Encounters moves online
This year’s Encounters Film Festival – the 26th edition - will be held online.
The event, which showcases short films, animation and virtual reality projects, normally takes place in Bristol every September.
The virtual iteration will include #shortitout, a collaboration with BFI NETWORK, Watershed and industry partners including BAFTA, Channel 4 and BBC Creative. The aim of the scheme is to build a community of filmmakers, to encourage creative responses to the current situation.
The festival’s director, Rich Warren, stressed that all films selected to screen at Encounters online this September, will still be eligible to be nominated for the EFAs, and the BAFTAs and the Animated and Brief Encounters Grand Prix winners will still qualify for The Academy Awards.
Warren commented: “The new virtual format of Encounters will continue to provide a platform for new and emerging talent and will deliver the same exceptional programme of international short films, animation, masterclasses, panel discussions as well as the networking opportunities that has historically been one of Encounters main attractions.
“We also see the launch of #shortitout as a great starting point for the roll out of a host of pioneering initiatives in the digital environment in the lead up to Encounters, enabling filmmakers to engage with each other, key industry contacts and audiences.”
