diversity and impact of short film. The retrospective will be screened continuously in a Perpetual Cinema at Watershed every evening throughout the festival week and across the weekend so that audiences can drop in and watch the selected films for free. The retrospective is accompanied by a 20th Anniversary Publication and other special events, which will include the UK premier of the film version of Vinyl Requiem – an impressive music and film event conceived by sound artist Philip Jeck and visual artist Lol Sargent in 1993 to mark the beginning of the era that saw the change from analogue to digital.
Encounters Festival International Competition
While celebrating the achievements of 20 years of Encounters, this year’s festival will again present Europe’s leading annual International Short Film and Animation Competition as part of the Industry Forum.
The competition will exhibit over 200 new short films and animated films from around the world chosen from over 2000 submissions. Encounters Festival winners in the three main categories will then qualify for the British Academy awards, Cartoon d’Or, European Film Awards and the Academy Awards in the USA. The award winners will be announced on Saturday 20th September at Awards Ceremony and the competition will culminate in a double screening of the award winning films on Sunday 21st September.
David Sproxton, Chairman of Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival explains:
From its humble beginnings twenty years ago, Encounters Festival has grown into an international success story. As we enter a new era for the festival and a completely different landscape in 2014, this seems the perfect occasion to reposition the festival and celebrate its achievements to date.
Encounters Festival will take place at Bristol’s scenic harbourside between 16 – 21 September 2014.
To purchase a day (£20) or three-day (£50/45) Industry Pass to the Encounters Festival Industry Forum 2014 please visit www.encounters-festival.org.uk. Available to buy online, the pass will allow you access to all Industry Forum Activity between Wed 17 – Fri 19 September, as well as all daytime International Competition screenings Wed – Fri and industry relevant festival events taking place at Arnolfini.