Encounters Film Festival

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Encounters Film Festival 2026

Bristol’s flagship international film festival, Encounters Film Festival, returns from 23 - 27 September 2026 for its 31st edition, bringing an ambitious programme of short films, animation, documentaries, premieres, live music, talks and creative events to venues across the city.

Founded in Bristol in 1995, Encounters is home to the UK’s longest-running international short film competition and is a qualifying festival for BAFTA, BIFA and other major international awards. The festival takes place annually in Bristol, a UNESCO City of Film, celebrating emerging talent alongside established filmmakers and creatives.

The 2026 festival brings together an extensive international programme, with the press announcement highlighting 140 films and dozens of premieres, alongside a 360° planetarium screening and an expanded programme connecting film and music.

Encounters Film Festival 2026 highlights

Film fans visiting Bristol can discover a diverse programme spanning live action, animation and documentary, with screenings showcasing both emerging filmmakers and internationally recognised names.

Among the headline films is the UK premiere of Paper Plane, the directorial and screenwriting debut of Academy Award-nominated actor Saoirse Ronan. The festival also welcomes the English premiere of Paul Wright's Mission, produced by Bristol-based Early Day Films, alongside UK premieres from filmmakers including Joshua Oppenheimer, Bill Morrison and Jérémy Comte.

The programme also celebrates Bristol and the South West's thriving screen industries. The festival features appearances and sessions involving BAFTA-winning casting director Isabella Odoffin, filmmaker Aneil Karia, writer-director Nida Manzoor and Bristol-based VFX studio Lux Aeterna.

Animation plays a major part in Encounters 2026, with Animated Encounters featuring screenings, workshops and masterclasses. Highlights include a showcase from Adult Swim, a visual storytelling masterclass from Wes Anderson's lead storyboard artist Jay Clarke and a special screening of Aardman's new Shaun the Sheep film, The Beast of Mossy Bottom, introduced by BAFTA-winning producer Richard Beek.

Music and film at Encounters

The 2026 festival expands its crossover between cinema and music, including Underscore 003: SIRÂT LIVE at The Prospect Building. Kangding Ray will transform his techno score for Sirât into an immersive live audiovisual experience, accompanied by unseen footage from director Óliver Laxe.

Bristol's Geoff Barrow, known for Portishead and Invada Records, also joins Kangding Ray to explore the relationship between electronic music and cinema, while Deeper Into Movies presents WARP VISION, a journey through Warp Records' influential music video archive on Bristol's Megascreen.

The festival will also head to Wake The Tiger for a late-night party, bringing another of Bristol's distinctive creative venues into the programme.

screenPLAY

New for 2026 is screenPLAY, a youth-focused strand exploring positive experiences with screens and digital creativity through gaming, filmmaking, animation and content creation.

Family-friendly events include dedicated Kids Shorts programmes, with screenings for younger audiences forming part of the festival schedule.

Encounters Industry Programme

Film and television professionals can also attend the Encounters Industry Programme, taking place from 23 - 25 September at Watershed and partner venues around Bristol.

The programme brings together filmmakers, producers, commissioners and industry executives for talks, masterclasses, networking and sector-focused sessions.

Topics across the wider festival include animation, documentary filmmaking, talent development, high-end television, visual effects, vertical drama, branded storytelling, new distribution models and creator-led routes into filmmaking.

Tickets and passes

Individual tickets for standard screenings and many events are £8 in advance, or free for eligible passholders. Tickets can be purchased online or from the festival box office at Watershed during the festival. Sold-out Watershed events may operate a standby queue, with standard standby tickets priced at £10.

Three main pass options are available:

• Festival Pass - provides access to short film screenings, talks, masterclasses and headline events, with an exclusive booking window.
• Industry Pass - includes Festival Pass benefits alongside access to the Filmmaker Lounge and industry delegate list.
• Discovery Pass - allows holders to reserve tickets for five standard screenings and events.

Special events at The Prospect Building and Wake The Tiger are included for Festival and Industry Pass holders, subject to reservation and availability. Discovery Pass holders need to purchase separate tickets for these events, priced at £20 plus fees.

Passholders should reserve tickets for the events they wish to attend, as holding a pass alone does not guarantee admission.

Buy Encounters Film Festival 2026 passes

View the full Encounters 2026 schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Encounters Film Festival 2026?
Encounters Film Festival takes place from Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 September 2026 in Bristol.

Where does Encounters Film Festival take place?
Events take place at venues across Bristol, including Watershed, The Prospect Building, We The Curious, Bristol Megascreen and Wake The Tiger. The festival is closely connected to Bristol's status as a UNESCO City of Film.

What can visitors see at Encounters Film Festival?
The programme includes international short films, animation, documentaries, feature screenings, premieres, talks, masterclasses, filmmaker Q&As, family screenings, industry events and live music and audiovisual experiences.

How much are Encounters Film Festival tickets?
Standard individual screenings and many events cost £8 when booked in advance. Some headline and special events have separate prices.

Are festival passes available?
Yes. Visitors can choose between Festival, Industry and Discovery passes depending on how much of the programme they would like to experience. Passholders are encouraged to reserve individual events in advance to secure their places.

Is Encounters Film Festival suitable for children?
Some events are designed specifically for younger audiences. The 2026 programme includes screenPLAY and Kids Shorts screenings, including programmes aimed at ages 5+/6+ and 10+. Individual event age ratings should be checked before booking.

Can visitors buy tickets on the day?
Yes. The festival box office is located downstairs at Watershed and opens 15 minutes before the first ticketed event each day. Availability for popular screenings and events may be limited, so advance booking is recommended.

Where can visitors find the full Encounters Film Festival programme?
The complete programme allows visitors to browse films, screenings, talks and events and filter them by date, category and venue.

Explore the Encounters Film Festival 2026 programme

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